Methodology

The CECIMO Self-Regulatory process welcomes input from all interested partners in particularly machine tool builders. Customers of machine tool manufacturers, suppliers, environmental and consumer organisations, trade unions, traders, retailers and all other interested stakeholders are invited to provide input to the formulation of the SRI. For further information on how to participate in the formulation process please go to the third sub-section “How to get involved”.

This section is about the basics and principles of the SRI methodology proposed by CECIMO.

A modular approach

The modular approach proposed by CECIMO is based on the idea that each machine tool should be seen as an individual product with its own environmental performance improvement potential.

The basis of the method is a modular view of the machine tool. Theoretically the machine tool is split into its modules, i.e. components with specific and defined functions. In order to provide data in a common unit, manufactures will be supported by a calculator program and list of improvement potentials including quantitative values.

The list of improvement potentials describes the measures which can be implemented into a machine tool for better environmental performance. The list will be regularly updated in accordance to innovations and technical developments.

Reporting and monitoring

Each manufacturer has the opportunity to declare their energy saving achievements by a product declaration. This data will be handed over by machine tool builders to their national associations who will then transfer them to the ‘open CECIMO task force’. Finally, the ‘open CECIMO task force’ aims to report the global European data to the European Commission, to prove that the industry sector reaches the targets on energy reduction.

Role of standardisation bodies

Standardisation organisations such as ISO/CEN will be involved in providing necessary standards on measurements methods. A Working Group under ISO/TC39 dealing with Environmental Evaluation of Machine Tools has already been established following the initiative of the CECIMO Member Associations. The standard which will come out of this Working Group constitutes an integral part of the CECIMO SRI methodology.

The table below illustrates the implementation of the SRI.