Hydra Specma streamlines operations with innovative waste solutions

Lean inspired waste management

With Mil-tek compacting solutions implemented, staff can now concentrate solely on tasks that provide value for the company instead of handling and walking with cardboard and plastic waste several times a day.

Hydra Specma reduced internal truck transportation by 75% and saved 8 hours per week due to Mil-tek balers.

Revisiting production efficiency at Hydra Specma

Hydra Specma, a key player in supplying various industrial components and supporting a workforce of about 300 individuals, has always prioritized Lean and 5S methodologies in its production environments. Despite this, the expansion of the company led to a decentralized manufacturing process, significantly affecting waste management efficiency.

Traditionally, waste was collected by employees into numerous cages scattered across the facility, necessitating a dedicated full-time worker to manage waste retrieval, transportation to external compactors, and cage repositioning—a cycle far from Lean principles.

Evaluating optimization possibilities

In a bid to thoroughly understand and address these inefficiencies, Mil-tek embarked on a value stream mapping project. By equipping the waste truck with GPS tracking, it was discovered that the vehicle covered 50 km weekly, exiting and re-entering the production site approximately 30 times each day.

Additionally, a weekly total of 8 hours was spent manually transferring waste from the cages to a large external compactor, highlighting significant time inefficiencies. This process often led to production zones being cluttered with accumulating waste materials such as cardboard and plastic, posing risks and creating disorganization within the work environment.

Implementing targeted waste management solutions

Recognizing the gravity of these issues, Hydra Specma adopted a proactive stance towards rectifying the situation. The company sought to create localized waste collection zones to streamline waste management and enhance environmental sustainability efforts, aiming to maximize recycling. Mil-Tek stepped in with tailored solutions to meet these needs, leading to significant operational improvements.

Innovations in waste processing
For areas with substantial cardboard waste, Mil-tek introduced electric balers capable of exerting high compaction forces, simplifying waste handling processes. These balers, designed for ease of use, allowed employees to manage waste more efficiently, requiring baling operations only once or twice weekly.

Enhancements in unpacking zones
The unpacking areas, known for accumulating cardboard and plastic waste, saw the introduction of pneumatic balers linked to existing air lines for quick setup. Each station was equipped with specialized balers for different materials and additional facilities for plastic waste management, allowing packers to remain at their stations and focus on their tasks without the previously required waste management disruptions.

Outcomes and improvements

These strategic interventions by Mil-Tek have led to a reduction in truck movements within the facility and a notable improvement in overall worker productivity and safety.

Dedicated baler solution at every unpacking station
In the unpacking area, a range of air-powered Mil-tek solutions has been connected to the existing airline installed, and are now handling all the cardboard and plastic waste that is being generated when unpacking goods coming in from sub-suppliers. Staff can now purely focus on doing tasks that add value to the business, rather than taking the waste packaging for an unnecessary walk.

By rethinking waste management and recycling practices, Hydra Specma has taken significant strides towards enhancing operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.