An economical and reliable energy supply
Textile manufacturers operate in a very competitively intense international market. In order to remain successful in its business, the Mexican fiber and textile producer Grupo Kaltex needed to reduce its energy and steam costs and improve the reliability of its power supply.
It’s not a simple market. Competition is very stiff. That’s why we’re always looking for ways to improve costs and to stand out from the crowd in terms of the finished product.Julio Correa, Power Plant Manager at Grupo Kaltex
A demanding production process
Kaltex Fibers mainly produces synthetic fibers at its production site in Altamira in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas. Economical operation of the plant requires an uninterrupted supply of power and steam. Kaltex used to supply its plant with power from the public utility grid and steam from gas-fired boilers.
A smart decision
Because the Mexican grid could not deliver the necessary reliability, the production facility had to wrestle with unplanned downtimes. The separate production of power and process steam also led to a variety of inefficiencies and therefore to higher costs. An investment in an advanced cogeneration solution that reliably produces power and steam was a smart decision that Kaltex made to boost its competitiveness.
A favorable opportunity
At precisely the point when Kaltex was thinking about how to increase its competitiveness, the Mexican government broke up the state’s energy monopoly and created attractive incentives for private companies to generate environmentally friendly electricity locally with their own plants. This created the perfect conditions for Kaltex to invest in its own advanced combined heat and power plant solution.
A state-of-the-art cogeneration plant
Siemens’ solution for Kaltex included a highly efficient power island based on an SGT-750 gas turbine and a heat-recovery steam generator as well as electricals and controls. Siemens also provided engineering and construction as well as comprehensive long-term service adapted to the customer’s needs.
The cogeneration here at Kaltex generates electricity and steam, and the results for us are a great savings in energy consumption – not just at the Kaltex Fibers plant but also at two other plants in Mexico that also benefit from the power generated by this plant.Julio Díaz, Shift Manager Energia MK KF S.A. de C.V.
An investment that pays off
Investing in an advanced industrial power island from Siemens was an economically valuable project for Kaltex. By having its own plant, the company increased the reliability of the power supply for its production to over 99 percent. This has resulted not just in a reduction of nonconformance costs but also in improved product quality. At the same time, the solution has cut energy costs for Kaltex by 30 percent.
Facts that speak for themselves
payback period
energy cost reduction
proven plant reliability between 11/2015 and 01/2017
“Commercial operation began on June 1, 2014, and it is anticipated that the savings from this Siemens combined heat and power solution will result in payback within three to four years.” Julio Correa, Power Plant Manager at Grupo Kaltex
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The right solution for every challenge
Siemens has comprehensive experience with industrial power solutions for all types of industries on all five continents. Whether you need a customized gas turbine solution or you’re looking for an industrial steam power package, we can offer the right solution for every challenge.
