Zero Waste, Zero Landfill and Lowest Life Cycle Costs
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It is getting trendier to say zero waste, and zero landfill in the same sentence, but globally the connotation means different things to different companies. Let Asset Recovery’s version define a new standard for the vision behind the words.
Zero Waste and Zero Landfill to us means using innovative and proven technology together to push the process stream inside the manufacturing processes towards making less waste, rejects and rework.
A Painting Example: For every perfect part we paint with an optimal finish, we reject fewer parts. That wasted part had to be handled, dried, painted several times, trimmed, molded, cleaned, cured, inspected and so forth. Each of those steps is wasted labor, materials, energy, coating, and transportation. In the painting process, when we create over spray that does not go onto the part, it goes into a booth which in turn utilizes more heat, more air, more energy, and more water to process, perhaps even more VOC’s and HAP’s to control. The waste stream created also results in more solids to deal with, more sludge, more booth cleaning and more labor.
The solution: optimize the upstream process with a more robust application and coating technology, optimized controls and controlled booth environments to ensure better painting results. Less scrap equals less waste, which equals less landfill items which results in a lower life cycle cost per part.
A Metal Processing Example: For every part we machine with less than an ideal finish or one that is rejected the waste streams are considerable. For starters there is the part, which likely cost a fair amount, then there is the transportation, labor, handling and processing costs up to the point of it becoming off spec or scrap. All that is lost and wasted. Even on good part production any excess of coolant used which is not needed for its intended purpose of lubricating the tool means more energy, more pumping, more wear and tear on the equipment, and potentially results in larger filter units, flumes and conveyors to handle the streams. This means wasted capital and operating costs. Incorrect designs also result in higher tool costs and chemicals, which in turn means more handling, more storage, more disposal and a higher piece price…
The Solution: optimize the entire process by embracing Zero Waste and Zero landfill initiatives such as using technology with no disposable media. With nothing to change, there is no landfill, no waste, no disposal costs and less labor for handling materials. With clean streams of both air and coolants/liquids the plant stays cleaner, there are less downtime issues which results in more productivity etc…just some examples of Lower Life Cycle Costs.
Let us integrate the “Best In Class” solutions we continuously search for, and validate and bring our ideas along with our extremely resourceful partners and help you experience Zero Waste, Zero Landfill and Lowest Life Cycle Costs.
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