Thermadyne announces commitment to sustainability

November 8, 2010

Thermadyne, St. Louis, has announced its commitment to the environment through several green business initiatives.

All of the company’s manufacturing sites recycle brass, copper, aluminum, and other metal chips left over from producing welding consumables, tips, and other items. Before the chips are sent to a smelting plant for reuse, they are taken to a centrifuge in the facility to “spin out” excess liquids. When dried, the metals possess less than a 1/2 percent moisture content and are ready for the smelter. The leftover liquid is reused internally for other operations.

To ensure the manufactured parts are free of contaminants such as grease, oil, or coolants, the company has invested in new vapor degreasing equipment and processes using hydrocarbon to improve manufactured parts cleaning and minimize the parts’ liquid waste stream.

Reduction of energy consumption now is a global initiative at the company, and each site recycles cardboard, aluminum cans, paper, trash, and other refuse to reduce the waste stream.

Thermadyne also is improving its lighting by replacing old fluorescent lighting that is inefficient and requires hazardous waste disposal with high-performance T-8 lighting. The company also uses inverter welding technology, which it says is more environmentally friendly and helps to reduce energy consumption and costs.