Shrinking the footprint

The circular economy is an additional focus of attention at Endress+Hauser. “Our instruments already have long service lives of 15 to 20 years, and our main goal is to continue extending that,” Fröhlich says. Again, the instruments’ electronics can play a part in these efforts, since they don’t last as long and are more prone to technological obsolescence than sensors and mechanical systems. As one example, the latest generation of the Proline 300/500 transmitter family for flow measurement was designed to have easily replaceable main electronics and communication modules. This approach enables the straightforward addition of future communications standards and new functionalities.

But there are limits to the refurbishment and reuse of measuring devices. “Due to the large number of variants, almost every one of the three million instruments we produce each year is unique,” Fröhlich explains. Other obstacles to refurbishment are the lack of standardized measurement technology in plants, industry-specific standards, individual process requirements and the criticality of many measuring points. Yet there is potential to reduce the product-related carbon footprint during instrument operation: “Most new field devices from Endress+Hauser now include Heartbeat Technology with diagnostic, verification and monitoring functions. This makes it possible to optimize calibration cycles and precisely schedule service calls,” he says.

Fröhlich sees one thing as certain: decarbonization of the portfolio will shape innovation at Endress+Hauser. That will take close cooperation with customers, whose current priority is to tackle the major emissions drivers at their plants, such as energy supply, machinery, pumps and pipework. “At a large chemical site, measuring technology accounts for only half a percent of the carbon footprint,” he says.