Innovation for Sustainable Products

At Dover, our sustainability efforts extend beyond our operations. An important part of our efforts involves developing products that are designed to help our customers meet their sustainability goals, run their operations more efficiently, and satisfy evolving regulatory and environmental standards.

Innovating to address customer needs is vital to value creation and to our competitiveness. Developing more efficient products that reduce carbon emissions in the use phase will also enable us to reduce our Scope 3 emissions, contributing to progress on our science-based target to reduce our Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 15% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. Scope 3 GHG emissions cover 15 categories of upstream and downstream activities. In 2023, 87% of our Scope 3 footprint was associated with category 11 emissions from the use of our sold products. Accordingly, we are focused on innovating to develop efficient, sustainable products that reduce carbon emissions in the use phase and addressing evolving customer and market demands. Our operating companies are well-positioned to capitalize on increasing requirements for sustainability, safety, and energy efficiency, and we strive to integrate these considerations into the design, development, and customer use of our products. This includes developing products and solutions that enable our customers to use resources more efficiently and reduce GHG emissions, while increasing reliability and durability. We primarily pursue innovation for sustainable products in three areas:

Clean technology

Optimizing use of resources and materials

Enabling the circular economy

How Dover Innovates for Sustainable Products

The product management and research and development (R&D) teams at our operating companies lead innovation and product development, including with respect to sustainability. Product management and R&D teams regularly engage with our customers to assess ways we can help them achieve their business and sustainability objectives. These efforts are complemented with internal analysis of potential opportunities and unmet market needs.

Since 2021, four of Dover's largest operating companies by emissions have participated in regular workshops to discuss new methods for integrating sustainability considerations into product development and design. During these meetings, leaders from our operating companies and the Dover corporate center review emissions from the use of sold products, identify opportunities to consider sustainability at R&D checkpoints in new product development, and discuss initiatives to reduce product energy usage. As part of these meetings, operating companies learn and share best practices in new product development and sustainable innovation from industry and other operating companies. These meetings are an important component of our pathway to achieving Dover’s 2030 Scope 3 science-based target.

Our Scope 3, Category 11: Use of Sold Products emissions increased by approximately 1% from 2019 to 2023. This year, we are extrapolating Scope 3 emissions solely based on operating company revenues, and we plan to conduct a more comprehensive calculation of our Scope 3 Category 11 emissions in the upcoming year for a more detailed assessment. We conducted an analysis to understand the trend and have identified a few primary causes, including improved data collection and revenue growth from additional product sales. Furthermore, while our operating companies are working hard to innovate more sustainable products, there is a notable time lag in the product development process between the inception of a sustainable product idea and the realization of emissions reductions associated with that product. On average in our industries, the time from ideation to products in-use at scale is approximately 5-10 years. However, we are beginning to see our team's sustainable innovation come to market, exemplified by our hydrogen-related products from our clean energy operating companies. These efforts are in line with global technological advancements, showcasing our commitment to advancing our products in the energy sector. For more information on Dover’s progress toward our science-based target, see our Energy and Emissions webpage.

In 2023, R&D spend, including qualifying engineering costs, represented 1.8% of our annual revenue. Dover has maintained relatively consistent investment in R&D for the past several years. Ultimately, we view R&D as critical to maintaining the long-term growth and competitiveness of our product offerings in the marketplace as the global demand for more sustainable solutions continues to increase.

DOVER OPERATING COMPANIES INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

See how our operating companies are innovating to provide products that deliver sustainability benefits to our customers and our environment.

Pursuing Opportunities in Clean Technology

As a global manufacturer and solutions provider, we recognize that we can promote clean technology, or technology that has a lower impact on the environment, throughout our product portfolio and value chain.

Enhancing access to electric and hydrogen fueling: Dover Fueling Solutions and OPW

Our Clean Energy & Fueling segment businesses (Dover Fueling Solutions and OPW) provide fueling solutions for lower-carbon alternatives such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and hydrogen fueling. Dover Fueling Solutions recently launched a new hydrogen dispenser that provides a lower-carbon alternative for a broad range of applications, from heavy-duty vehicle refueling to fuel retailing. Dover Fueling Solutions leveraged decades of hydraulic innovation and insight to design a dispenser with reliable performance, seamless user experience, and low total cost of ownership. Dover Fueling Solutions showcased this advanced hydrogen technology at the 2022 Hydrogen Technology Expo, engaging with customers, industry partners, and other key stakeholders in the hydrogen value chain.

Dover Fueling Solutions also launched a high-powered, ultrafast electric vehicle (EV) charging system: the Power UX 180. The ultrafast power output of the Power UX 180 enables EVs to drive 100 km, or over 60 miles, after less than 10 minutes of charging. The system also has a small footprint, allowing installation in areas with limited space. These powerful EV charging systems provide an opportunity to reduce transportation-related GHG emissions. Through its hydrogen dispenser, charging stations, and other lower-carbon fueling solutions, Dover Fueling Solutions is addressing key challenges and opportunities created by the clean energy transition.

Enabling alternative and clean fuels in challenging applications: OPW Clean Energy Solutions

Supporting the scale-up of green hydrogen: Dover Precision Components

Dover Precision Components manufactures performance-critical solutions for rotating and reciprocating machinery across numerous sectors. Dover Precision Components recently opened a new Innovation Lab in Houston, TX, to centralize its research and product development efforts. The state-of-the-art building includes a hydrogen testing facility for performance materials that are key to the advancement of hydrogen technology. Hydrogen is a clean-burning, lower-carbon fuel alternative that only produces water vapor when combusted. Green hydrogen, which is generated from renewable energy, has the potential to support the transition to a more sustainable energy system. The new Dover Precision Components Innovation Lab is well-positioned to provide innovative new products and technologies that address key challenges and support the scale-up of green hydrogen.

Optimizing Use of Resources and Materials

We strive to help our customers meet their sustainability goals by developing products that help them efficiently use and conserve resources and optimize energy use.

Saving energy and water and increasing recyclability: Pump Solutions Group

Pump Solutions Group (PSG) offers pump solutions that enable safe, efficient transfer of critical and valuable fluids and materials that require optimal performance and peace-of-mind reliability. For example, PSG recently developed a seal-less pump solution for its market-leading Blackmer vane pumps that helps customers eliminate fuel spillage during fueling processes.

One of PSG’s newest brands, Quantex, produces pumps that can transfer high viscosity fluids, which allows the dilution and mixing of concentrates directly in a wide variety of applications. By reducing the volume of water, these pumps enable customers to reduce shipping costs and emissions. Recently, Quantex has successfully reduced the use of mixed materials in its single-use pumps by replacing a silicone spring with air pressure, thereby making the pumps easier to recycle and improving the flowrate. Quantex has also been working with several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create dispensers for retailers that enable consumers to refill reusable bottles and reduce single-use plastic waste.

Reducing methane leakage and helping oil and gas operators achieve sustainability goals: Cook Compression

Cook Compression, and its parent company Dover Precision Components, develop solutions that help oil and gas operators reduce emissions, achieve their sustainability goals, and comply with regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that over 200,000 packing systems in the U.S. natural gas industry are venting 200 million cubic feet of methane into the open atmosphere every day – a volume equivalent to filling two enclosed professional football stadiums. Across the oil and gas value chain, Cook Compression offers solutions that reduce these fugitive emissions while improving compressor performance.

In downstream oil and gas, where fugitive emissions are regulated, the industry-leading COOK CLEAN packing uses inert gas to create a barrier to gas leakage in gas compressors. In upstream oil and gas, updating to Cook Compression packing with packing with TruTech™ materials could reduce gas leakage rates by 80%. Cook Compression’s BTUU/BTRR rings also reduce gas leakage with a gapless design that eliminates leak paths and seals more effectively than conventional BTR rings, reducing fugitive emissions below measurable limits. For midstream oil and gas operators, Cook Compression Static-Pac® units eliminate up to 96% of fugitive emissions during compressor stand-by. In addition to minimizing direct emissions, Cook Compression valve solutions reduce indirect emissions by increasing operational efficiency and reliability and reducing compressor energy usage.

Optimizing energy use and enabling carbon neutral heating and cooling solutions: SWEP

SWEP innovates to optimize the use of energy, material, and space in heating and cooling systems. Heat exchangers transfer heat from one medium to another, causing the temperature change required for the system application. The total efficiency of a heat exchanger depends on different design parameters, and brazed plate heat exchangers by SWEP use innovative technologies that optimize these parameters to deliver high system performance and reduce energy consumption. The small and compact design adds important customer value by saving space and weight in the systems compared to other market solutions, such as shell-and-tube or gasketed heat exchangers.

With countries around the world shifting residential heating systems from fossil fuels to heat pumps, SWEP is poised to support customers in this energy transition. SWEP recently launched the FI22AS, a heat exchanger designed for residential heat pumps, with high efficiency and low refrigerant charge enabling a smaller carbon footprint. The heat exchanger uses SWEP’s patented AsyMatrix^® technology and an innovative distribution system to deliver high thermal performance while ensuring a low water pressure drop. Additionally, the SWEP FI22AS is optimized for R290 and R32 refrigerants. R290 is a natural refrigerant which doesn’t harm the ozone layer and has minimal impact on global warming, while R32 is a single component refrigerant that it is easier to reuse or recycle and is a low global warming potential refrigerant. The FI22AS heat exchanger and other SWEP products are helping customers achieve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Cool with CO₂: Advansor

Advansor’s innovative sustainable refrigeration systems exclusively use carbon dioxide (CO₂), a natural, non-toxic, and highly efficient refrigerant. Advansor's strong focus on energy efficiency produces systems that provide the lowest possible energy consumption. Advansor offers a range of products based on CO₂ refrigeration and produces systems for a wide spectrum of applications including small discounters, big food retailers, and industrial cold chain applications.

For example, Advansor recently launched the CuBig II, a new climate solution that integrates cooling, freezing, heating, and AC in a single unit. The energy-efficient unit eliminates the need for emissions-intensive boilers, providing energy and cost savings. The compact design of the CuBig II allows it to easily fit through doors, facilitating its installation in existing facilities. In one case study, the CuBig II achieved 30% energy savings for a French food retailer. Advansor has also developed a CO₂-based heat pump, the SteelXL, which can replace gas heating systems. The SteelXL heat pumps were installed in a district heating system in Denmark, where they helped reduce residents’ energy bills by up to 50% and CO₂ emissions by up to 70%.

Natural refrigerants with low global warming potential: Dover Food Retail Hillphoenix

Dover Food Retail Hillphoenix is using natural refrigerants, including CO₂, propane, and glycol for food retail and other refrigeration products. These natural refrigerants replace the fluorinated greenhouse gas refrigerants, or HFC refrigerants, that are known ozone-depleting substances. The natural refrigerants used by Hillphoenix also have lower global warming potentials, a measure that reflects the global warming impacts of different gases relative to CO₂. In addition to reducing the impact on our environment, natural refrigerants can lower customer costs during installation and operation of the systems, and can improve equipment efficiencies.

Hillphoenix was recently recognized for its leadership in designing environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems with its 11^th consecutive Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) GreenChill Store Certification Excellence Award. This recognition is awarded to the commercial refrigeration systems manufacturer that installed the most systems in GreenChill-certified stores in the previous year. Stores can attain GreenChill certification using environmentally friendlier commercial refrigeration systems, as measured by global warming potential, quantity of refrigerant used, and refrigerant emissions rate. As of 2022, Hillphoenix systems were installed in over 80% of GreenChill-certified stores.

Enabling the Circular Economy

In an effort to support a more circular economy, many of our operating companies assess resource use over the entire lifecycle for their products — from sourcing and manufacturing to customer use and disposal. Our solutions enable customers to keep their products operational longer and limit the use of disposable materials such as single-use plastics.

Keeping products going longer: Dover Fueling Solutions and Markem-Imaje

As industrial machinery experts, we are committed to helping our customers keep their products and materials in use longer. Dover operating companies are developing innovative, digitally-enabled products for monitoring equipment and conducting maintenance. For example, Dover Fueling Solution's DX Monitor uses data, analytics, and remote monitoring to improve operational outcomes in the retail fueling industry. DX Monitor provides centralized, enterprise-wide monitoring and management of fuel dispensers and payment modules. This data enables remote investigation of malfunctions and prioritization of maintenance needs, reducing maintenance costs and downtime. By providing visibility on the functionality of the fueling network, DX Monitor can also prevent unnecessary technician travel to customer sites for maintenance and machine replacement, thus reducing GHG emissions.

Markem-Imaje also keeps products going longer by offering easily replaceable modular parts that allow for quick and easy substitution of the shorter lifespan parts within its marking and coding machines. Customers can leverage the Miva virtual assistant and remote video support to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues quickly and easily. These online tools limit the need for field service engineers to travel to customer sites, reducing both product downtime and carbon emissions. For more complex modules, Markem-Imaje also deploys an advanced service exchange program to refurbish broken parts.

For more information on our innovative and sustainable products and solutions and how they enable the circular economy, please visit our Waste webpage.