Digital compass to sustainability: lifecycleValueCalculator analyses economic and ecological potentials

Profitability and sustainability are not opposites – on the contrary! KraussMaffei's lifecycleValueCalculator proves it: the digital tool calculates the current status of plastics processors' products and shows them their individual potential for improvement. This enables them to increase their production efficiency and achieve their ecological goals at the same time – a symbiosis that is essential in today's world.

In an interview with K-Mag, Stefan Feldmeier talks about how the tool works, its advantages and the extent to which it is a crucial tool for the future of the plastics and rubber industry.Mr Feldmeier, what prompted you to develop the lifecycleValueCalculator?

Stefan Feldmeier: At KraussMaffei, we have been offering our customers tools and solutions to optimise their savings potential for a long time. The lifecycleValueCalculator was therefore developed as a further customer solution to support our customers in calculating their current actual status in production and maintenance in an intuitive way.

How can plastics processors use it in their day-to-day work?

Feldmeier: Our tool differs significantly from other solutions in the plastics processing industry. It enables our customers to enter their individual production parameters in order to calculate their current situation in detail and identify customised potential for improvement. This means that our customers do not have to rely on mere sample calculations, but can use their own production parameters according to their individual production conditions. This ensures a precise and customised analysis for companies to maximise their profits and achieve their CO2 targets.

How does the lifecycleValueCalculator fit into KraussMaffei's D2 strategy (decarbonisation through digitalisation)?

Feldmeier: It enables customers to optimise their sustainability through digital data processing. By calculating the individual ecological impact of production, the tool also helps customers to fulfil the increasingly stringent legal regulations and documentation requirements on ecological aspects, thereby helping them to achieve their ecological goals.

In particular, national regulations such as the Supply Chain Duty of Care Act, requirements for recycling quotas, the digital product passport and indirect influences on external financing, triggered by the EU taxonomy, require a high level of transparency regarding ecological impacts.

Are extensions or updates for the lifecycleValueCalculator already being planned in order to be able to respond to future challenges and changes in the industry?

Feldmeier: We want to extend the lifecycleValueCalculator to other regions in the near future and continuously include new calculation models for products and services. We will also integrate further functionalities based on feedback from our customers in order to offer maximum added value. We will increasingly integrate the CO2 footprint into our calculations to support companies in environmentally conscious production and sustainable decisions.

How do you see the role of digital tools in the future of the plastics and rubber industry, and what trends or developments should companies keep an eye on?

Feldmeier: Digitalisation paves the way to sustainability by collecting, monitoring, analysing and validating data in order to initiate concrete measures for improvement. Digital service products make it possible to react proactively even before problems occur. In this way, it is possible to determine and reduce CO2 emissions (decarbonisation) and reduce costs at the same time.