How Integra is meeting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Being at the forefront of Australia’s manufacturing and design renaissance is just one of many focuses that drives the team at Integra Systems. A commitment to the adoption of processes and standards that ensure the protection of our environment, and advancing sustainability in all of Integra’s manufacturing processes, are some of the defining qualities of the company.

As well as overhauling the workplace to adhere to Industry 4.0 principles, Integra is working towards achieving a number of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Paul and Erika Hughes, Managing Director and Commercial Director at Integra, explain why sustainability and innovation are among the many priorities of the team.

"If we strip it back to general sustainability, it’s fed down from the top level,” Paul explains. “Erika and I are really involved in outdoor activities like surfing, the mountains and hiking. A lot of us in the company enjoy the outdoors and things like that. It comes from a sense of wanting to keep that, and to be able to always have those activities. You want the company to run — and be focused on — sustainability, so you can keep those aspects in your life and for future generations."

There are a number of examples of how sustainability has delivered efficiencies at Integra. ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation’ is Goal Nine of the UN SDGs. From that perspective, Integra is constantly looking for new and creative ways to unlock the full capabilities of the company’s machinery to develop more sustainable methods of production. 

"Where we can, we're [digitising] our processes,” says Erika. “Wherever possible, we're trying to get rid of the old paper and pen tradition, and reduce waste through that as well."

A case in point has been the development of Integra’s industrial touchscreen kiosk, K4.0; an innovation created through the company’s proprietary division, Integra TransForm. Positioning the kiosks at every workcentre across Integra’s Broadmeadows facility has helped reduce the amount of paper flowing through the factory. The quality assurance measures and time management apps integrated within these kiosks are also making a genuine contribution to their innovation and infrastructure performance. 

“Being able to digitise some of our processes has helped us amazingly,” Paul elaborates. “Through our kiosk, we've been able to find inefficiencies and we've been able to maximise our production and our time usage. Having digitisation within your business can have a massive impact and, once it's set up, it fits in seamlessly with your business as well, so it runs itself."

“Another UN goal we work towards is Goal 12: ‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’,” Paul continues. “We’ve put our money where our mouth is in this regard, having gone to the lengths of importing a state-of-the-art laser cutter from the Salvagnini group in Italy. We've currently got a Salvagnini L5 laser and a Salvagnini P2, and they're both energy-efficient machines. In fact, all our historical machinery purchase decisions have included minimal energy usage. We are pleased that there are a lot more choices now and we don’t have to compromise on other elements for sustainable choices.”

“Through the use of the laser, we look at our sheet yields and make sure we're getting as much as we can out of that. Any of the sheet metal that we can't use, we send that straight to recycling, so we keep the metal itself feeding through and being reused and recycled."

Aspiring to meet the UN SDGs further complements many of the initiatives that Integra has been working on to enhance the company’s commercial viability. Erika agrees, while the organisation is committed to reducing its carbon footprint, learning to do more with less ensures everything runs leaner. 

“We’re really focused on getting rid of the ‘use-once-and-throw-out mentality,’” she says. “We found that, in focusing on the circular economy and waste reduction, it has a positive effect on the company. Our systems are smoother, we're more involved in the lifecycle of our products and really nutting out what’s good and bad for a product, and what's the best path to move a product through a factory. That's why we're invested in it."

Integra’s passion for circular design drives efforts towards Goal 13: ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’. Integra has always embraced circular design – or Circularity by Design ­– in many practical, achievable ways. Many of the products produced across the facility are designed in modular or kit form for flat-packed transportation, reducing inefficient use of haulage space, which subsequently results in reduced carbon emissions.

In the manufacturing process, Integra’s knowledge of metals is used to select the most suitable material for customer projects. This not only ensures the right product fit but also the correct strength and durability, which leads to minimal defects and waste from product failure.

Integra’s engineering space relies on ‘smart’ machine technology, which includes Servo electric Brake presses that automatically shut down when not being used, and reducing energy consumption with the use of Punch IT coil lines. A fibre optic laser and compass technology draw from the highest speed laser head available, delivering the fastest cutting speed at maximum efficiency and contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions. 

Meeting Goal 17 is yet another priority at Integra: ‘Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development'. As Erika says, “We like to work collaboratively with a wide variety of companies, both national and international. The most notable company that we've been in partnership with is Brink.” 

Another company with a circular economy and sustainability focus, the Netherlands-based group, Brink, entered into a digital licensing agreement with Integra in 2020 for their Lune collection of waste reduction systems. 

“Through partnerships like that,” explains Erika, “you can collaborate with each other in sustainable production methods and sustainable company methods. You still obviously have competitors in the market and whatnot – you don't want to destroy that – but being able to work together to develop better sustainable procedures and practises really helps to set the standard within the industry.” 

The partnership with Brink underpins much of Integra’s future sustainability trajectory, and it’s the first of many that Integra’s hopes to establish over the short and long-term. 

"We've learnt a lot from each other,” says Paul enthusiastically. “You can see how companies overseas function, you can swap ideas, see what doesn't work for each other — it is a great collaboration. You might have access to different technologies that we might be five years behind and vice versa. I guess, you suddenly lose your borders but without the impact."

"I think, gaining more of these collaborations and connections with people overseas is a fantastic way to continue sustainable goals,” he surmises. “One big thing from it is you have access to products from around the world but you're supporting and sustaining your local economy because they're being made locally, and you're not worrying about the shipping and the importing costs and the impact from that.”

Additionally, the Lune partnership with Brink meets Goal 11: ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’. The design of these Lune waste separation bins encourages waste separation at the source, promoting more streams to regenerate waste and limit what is sent to landfill.

As for organisations looking to take the first step in improving their sustainability focus, Integra’s advice is to just make a start, no matter how big or small. Paul and Erika both admit, although it can be daunting, taking “little bite-sized chunks” can add up.

"You don't want to change your company structure – you want to just make your company structure more efficient – so it's little things that can start you. Don't be intimidated by these big goals.”

“Every manufacturing company is completely different in how they function and what they manufacture, so there's not going to be one solution. Just take off small chunks that suit your business, and which don't have a negative impact or are really tiresome procedures to follow.”

Read more about Integra’s commitment to circularity and sustainability.

For those interested in mapping Industry 4.0 technologies into the UN’s SDGs, consider reading this paper.