Cooks Transport Engineers - Transported to a more efficient premises!

Background

Having recently moved to new premises, Cooks Transport Engineers approached Low Carbon Business to help them install energy efficient paint ovens.

Cooks Transport Engineers were formed in 2002 and carry out all types of commercial vehicle body repairs ranging from minor dents to full refurbishment. 

They have recently moved to new premises on the Globe Industrial Estate in Grays, which is bigger than their previous premises allowing the company to expand.

As part of the move Cooks Transport Engineers wanted to install larger bespoke tailored paint ovens to allow them to carry out more work quickly and efficiently.

However the cost of doing this was very high. So they got in touch with Low Carbon Business after hearing about the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) grants they offer to help business to improve their energy efficiency.

Low Carbon Business was able to assist Cooks Transport Engineers by guiding them through an application for an ERDF grant towards the project costs.

Cooks Transport Engineers were successful with their grant application and as a result were able to install the new paint ovens with energy efficient equipment that uses far less diesel than the old paint oven at their previous premises.

The lighting installed in the paint ovens was also more efficient than the lighting that would have been installed without the aid of the grant.

Of the total project cost of £103,795 Low Carbon Business was able to approve an ERDF grant for £40,000 to support the project costs. 

Outcomes

Since the new paint ovens were completed Cooks Transport Engineers have been able to take on a lot more work. This is because jobs that used that had to be left in the oven overnight are now completed in an hour.

As a result of the support from Low Carbon Business, Cooks Transport Engineers are expected to be able to reduce their electricity use by 8,000 kWh per annum and reduce the use of diesel by 75,617 kWh a year.

These savings will lead to the carbon footprint of the company being reduced by 23 tonnes a year. The savings from the project will help save the company £3400 per annum in reduced costs.

Darren Cook, Director of Cooks Transport Engineers said; “Low Carbon Business have been brilliant throughout the whole process. It is the first grant we have received and I couldn’t believe we get to keep all of the money! The grant has not only improved our energy efficiency but also allowed us to create two new jobs and win contracts with four new big customers.”

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Cooks Transport Engineers - Transported to a more efficient premises!