Operations

Water management

After identifying water recycling opportunities in the Submersibles Reclaim and Paint Line Reclaim systems, our facility in Auburn (New York), USA redirected the recycled water to facility restrooms, resulting in a 27% reduction in total water use at the facility.

At our Texarkana (Arkansas), USA facility, we introduced 12 waterless urinals and installed a sensor system in the water tank clarifier and passivation tanks to minimize excess water use. Since September 2024, these initiatives have reduced water consumption by approximately 70,000 gallons per month.

The installation of a closed-loop glycol chiller at our Buffalo (New York), USA facility optimized the need for process water to cool their braze press, reducing their total water usage by 50%.

Energy efficiency and emissions reduction

By the end of 2024, more than 1,100 electrified vehicles (EVs) made up nearly 85% of our EU passenger fleet and nearly 60% of our total EU fleet, including commercial vehicles. We nearly doubled our fleet of EVs in North America, with more than 460 on the road at the end of 2024.

We installed a catalytic combustion system for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions reduction in our paint shop in Shenyang, China. The system is estimated to reduce VOC emissions by more than 90% compared to previous levels.

Our Dubois (Pennsylvania), USA facility upgraded its HVAC system, allowing the removal of one of two outdated and inefficient natural gas boilers. This improvement reduced GHG emissions by 25% and saved 20,000 gallons of water annually.

At our Emmaboda, Sweden facility, a wood crusher was installed to reduce both internal and external transport of wooden waste. Previously, the facility generated approximately 400 metric tons of wood waste annually, requiring more than 100 transport trips for recycling. With the wood crusher, transport needs have been cut by about 50%, reducing CO₂ emissions by more than 1,000 kilograms per year. Additionally, safety at the facility has improved by minimizing container changes and limiting the need for external waste management vehicles on-site.