Blyth Workcats - Launching their new environmental solution!

Background

Blyth Workcats were still using manual calculations and paper schematics in the design and engineering process. Installing a new CAD system would reduce the inaccuracies associated with paper schematics and reduce resource wastage.

This manual method of design incurred a high amount of wastage, both of raw materials and of paper, and meant many additional man hours were required for each project. In addition, any small inaccuracies in the paper schematics required engineers to be sent to the boat yard to carry out corrective work.

Blyth Workcats built their first catamaran in 1989, and there are now 200 of their catamarans in service across the world; each of which was built at their site in Essex.

As part of their ongoing commitment to the environment, Blyth Workcats have achieved ISO 9001 accreditation. They reuse their pallets where possible and donate others to a local company which uses them for fuel. Their sister company uses waste oil for their heating, and Blyth Workcats recycles as much waste as possible. However, some of the materials used in construction cannot currently be recycled. As a result of this, they were looking for ways to improve their design process.

When Blyth Workcats became aware of the Low Carbon Business programme and its European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) match-funded grant scheme, they worked with Low Carbon Business to put together an application for a grant to help fund the purchase and implementation of Computer Aided Design software.

Outcomes

The total project cost was £18,237.60, of which the Low Carbon Business Programme was able to reimburse £6,079.20 with a 40% ERDF funding grant. This project is expected to result in annual cost saving of £5,600, a reduction in waste of 7.2 tonnes of raw materials and CO2 reductions of 79.3 tonnes per annum. It will also reduce the paper used for design by 99% and reduce travel by 90%.

Blyth Workcats have already seen a marked reduction in their paper usage, with reductions in waste and mileage expected in the near future. Since the implementation of the CAD software Blyth Workcats invited the LCB Business Energy Advisor, Rob Robinson, to conduct a Green Business Audit at their site to help identify future areas for carbon reduction in their workplace.

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Blyth Workcats - Launching their new environmental solution!