Strategic Goals Program

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Illinois Metal Finishing Firm Leads By Example

SWD Inc, a successful Addison-based metal finishing shop, believes in leading by example. Their participation in national Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program (SGP) serves as an industry model. The SGP is an innovative voluntary partnership between the metal finishing industry, government and communities. Since 1998, U.S. EPA and metal finishers from around the country have joined forces in the SGP -- a program that illustrates how cooperation can advance the bottom line and environmental progress.

SWD is proving this concept at its Addison facility every day.

"Our company is based on the idea of doing it right or not at all," says SWD President Dick Delawder. "We have always been environmentally progressive and we felt that the (SGP) goals were attainable, plus we felt the program would improve our industry’s relationship with the EPA." In fact, the company is so committed to environmental stewardship that it has incorporated the environment as a key message in the company’s mission statement.

- SWD Inc. Mission Statement-

The SGP is a breakthrough, voluntary partnership between industry, government and communities. The program has the support of the major metal finishing trade associations represented by the National Association of Metal Finishers (NAMF), American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers Society (AESF), Metal Finishing Suppliers Association (MFSA) and Surface Finishing Industry Council (SFIC). Nationwide, there are more than 416 active industry participants, 21 states and more than 79 local regulators engaged in the SGP today. The SGP shares resources and best practices through this vast network to show "what works" from the experiences of the facilities actively participating in the program.

Best practices abound at the 60,000 square foot SWD facility, which specializes in black oxiding, passivating and phosphating. The installation of an elevated 5,000-gallon water tank that uses gravity rather than a pressure pump to recycle water has reduced water usage by 56%. The company reuses 40% of its water in non-critical rinses and as wash-down water for floors and tanks. Wastewater treatment costs were curtailed by finding a generic replacement for a proprietary polymer.

The savings are not all in the plant: all the company-owned tractor-trailers were converted to electronically controlled engines, doubling the fuel mileage. Sludge production of non-hazardous metal hydroxide actually increased, because the company is doing a better job of reducing the metals in its effluent. From 1991-92, S.W.D. reduced all TRI organic emissions by 90% and eliminated all TRI emissions by 1993. And a decision to replace hazardous chemicals with non-hazardous ones allowed SWD to save more than $100,000 a year in disposal costs.

SWD has also tapped into the local university for technical assistance. Utilizing the expertise of an energy audit by Bradley University and implementing its findings led to a reduction of 12.4% in energy usage. These savings were accomplished by purchasing a new energy efficient 125 HP water-cooled air compressor, which preheats process waters. By using this preheated process water, insulating steam lines and tanks, gas usage was reduced by 16.2%.

The SGP's success hinges on grassroots leadership, like that of SWD Inc. and the Village of Addison. Local industry associations, metal finishers, Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and the states have a hand in organizing local SGP programs. The state of Illinois and the Village of Addison are both members of the SGP. The Village is recruiting all of its more than 15 metal finishers to join the program and they are offering incentives to those who successfully complete the program.

To provide benefit to companies meeting the goals, Addison has developed a performance ladder system. The ladder is based on three levels of achievement – bronze, silver and gold – dependent of the percentage of success a company has meeting the goals.

SWD recently was awarded the Gold level for its successful completion of the SGP goals. By achieving the gold level, SWD received substantial benefits, including:

• Issuance of a certificate at a televised news conference;
• Announcement of placement in local paper, town web site and to local community groups;
• Self-monitoring was reduced to the Federal minimum of twice per year, and only one compliance inspection is performed annually;
• No sampling fees or administrative penalties are charged for minor excursions, defined as no greater than 20% over the limit; and,

• Extension of their permit life is extended from 3 to 5 years, with no limit changes or re-application required.

For its environmental improvements, SWD, Inc. is one of only two metal finishing firms nationwide to receive the Hammer Award for environmental excellence. In 1999, they were awarded the Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention. SWD was recently accepted as a charter member of the US EPA’s National Environmental Achievement Track. While doing right by the environment, SWD has also grown dramatically and increased its market share over the past 20 years - proving you can have it both ways. SWD shows how both the environment and the business can thrive – an excellent example to follow.

The National Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program promotes best practices and provides resources to help facilities to operate more efficiently. For more information, visit http://www.strategicgoals.org or call the national SGP Answer Line at 703-354-2172. For more information on SWD, Inc, please visit http://www.swdinc.com.