Precision engineering runs on power. CNC machines, workshop lighting, compressors, ventilation – everything adds up. For a business like ours, energy is one of the biggest factors in responsible manufacturing operations.
That’s why, several years ago, we installed a 240kW solar power system across our facility in Eastleigh. It now generates over 170,000 kWh of energy every year, meeting around 30% of our operational needs directly from the sun. The remaining 70% comes from certified 100% renewable suppliers, which means our entire operation runs on Net Zero electricity.
More than a solar panel installation
Solar power was never going to solve sustainability on its own, so we built around it. We’ve moved to full LED lighting across the site to cut consumption further, and we maintain a recycling rate of over 90%, keeping waste out of landfill wherever we can. On an annual basis, we export roughly 76,000 kWh back to the National Grid, which is enough to power dozens of homes for a year.
Operating sustainably has been integrated into how we run the business day-to-day, underpinned by our ISO 14001 certification, which keeps us measuring, reviewing and improving our environmental performance as part of our wider management system.
Why it matters to our customers
We work with organisations across a wide range of sectors where supply chain responsibility carries real weight. Increasingly, sourcing decisions are coming down to whether a supplier’s values line up with the customer’s own commitments, not just tolerances and lead times.
Having a Net Zero electricity manufacturer in the supply chain is a genuine point of difference for our customers, particularly as regulated industries face growing scrutiny over environmental impact. For us, it’s proof that precision engineering and responsible manufacturing go hand in hand.
Looking ahead
Solar power has changed the way we think about energy at G W Martin; it’s something we actively manage and look to improve. Over 65 years of manufacturing has taught us that the businesses which last are the ones willing to adapt. Sustainability is simply part of that story now, and we’re proud of the part our solar power is playing in it.
