☀️ OF Bell shines a light on carbon reduction with new solar PV investment

03 Jun 2024

OF Bell has given our sustainability credentials a significant boost through the installation of 122 solar PV panels at our manufacturing facility in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham.

☀️ OF Bell shines a light on carbon reduction with new solar PV investment at our component engineering, manufacturing & injection moulding facility in Bishop Auckland

Designed and installed by Westwood Energy Ltd, our new 52.46kW solar PV system comprises 122 PV panels which have been fitted to the roof of our complex component, manufacturing and injection moulding facilities at South Road in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. 

Now fully operational, the solar panel system generates more than 40 megawatt hours (MWh) of clean energy, saving 8 tonnes of carbon per year: equivalent to planting 387 trees annually.

Why choose solar PV for our component engineering facility?

It's important to OF Bell that our carbon footprint is as minimal as possible, and our production facilities sustainable for the future. We made the decision to invest in the latest technologies in order to reduce our impact on the environment and to streamline the financial costs of production as the business grows.

Solar PV has been proven to deliver returns on investment over the lifetime of the system, supporting the decarbonisation of organisations and sectors on a global scale. Our chosen system optimises energy production, offering excellent reliability and uptime rates, advanced safety features and remote performance monitoring.

Westwood's design makes good use of our factory roof space, adapting to pitch and orientation in order to maximise the panels' exposure to sunlight. These professional systems are utilised across a range of spaces, from commercial and industrial roof or ground spaces to farming, agriculture and warehousing.

OF Bell's Managing Director Mark Beard comments:

"Our latest initiatives to enhance sustainability features and reduce carbon footprint in our manufacturing include the installation of LED lighting internally, and investment in a large new, roof-mounted solar PV system externally. The panels have been live since January this year and, with lighter days, we are already seeing a difference."

Production Manager Michael Taylor-Reid adds:

“We have always recycled our waste where possible, and our manufacturing processes are developed to minimise wastage throughout production of our complex components and parts, but we are making a conscious effort to reduce our carbon print too through investment in up-to-the-minute technologies.”

We're looking forward to monitoring the continued returns of our latest investment, delivering greener manufacturing from our UK-based site. 

📸 Take a bird's eye look at our new solar PV installation!

122 solar PV panels installed on the roof of OF Bell's component engineering, manufacturing and injection moulding factory in Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham, reducing our carbon footprint and streamlining production costs. 

Solar PV panel system designed and installed by Westwood Energy will generate more than 40MWh of clean energy, saving 8 tonnes of carbon per year.

OF Bell is committed to the development of cleaner, greener component engineering and moulded plastics manufacturing, creating a sustainable, future-focused business that supports not only our environmental values but those of our clients worldwide.

Our component engineering, manufacturing and injection moulding factory is located in beautiful, natural surroundings just outside Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. Our new solar PV panel system reduces the impact our production processes make on the local environment, creating a more sustainable business for the longer-term.

The 122 solar PV panels in our newly-installed system make good use of our large roof space, designed in an array that maximises the system's exposure to sunlight for greater returns.  

Complete complex miniature components, Made in Britain by OF Bell

Since 1973, OF Bell has worked alongside clients including those in the oil and gas sectors, the medical sector, utilities, consumer goods, construction and household product manufacturers, as a trusted, UK-based manufacturing partner delivering fully-assembled, tested and quality-assured complex components and moulded parts that form a vital part of supply chains across the UK and worldwide.

ISO-certified, and with over 50 years' experience, from confidential in-house product design and development to injection moulding, assembly and testing of electrical and precision parts, miniature and complex small parts by OF Bell enable client businesses to achieve their full potential through reliable, confidential and complete complex component engineering.

Find out more about complex component manufacturing & engineering with OF Bell

OF Bell's miniature component engineering team in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, delivers reliable, consistent and highly-accurate electrical assemblies and moulded small parts for cross-sector organisations in the North East. Get in touch to find out more about our manufacturing processes and book a meeting with our team.