News & Press
EPA Project
08/02/2007
The EPA has provided support and assistance to Celtrak since the environmental technology project began. The project is due to be completed by June 2007 and is aimed at reducing the raw material content of the GPS tracking product, reducing energy consumption during the life of the product, and extending the life of the product by refurbishing it to extend its life.
Project Objectives
A team of designers and managers identified strategic areas that the company wishes to progress and the environmental benefits that these initiatives can accrue. The hardware designers are undertaking Eco-Design training to enable them to incorporate sustainable design concepts into the tracking system. Eco-Design can enable Celtrak to:
- Save money
- Design for efficient manufacture
- Design for disassembly
- Design for reuse
- Design out banned substances
- Reduce waste in production and reusing components of reject parts
- Enhance the product image and corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- Improve product quality
The designers are working on producing a product with 15% less raw materials by weight and also achieving 5% reduction in energy consumption during the life of the product. A further objective is to design the product to be disassembled easily and quickly at the end of its useful life. Certain components may be recovered at end-of-life and used in another or alternative application. One research element being evaluated is the opportunity to use solar cell to supplement power to the tracking device. It would reduce the burden on the vehicle battery and increase battery stand-by life.
For further information contact Celtrak.