As you ascend into the skies above Melbourne, a sea of solar panels adorning on the rooftops of iconic brands comes into view.
Many of these installations, mounted with precision and innovation, are the handiwork of Sunlock, one of Australia’s leading commercial solar mounting manufacturers.
In an industry where efficiency and reliability are paramount, Sunlock stands out, setting new benchmarks for excellence.
Founded on the principles of innovation and customer-centric service, Sunlock has carved a niche within Australia’s renewable energy landscape.
Their journey is not just about mounting systems; it’s an innovation in how solar installations are approached.
“We’re fresh, we’re innovative, we are very different in how we approach the market,” Sunlock General Manager Mani Kaparakis said.
This philosophy has propelled Sunlock to the forefront of the solar mounting industry, driven by its unique C-Channel design, which is engineered to bear substantial loads —ideal for commercial installations.
The company’s rapid ascent, growing to become a pivotal supplier of commercial solar mounting solutions in just three years, has been attributed to its unwavering commitment to quality.
“We only make commercial solar mounting systems for commercial solar,” Kaparakis said.
This commitment to efficiency translates into faster installation times, a key factor that installers value highly.
What truly distinguishes Sunlock in the industry is not only its innovative vision but also its strategic acumen in choosing business partnerships.
The company’s alliance with Capral Aluminium stands as a testament to this wisdom — a partnership that has significantly strengthened Sunlock’s commitment to local manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
Central to this transformative collaboration is Capral’s ground-breaking LocAl® Green initiative, launched in 2022.
This innovative advancement in sustainable aluminium manufacturing represents a significant milestone for Australia’s industrial sector.
The LocAl® product line offers two revolutionary options: LocAl® Green and LocAl® Super Green, which achieve remarkable carbon footprints of 8kg and 4kg CO2e/kg Aluminum respectively – figures that substantially outperform the global industry average of 12.46 CO2e/kg aluminium, positioning these products among the world’s lowest-carbon aluminium solutions.
The scale of this achievement is reflected in Capral’s production metrics: an impressive 28 per cent of its primary aluminium billet production now maintains a carbon content below 8kg CO2e/kg Al, with approximately 300 tonnes achieving certification at less than 4kg CO2e/kg Al.
This breakthrough has made low-carbon aluminium accessible across diverse Australian manufacturing sectors, opening new possibilities for sustainable production.
As Australia’s premier aluminium extruder, Capral has ensured that LocAl offers manufacturers a practical pathway to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on quality.
The comprehensive product line, encompassing Capral’s entire locally manufactured extruded aluminium range, delivers both versatility and consistency in sustainable manufacturing.
This initiative perfectly aligns with Capral’s ambitious commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, while providing immediate, tangible solutions for manufacturers looking to enhance their sustainability credentials.
For Sunlock, the adoption of LocAl Green has been transformative, elevating its mounting solutions to new heights of sustainability while maintaining its reputation for efficiency and effectiveness.
The impact is quantifiable. By transitioning to LocAl Green, Sunlock will achieve a remarkable reduction of 3000 tonnes in carbon emissions this year alone — a clear demonstration of their environmental leadership.
“One thing which stood out for us whilst we were considering the switch to LocAl Green was the fact that we could drastically reduce our carbon emissions without any change to our product quality, performance or specifications,” Kaparakis said.
The successful implementation of LocAl in the manufacturing processes, as demonstrated through partnerships like Sunlock, validates the viability of low carbon aluminium in the Australian industry.
With LocAl Green and LocAl Super Green now established in the market; Capral is continuing to expand the accessibility of sustainable aluminium solutions across various manufacturing sectors.
As industry demand for sustainable materials grows, Capral’s commitment to providing low carbon aluminium options supports Australia’s manufacturing sector in meeting evolving environmental standards.
For more information, visit capral.com.au
This article featured in the December edition of ecogeneration.
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