MONTH IN FM
FMJ.CO.UK
T-FIT INSULATION TAKES MACKIE’S
CLOSER TO ‘BRITAIN’S GREENEST
BUSINESS’ GOAL
Premium ice cream brand Mackie’s of
JUNE 2022 47
Scotland has taken another step towards its
goal of becoming Britain’s greenest business by
installing T-FIT® high-performance insulation on
the family farm in Westertown, Aberdeenshire,
where it produces over 13 million litres of ice
cream annually.
T-FIT Process insulation, manufactured from
closed cell, crosslinked nylon foam, has been fitted
to interior and exterior pipework in the raw milk silos
and glycol shed. As well as saving energy, a decisive
factor in selecting T-FIT was its longer service life,
which significantly exceeds that of the nitrile rubber
insulation it replaced and is in keeping with Mackie’s
philosophy of investing in sustainable solutions
wherever possible.
Control means consistency
“Controlling temperatures during manufacturing
is crucial for product consistency,” says Kevin
Jepson, Mackie’s long-time Service Manager. “The
process is tailored for each recipe to produce the
best flavour, and temperature fluctuations can alter
the final flavour. E ective insulation is especially
important to help us reduce the amount of energy
required to maintain the temperature of our pipes
and to protect our product. The previous insulation
made from nitrile rubber hardened and broke up
a er about a year, meaning we would use more
energy to maintain the temperature of the pipes —
tears or missing chunks would appear which also
posed a risk to the integrity of our product. If le ,
this deterioration could bring about issues with
condensation, which could create a slip and trip
hazard for sta .
“Installing T-FIT has a number of benefits. We
eliminate the labour, time, and materials costs of
replacing the nitrile rubber insulation each year. This
also has a positive benefit for our green agenda,
helping us reduce landfill as we will no longer be
stripping out and disposing of non-recyclable
materials every year.
“Another big positive for us is that T-FIT Process is
now manufactured in Poland; its carbon footprint
is therefore lower than competitor materials that
have to be shipped greater distances. The material
is easier to fit and maintain and that it looks much
better should also be taken into account!”
A high priority
Energy e iciency is a high priority for Mackie’s, a
fi h-generation family business, and an area in
which the company has an enviable track record.
It is almost 30 years since the company installed
its first wind turbine. Today the company has four
turbines, 7,000 solar panels and produces twice as
much energy as it uses. Other measures taken by
Mackie’s to improve its energy e iciency include
installation of biomass boilers and a £4.5 million
low-carbon refrigeration system which, once
complete, is anticipated will reduce the dairy’s
energy consumption by up to 70%.
Says Kevin: “Compared to other insulation
technology, T-FIT lasts longer, needs less inspection
and maintenance, and reduces energy consumption.
It’s installation here is an excellent example of the
steady incremental improvements that we believe
will eventually make us Britain’s greenest business.”
Mike Rust, Global Development Manager for
T-FIT Insulation, says Mackie’s decision highlights
the importance of manufacturers taking a more
holistic approach to insulation. “How much e ective
insulation costs is about more than just the ticket
price,” he says. “A proper in-depth calculation
must consider factors such as how long the
insulation lasts — years, not months, in the case
of T-FIT — whether it needs constant monitoring
for degradation, the costs incurred by frequent
replacement programmes and the ongoing impact
that it will have on the environment. On all these
counts T-FIT scores highly relative to traditional
insulation.”
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