Tupai already produces with clean and renewable energy

Tupai and Helexia are now starting a path towards sustainability with the start-up of the new photovoltaic plant installed at the headquarters of this industrial accessories company.

This plant is part of a group of measures that Tupai has implemented over the last few years, through its environmental management system, certified by the ISO 14001 standard. TUPAI was the first Portuguese company in this sector to obtain certification, conferring a heightened sense of responsibility towards the environment.

Developed by Helexia, the photovoltaic plant with a power of 750 kWp consists of panels on the roof of the manufacturing unit and a solar carport installed in the parking lot, which, in addition to producing energy, also provides shade and protection for employees and visitors. photovoltaic has an estimated annual production of 1.1 GWh of energy, which responds to 27% of Tupai’s energy needs.

There are dozens of manufacturing processes powered by renewable energy, which give rise to unique pieces, with quality and characteristic design, coming from raw materials such as brass, zamac and others.

With the development of this ‘turnkey’ project, Helexia’s investment is around 800 thousand euros and allows Tupai to maintain its focus on its core activity.“For Helexia it is very important to continue working with Portuguese industry, providing competitive energy prices, so that companies are competitive in foreign markets. With the use of clean energy, we fulfill our binomial which is to combine economy with ecology”, says João Guerra, marketing director at Helexia.

For Tupai, the benefits of having a photovoltaic solar plant are clear. “Enjoy an obvious and fundamental reduction in the cost of energy, along with the reduction of CO₂ emissions that are attached to the company’s production”, says Rui Santos, Industrial Director of Tupai.

According to Sónia Santos, Marketing Director at Tupai, “the visual impact of the solar carport, for those who visit the factory, meets what we want: innovation, concern, sustainability”.

Part of Tupai’s environmental strategy is to promote the circular economy, as a company that works mainly with metals, it has the benefit of working with an infinitely renewable raw material. Production by-products are fully utilized and reintegrated into the production process as new raw materials.

Tupain was born in 1976, in the industrial hardware sector and its name is an acronym for “everything for the industry”, this was the spirit that was at the genesis of its foundation.

44 years later, the Tupai factory occupies an area of ​​21,000 m2, employs around 200 employees and exports 80% of its turnover. The main markets are, in addition to Portugal and Spain, Sweden, Germany, France and the United States and above all a great focus on the markets of Eastern Europe.

Tupai develops and produces a wide range of hardware for civil construction and furniture, in addition to producing accessories for various types of industries such as automotive, furniture, luxury, household appliances, lighting and bathroom accessories, having become a reference brand with architects, designers, distributors and end consumers.

Tupai’s added value is the design and quality of its products at a very competitive cost. Another advantage is the control of the entire production process, from raw material to packaging and delivery to the customer.