Optima Group to Use Hydroelectricity

Pharma machinery manufacturer Optima Group is converting its electricity to draw power from renewable resources at both of its sites in Schwaebisch Hall. In the beginning of December, Hans Bühler, managing director, signed a contract with the municipal utility company of Schwaebisch Hall that guarantees direct power supply from a hydropower plant. The Schwaebisch Hall sites consume approximately 2.7 million kilowatt hours, which can be compared to the consumption of 600 four-person households.

Bühler announced a complete makeover and renovation of the Optima Group’s Schwaebisch Hall headquarters and assembly facilities in the years to come. In addition to ‘green power’, other eco-friendly technologies will be used, such as intelligent light control. U.S. subsidiary Optima Machinery Corp. is also undergoing renovations that will introduce the most current ecofriendly technologies.

The company buildings of Optima Group Pharma in Schwaebisch Hall (industrial zone Solpark) and Mornshausen already use modern eco-friendly technology, such as concrete activation, heat exchangers, or the connection to the district heating network of Schwaebisch Hall. These measures have also led to a massive reduction of CO2 emissions.

Bühler adds that Optima Group develops its new machine systems in consideration of ecological aspects, such as energy efficiency or compressed-air consumption. "A growing number of consumers are interested in a product’s environmental balance, which also implies machine engineering – from substituting hazardous substances in the production and eco-friendly and competent disposal of materials to recycling resources," the company released in a press statement. With the certification of the company’s environmental management system according to ISO 14001 in 2007, an independent organization confirmed the eco-friendly production approach for all six subsidiaries.

Optima Group Pharma provides technology for cleaning, sterilizing, filling, and closing of vials, infusion bottles, and cartridges for the processing of liquid and powdery products. Available are filling and packaging technology, closing and capping sytems, and freeze drying systems including loading and unloading systems complete the product range.