OSHAWA, ON—Another 11 General Motors facilities worldwide, including the automaker’s assembly plant in Ingersoll, ON, have achieved landfill-free status. All totaled, GM runs 122 landfill-free manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities around the world.
UPPSALA, Sweden—Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a rechargeable battery, made from alfalfa and pine resin, that can be recycled with a low-energy input and non-hazardous chemicals.
RUSSELLS POINT, OH—Just six months after installing two wind turbines at its assembly plant here, Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America Inc. has reported that the machines are producing more electrical power than was anticipated. The turbines have exceeded the projected power output figures by 6.3 percent.
OAK RIDGE, TN—Recycled tires could see new life in lithium-ion batteries that provide power to plug-in electric vehicles and store energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels, say researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Manufacturers are pursuing a wide variety of “green” initiatives, such as energy-efficient lighting, landfill gas, recycling, solar panels and wind turbines. In fact, more than one-half of our 2014 State of the Profession respondents claim their plant has implemented green-related programs during the past 12 months. That’s a 3 percentage point increase over 2013 and 8 percentage points higher than 2012.
3M Co. is famous for sand paper, Scotch tape and Post-it notes. But, it’s also bullish on the future of fuel cell technology. The company is a leading provider of materials that are critical to fuel cells, such as fluoropolymers, membrane materials and advanced ceramics.
The General Motors’ Orion Assembly Plant sits in the shadow of a large landfill. But, the 4-million-square foot factory, which is home to the Chevrolet Sonic and the Buick Verano, uses that to its advantage. The plant derives a significant portion of its power from landfill gas.
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