The Bristol-based drives supplier APDS has introduced a scheme in which it installs drives systems on a customer`s fans and pumps without making any charges, and then shares the savings from the installation with the customer.

Initially, APDS carries out a free energy survey and produces a detailed energy-saving report. It then installs and commissions the drive and visits the site regularly to ensure that the equipment is performing correctly. All of this is done without charge.

The annual savings are then shared equally between APDS and the customer. At the end of an agreed “hire” period, the customer has the option of buying the drive at a previously-agreed price, or renewing the hire contract for a further period of time.

APDS says that the scheme, called Economydrive, overcomes the usual objections from finance departments to investment in drives installations. No capital outlay is needed and the savings are immediate. The scheme was originally aimed at small drives users but, due to demand, it has now been rolled out across the full range of ABB drives that APDS supplies.

Details of the Economydrive scheme are available from info@apds.co.uk