Cadbury Adams
Rockford, Illinois
Intern: Joel Karun
Northern Illinois University
Cadbury Adams is a major confectionary business that makes chewing gum,
sweets and chocolates. The company’s Rockford plant sits on 29
acres of land and employs about 600 people.
The intern project focused on opportunities to further minimize waste
and increase energy efficiency.
Results:
The following recommendations were made:
- Continued replacement and/or retrofitting refrigeration systems
to eliminate the use of HCFC’s at the facility by the year 2010.
- Sensors located on existing flow meters for water discharge systems
are failing at an alarming rate due to unforeseen buildup on the sensors.
Sensor replacement is costly. New flow meters with more reliable sensing
and ease of maintenance (less sensor replacement) should be purchased.
Flow meters specified would have a payback period of approximately
two years.
- On four existing fan units in the HVAC systems, forward curved centrifugal
blades were purchased. Each unit would operate at lower speeds saving
$5,500 per year each in reduced energy costs and have a 2-1/2 year
payback period.
- A new grease interceptor or grease trap in the cafeteria’s
kitchen had to be purchased due to a leak in the old system. Fats,
oils, and greases must be removed prior to discharge of wastewater
to the sewer. The old trap was found to be too large for the application.
A thermoplastic interceptor was purchased and would save $10,000 over
the cost of a unit that was the same model as previously installed.
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