At nVent, we are developing solutions for a more sustainable and electrified future. From our liquid cooling solutions that help data centers use power more efficiently, to our electrical connection solutions that facilitate compact designs in wind turbines, to our energy efficient self-regulating heat trace cables that prevent pipes from freezing, our solutions are making the world safer and our customers’ operations more sustainable.
Our ability to make an impact is tied to how we design, develop and introduce new products and solutions. The needs of our customers are changing, and there is an increasing need for more sustainable solutions. The electrifying world brings with it new opportunities to innovate.
“We are a products and solution provider, so we want to make sure that we’re developing products and solutions that will provide a more sustainable future and deliver to the needs of our customers,” said Tom Hurney, sr. Technology manager. “Whether we’re developing a new product or refreshing an existing product, we have opportunities to use fewer materials, better materials, design for efficiency and longer life, and enhance safety for our customers.”
Every product development project at nVent goes through our New Product Introduction (NPI) process. Whenever a new product or solution is proposed by a member of our team, the project goes through a series of checkpoints, (or gates) that help us determine whether to spend time and resources on its development. An important part of that process is identifying, evaluating and scoring for ESG impact.
We consider three categories when evaluating and scoring our products and solutions—Eco-Friendly Designs, Eco-Friendly Materials and End User Safety (to learn more about these categories, read our blog series). In order for a project to earn points in the ESG scoring system, it needs to contribute positively in at least one of our three categories. If it contributes to more than one, it earns even more points. Making these categories an integrated part of our NPI process ensures that sustainability and ESG impacts are considered throughout the NPI process for every product or solution we develop.
“ESG is very integrated into our whole NPI process,” said Hurney. “We have three stages: discovery, develop and deploy. In discovery, ESG needs are collected and incorporated through our voice of the customer activity. In the develop stage ESG awareness drives material selection, design choices on efficiency, material reuse, service life, recyclability, and safety. Then when we deploy, it’s about connecting our ESG value proposition to our customers’ ESG needs and goals.”
Because new products are such a core part of how we continue to innovate and solve problems for our customers—we released more than 50 new products in 2021 and are on pace for 50 more in 2022—sustainability considerations are an important part of these products and the nVent business.
“Whether we’re developing a new product or refreshing an existing product, our process gives us the opportunity to use less materials, and better materials. It gives us the opportunity to design for efficiency, a longer life and enhanced safety for our customers,” said Hurney. “What we do during product development is going to be with us and our customers into the future.”