Load management measures in a carpentry factory

The wood manufacturing industry in Sweden is not very often the subject of academic research activities. In certain parts of Sweden, generally in rura l areas, this industrial branch is of major importance as a local employer. If the companies could grow and prosper it would lead to a more vivid coun tryside and decrease migration to larger towns and cities. The council of t he European Community has therefore introduced certain funds for research p rojects in such rural areas. This paper describes the use of electricity an d heat in a carpentry factory. The result shows that energy conservation me asures and load management might be of significant importance in order to m ake the company more profitable. Even small savings can be the difference b etween survival or bankruptcy. For the studied factory it is obvious that m uch equipment for heating purposes are in a poor state. The steam system wh ich could be useful for decreasing the use of electricity heating suffers f rom leaking steam traps and other imperfections which lead to severe losses in both kilowatt-hours and money. The steam system is therefore not used i n an optimal way. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.