It is interesting that companies are now being asked to provide their environmental credentials when
"The Powder Principle has been pursuing a course of environmentalism for more than a decade."
From our decision to use a non-chrome aluminium pre-treatment, to the elimination of lead from the paints we use, we continue to actively pursue a policy of reducing our impact on the environment.
As a family owned and run business, we are committed to supporting the health, welfare and wellbeing of our staff in the workplace.
We are also committed to ensuring that all of our staff are aware of the need to reduce raw material usage, recycle and to operate as efficiently as possible. In order to achieve this, our staff are trained in optimum painting techniques using the latest technology. The Powder Principle also fosters a culture of upcycling items such as packaging material. In fact we openly convert used packaging material from our clients and neighbours to recycle for use in our business.
As a result of our internal environmental assessment, we consider believe that these are some of the key environmental issues for our business:
The decision to use natural gas as the major power source for heating our pre-treatment tanks and ovens was taken more than 15 years ago. It is a cleaner and more efficient use of our resources and reduces carbon emissions from electric powder equipment. This decision even flows through to our forklift which is LPG fuelled.
As mentioned, the use of a non-chrome pre-treatment for aluminium was taken long before most in the industry recognised its benefits. Despite many industry stalwarts being slow to accept its use, it is now an accepted industry standard and does not have any of the effluent issues associated with chromate conversion coatings.
Comparisons we have undertaken between raw material suppliers in the manufacturing environment, have clearly shown greater transfer efficiency and lower material usage when coating similar substrates. This encompasses the range of suppliers from pre-treatment chemicals to powder and wet paint.
Similar comparisons have been undertaken with equipment suppliers. Those suppliers whose equipment has provided the greatest gains in efficiency have been retained, as the use of their equipment reduces our overall energy and material consumption.
The clean water that we consume is in fact used three times in our operation.
To cool our compressor
In the pre-treatment system to rinse material and fill tanks
Overflow from rinse tanks is used to fill three water-based spray booths
With excessive packaging of imported materials, there are significant issues to be addressed. Our philosophy of "re-use and recycle" rather then "refuse@ means that significant amounts of these materials are re-used to pack finished goods.
Our use of water-based spray booths has a positive impact on the quality of atmospheric emissions. The water traps excess paint and powder from escaping into the atmosphere resulting in a clean exhaust.
Our environmental programme is a constant work in progress as we strive to create a cleaner manufacturing process. As new challenges are presented we attempt to meet them in a practical and efficient manner. We are constantly on the look out for new technologies that reduce our raw material usage and that help us to leave a smaller footprint on the environment around us.
If you would like more information on any of the issues raised, please do not hesitate to contact:
Mark Dawkins, Managing Director
Phone: 02-95573244
Fax: 02-95505840
mark@powderprinciple.com.au
