Articles List

If you fabricate metal products and need resources to get the job done, greenmanufacturer.net can help. Each tech cell is packed with specific links to help you find product information, suppliers, technical articles, case studies, seminars and conferences, as well as books, software, and videos on metal fabricating-related topics.

A maximum of 50 results has been returned, to narrow your search, please use the Advanced Search

Results: 50


View this Issue	Fluid pumping systems — low-hanging fruit for energy savings Published: February 1, 2012 Green Zone: Facilities Roughly 20 percent of all motor-driven electrical energy usage in the U.S. is in pumping systems. Taking a whole-systems approach, rather than component approach, offers the opportunity to save up to 82 percent energy efficiency, far more than the...

View this Issue	5 things manufacturers should know about new lighting standards Published: February 1, 2012 Green Zone: Facilities As part of a global initiative for responsible energy use and conservation, Congress has passed legislation addressing the energy efficiency of lighting fixtures, ballasts and lamps (light bulbs and fluorescent tubes).

View this Issue	Manufacturers gone zero landfill Published: January 31, 2012 Green Zone: Facilities Manufacturers are leading the effort to achieve zero landfill and are finding rewards and recognition, as well as savings, and are influencing other market segments to follow suit.

View this Issue	Net zero energy electrifies sign-maker Published: January 27, 2012 Green Zone: Power Sources Philadelphia Sign Co. marked its centurial anniversary in 2011. Some companies celebrate their anniversaries with a party. Philadelphia Sign commemorated it by going net zero energy.

View this Issue	Sage Supplier: Wind power transmission provides manufacturing opportunities Published: December 20, 2011 Green Zone: Renewable Energy Suppliers Wind power transmission provides manufacturing opportunities; Taking the wind to the mountain.

View this Issue	Under Cover: NFL teams score big with green initiatives Published: December 20, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities The Packers' Lambeau Field has all of its postgame waste recycled. If pro football can go green, can industry follow suit?

View this Issue	North to South, employee discomfort runs hot and cold Published: December 19, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Extreme temperatures in winter in Ontario and in summer in Texas have challenged facility managers to find new methods to provide comfort to employees as well as to reduce energy consumption.

View this Issue	Keeping chlorinated solvents in the loop Published: December 19, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment Chlorinated solvents have proven to be the best cleaning medium in many applications to achieve the highest-quality required cleaning results. However, chlorinated solvents come with environmental and safety risks. A closed-loop cleaning process...

View this Issue	Biomass gets famous window-maker out of a logjam Published: December 17, 2011 Green Zone: Power Sources Andersen Corporation, the nation’s largest window manufacturer, built Minnesota’s first combined warm-water recovery and bio-mass steam plant that uses sawdust and wood waste to produce power.

View this Issue	Understanding LEED® Certification: Energy and Atmosphere Published: October 14, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities This is the second half of Part III of an article covering energy and atmosphere. The first half of Part III was published in the July/August issue of Green Manufacturer.

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Reusable dunnage saves $8 million, reduces environmental waste for brewer Published: October 13, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation As a leading beer brewer, MillerCoors® transports more than half a million loads of beer bottles, beer cans, and other products from its warehouses to its distributors every year. Transporting the shipments involves carefully...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Energy-efficient lighting to save medical component-maker $20,000 per year Published: October 13, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation MRPC, located in Butler, Wis., is a custom manufacturer of molded silicone, medical rubber, and thermoplastic components and assemblies for the medical device industry. The company specializes in two-material applications,...

View this Issue	Green on the Hill: DOE eyes first-time efficiency standards for industrial and commercial pumps Published: October 13, 2011 Green Zone: Legislation The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will be considering new energy efficiency standards for commercial and industrial pumps, a decision that has divided business groups into opposing camps. Some energy companies support the preliminary...

View this Issue	Under Cover: Burt’s Bees’ zero-landfill initiative is absorbed through its supply chain Published: October 12, 2011 Green Zone: Materials It’s only natural that supplying products that support its mission is a prerequisite to being a supplier to Burt’s Bees.

View this Issue	Shedding light on LED for industry Published: October 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Thanks to advancements in semiconductors, optics, and materials, LED lighting has excellent applications in industrial environments, and it is especially suitable for hazardous locations.

View this Issue	Tugger and cart system is green approach to in-plant material transport Published: October 12, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment Forklifts have a long history of being the sole movers of material on plant floors; however, they can be fuel guzzlers and industrial accidents catalysts. Tuggers toting non-powered carts are an energy-efficient alternative.

View this Issue	Thermoformer chases "chasing arrows" recycling symbol Published: October 11, 2011 Green Zone: Materials Dordan Manufacturing's Sustainability Manager Chandler Slavin is featured.

View this Issue	Sage Supplier: Battery manufacturer makes storing wind, solar energy possible Published: October 11, 2011 Green Zone: Power Sources International Battery, Allentown, Pa., designs and manufactures large-format lithium ion batteries—not for automobiles, but for renewable energy storage.

View this Issue	Sage Supplier: SW manufacturer makes on-site wind power accessible, affordable Published: August 12, 2011 Green Zone: Renewable Energy Suppliers Distributed wind turbine manufacturer Southwest Windpower makes onsite wind power accessible, affordable and adorable. Co-founder Andy Kruse also took it to the Hill to get Small Wind a piece of the tax incentive pie in the form of an investment...

View this Issue	Recovering heat, losing emissions Published: August 12, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment Boiler-generated steam remains an efficient method of heat transfer for most manufacturing applications; however, a tremendous amount of energy and water can be lost. An advanced heat recovery system using transport membrane condenser technology...

View this Issue	Using Web-based control systems to manage building utility usage Published: August 12, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment Web-based building controls can yield substantial energy savings, if used correctly and in the right applications. Foundry manufacturer Peerless was able to bring its offshore manufacturing back to the U.S. with better energy control and management.

View this Issue	Under Cover: Wireless networks—not just for coffee bars anymore Published: August 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Smart cities; smart factories

View this Issue	Candy packaging manufacturer uses geothermal—with a twist Published: August 10, 2011 Green Zone: Power Sources Flexible film manufacturer installed a unique geothermal system that not only cools manufacturing machinery, but also heats and cools the plant as well.

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Oil, gas company reduces coolant disposal issues with filter Published: August 1, 2011 Green Zone: Materials Situation A Texas-based oil and gas company recently formed a team to focus on coolant cleanliness as a means to cut costs and increase plant safety and ecofriendliness. Dirty coolant leads to shorter tooling life, increased downtime,...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Software controls energy costs for car manufacturer Published: August 1, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation In a car factory with a few million square feet of floor space, turning lights off in unused parts of the plant saves a lot of energy and money. General Motors realized that if it tied its lighting to the schedule of its conveyor,...

View this Issue	Green on the Hill: New industrial energy efficiency programs proposed Published: August 1, 2011 Green Zone: Legislation A Senate bill proposing a host of new industrial energy efficiency programs is running into some resistance. The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011 (S. 1000) includes a number of new programs that would be housed at...

View this Issue	Understanding LEED® Certification: Part III Published: August 1, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Understanding LEED® Certification: Part II I Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance , Energy and Atmosphere Editor's Note: This Part III is the first half of an article covering energy and atmosphere. The balance of...

View this Issue	Green on the Hill: AC to get a chill; Biomass to get free pass? Published: June 15, 2011 Green Zone: Legislation The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has started to evaluate whether it should set new minimum energy efficiency standards for a suite of industrial and commercial heating and cooling products. Looks like the EPA is going to give companies that use...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: System helps galvanizer meet zinc benchmarks for stormwater Published: June 15, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation The galvanizing facility at Emerald Galvanizing Inc., Puget Sound, Wash., consists of about 8,700 sq. ft. of paved area with a building measuring about 4,300 sq. ft. The stormwater collects at one catch basin and discharges directly...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Nontoxic cleaners save time, costs for aircraft maintenance Published: June 15, 2011 Green Zone: Materials Situation Aircraft maintenance professionals at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, Cleveland, were looking for a more ecofriendly, less time-consuming method for keeping the aircraft clean inside and out-. "Normally, we cover up numerous...

View this Issue	Product lifecycle assessment shows true environmental impact Published: June 14, 2011 Green Zone: Management For many manufacturers, following environmentally sustainable practices is not only the right thing to do for the future; rather, it has become a business imperative—part of the “triple bottom line. Often impacts are not unearthed until one...

View this Issue	Under Cover: One island’s accidental discovery helps another island’s accident recovery Published: June 14, 2011 Green Zone: Management A serendipitous event—a happy accident—has become a hero in the efforts to help Japan recover from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant crisis stemming from meltdowns at three reactors in the wake of an earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

View this Issue	Loading dock—big gaping hole, big energy savings potential Published: June 13, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities The loading dock can be a major hole-in-the-wall pain in the neck which can account for tremendous energy loss, both in terms of heating/cooling escaping through the doorway and fuel consumption at mis-managed docks as trucks idle while waiting...

View this Issue	Demand response: the power program that pays you back Published: June 13, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment The demand response aspect of smart-grid technology has changed the face of energy forever. Once a one-way street, electric power is now a bidirectional, two-way street, putting manufacturers in greater control of their electricity demand and costs.

View this Issue	Eco strategies drive mat-maker’s U-turn Published: June 10, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment When Jeffrey Willis bought Pretty Products four years ago, the company was losing a million dollars a month. Willis determined that sustainability strategies were needed to reverse its economic descent.

View this Issue	The Strategy, the Fight, and Emerging Victorious Published: June 10, 2011 Green Zone: Management Pretty Products President Jeffrey Willis calls the company’s community Victory Garden the most important part of the green strategy. “Everybody works in it.”

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Improved air circulation cuts heating bill at lubricant plant Published: April 14, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation Employees at the 45,000-sq.-ft. Amsoil synthetic lubricant plant in Superior, Wis., are used to cold working conditions, especially with winters averaging 10 to 15 degrees F. Inside the facility, temperatures at the occupant...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Precision refrigeration slices cheesemaker’s energy costs Published: April 14, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation Grafton Village Cheese Co. makes about 2.4 million lbs. of its all-natural cheese each year, aging the cheese from one to four years in its warehouses in Grafton and Brattleboro, Vt. Quality control is a "paramount virtue"...

View this Issue	Understanding LEED® Certification: Part II Published: April 14, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities In the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system, the Water Efficiency credits can be earned by reducing potable water consumption. Strategies include Water closets, urinals, showerheads, faucets, faucet replacement,...

View this Issue	Cherry-picking conveyor components to optimize energy efficiency Published: April 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Conveyors are big energy consumers in manufacturing plants, warehouses, and distribution centers.

View this Issue	6 alternatives to diesel for freight transport Published: April 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Looking at ecofriendly transport of your green products? Transporting sustainably produced goods by less than ecofriendly means can be a last-round black eye on an otherwise green production process.

View this Issue	Waste do’s and don’ts at ’Bu’s and Bees Published: April 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. manufactures the Subaru Outback®, Legacy®, and Tribeca® lines (as well as the Toyota Camry® for Toyota). It is the only Subaru auto assembly plant in the U.S. In May 2004 it distinguished itself for...

View this Issue	Green on the hill: EPA delays GHG emissions reporting Published: April 12, 2011 Green Zone: Legislation Bowing to congressional pressure, the EPA has put off the March 31, 2011 deadline for companies to report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the agency. Tthe GOP is now moving forward with legislation prohibiting the EPA from actually regulating...

View this Issue	Under Cover: What to do with food, paper waste? Published: April 12, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Manufacturers looking to reduce or eliminate their waste who say they find their cafeteria and office waste to be a can of worms may find the solution to be a bin of worms.

View this Issue	Thinking outside the chip for solar market opportunities Published: April 11, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities American Roll Form sought a market opportunity in the growing solar energy segment manufacturing solar panel mounting devices. It now comprises 15% of its business activity.

View this Issue	10 best building retrofits Published: April 11, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Manufacturers are increasingly seeking energy and operational efficiencies through building retrofits.

View this Issue	Understanding LEED® Certification Published: March 2, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities A project’s location is the groundwork for sustainability, as it has a dramatic impact on the performance of a building over its lifetime, from the way people travel to and from the building to how it coexists with the local ecosystem. ...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: Tooling manufacturer makes changes to help customers achieve green goals Published: February 1, 2011 Green Zone: Machinery and Equipment Situation Seco Tools, Troy Mich., is a manufacturer and supplier of carbide cutting tools and associated equipment for milling, turning, and holemaking. The manufacturer realized that while its customers might want to make their shops more...

View this Issue	Plant Applications: LED case lighting system improves safety, efficiency for wholesale club Published: February 1, 2011 Green Zone: Facilities Situation BJ’s Wholesale Club, with headquarters in Natick, Mass., is a wholesale club with 189 locations in 15 states. The club sells groceries, meats, clothing, jewelry, office supplies, and other items at wholesale prices. The...

View this Issue	Green on the hill: EPA rules the day Published: February 1, 2011 Green Zone: Legislation Companies across a very wide swath of industrial sectors would be affected by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rule tightening refrigerant leak detection rates for commercial and industrial cooling units. Upcoming changes...