May 31, 2004—KI recently earned a 2004 Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award, sponsored by Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, an affiliate of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. KI’s powder coating method, utilized in the manufacture of its SystemsWall Panel System and Genius Architectural Wall products, slashed air emissions of volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants, and significantly reduced the amount of plant scrap created.
KI’s engineering team at its Manitowoc, Wis. facility developed a process to make its SystemsWall Panel System and Genius Architectural Wall even more earth-friendly and further aligned with the company’s goals to prevent pollution and minimize waste. The two interior wall product lines can be reconfigured to create new space for changing company design needs, and enable organizations to bypass a lengthy, disruptive and often costly tear down of conventional drywall construction.
Remaining true to KI’s “reduce, reuse, recycle” motto, in mid-2002 the team went one step further by converting the product lines’ wet paint system to a powder coating method, which slashed air emissions of volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants, and significantly reduced the amount of plant scrap. This retrofit of the original wet paint tools to a powder system enabled KI to minimize its costs for the project.
Now in its 15th year, winners of the Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award are categorized according to the number of employees and judged by an independent panel of judges including representatives from industry, state government, and the University of Wisconsin System in the areas of pollution prevention, innovative technology and environmental stewardship.
For more information, contact KI as well as see their ad on FMLink.
