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Big Pipes, Small Pumps: Interface, Inc. Factor Ten Engineering Case Study
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This story of Interface Inc.’s Shanghai plant illustrates the pitfalls of the conventional design process—and the remarkable gains that are possible by rethinking basic assumptions. This paper describes how the lead designer Jan Schilham created a radical new layout with shorter, fatter pipes and smaller pumps to save nearly 90 percent of the energy—with lower capital costs. Several Factor Ten Engineering principles are highlighted in Schilham’s design process.
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