Transdrive beats the deadline

A ROYTON company moved swiftly to beat the Government’s shock announcement on the reduction of feed-in tariffs for solar energy panels.

Transdrive Engineering Services Ltd, distributors and stockists of industrial electric motors, gearboxes and the electronic drives used to control the electric motors, had already embraced a new energy efficiency standard for their products.

Director Paul Wren said: “In June this year the standard was made law across Europe requiring manufacturers to improve the efficiency of electric motors. This was a breath of fresh air both to sellers and users of electric motors.

“Transdrive embraced the energy efficiency culture and started thinking of the energy we use at our distribution centre in Milton Street, Royton.

“We changed a lot of the light fittings to modern lower-energy units and then it was suggested we should generate our own electricity as our roof space was ideal for solar panels.”

The synergy of both selling and using energy efficient products appealed to Transdrive, added Mr Wren, who added: “We spoke with a couple of suppliers located some distance away and then found Greenteam Renewables Ltd a couple of miles away.”

Greenteam Managing director Wayne Brierley’s “straight talking and excellent knowledge of the industry” impressed Transdrive management: “A week later and the contract was signed,” said Mr Wren. “Several cups of tea later the panels were on our roof. It took three days to complete — not bad for 40 panels and 9.5kW of electricity. We can now look forward to much greener future.”