At GTR Manufacturing, many customers ask questions about our sustainability efforts and environmental impact. As a manufacturer, we take great care in these areas because we believe we have a responsibility to our employees, our customers, our community, and the environment around us.
This mindset has guided several important decisions recently, including eliminating our in-house hexavalent chromate line and increasing our powder coating capacity.
Eliminating Our In-House Hexavalent Chromate Line
For many years, GTR offered hexavalent chromate as part of our finishing capabilities. But as customers have started moving toward RoHS-compliant coatings and other alternatives, we saw an opportunity to take a larger step in support of our environmental and safety goals.
We made the decision to eliminate hexavalent chromate from our building entirely.
Removing the hexavalent tank was a proactive environmental and safety decision. It eliminates a hazardous material from our facility and our team’s workflow. While we always want to support customers however we can, we also believe in making responsible decisions when alternatives are available for many applications.
Supporting Hexavalent When Necessary With Outside Partners
It’s important to note: if your part requires hexavalent chromate, we can continue to support the project through an outside finishing partner. When the application allows, we can also help customers evaluate more modern, RoHS-compliant alternatives.
Expanding Powder Coating Capacity
Wet paint can contain volatile organic compounds, commonly known as VOCs, which contribute to emissions and require careful handling. Powder coating offers a lower-VOC alternative for many applications, while still providing a durable and attractive finish. We still offer in-house paint when a project requires it, but we are expanding powder coating as a cleaner option for more customer applications.
Powder coating is a new addition to our Taunton facility, which specializes in metal prototyping services. That means we have the same capabilities for your projects from prototype to production, allowing you to scale smoothly over the long term. When a project begins in our prototype facility, having powder coating available there can help support faster turns and a smoother transition into production.
A Mindset for Everyday Improvements
Sustainability also comes from smaller decisions made throughout our operations. In our electromechanical assembly department, for example, we recycle excess wire and other scrap materials through our existing scrap channels.
Our shipping and assembly teams also look for ways to reuse and recycle packaging whenever possible. For some repeat customers, we use returnable packaging that is sent back to us and reused for future shipments. This helps reduce disposable packaging, including plastic foam. In many cases, reusable packaging can be created for a specific product, which makes it both more sustainable and more effective.
These efforts may seem small on their own, but together they reflect our broader commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability. More efficient choices throughout our operations can support our sustainability goals while also helping keep costs and pricing more stable for customers.
Let’s Talk About Our Efforts
For GTR, sustainability is part of our ongoing effort to create a safer work environment, support our customers, and contribute to a healthier community. Request a quote to work with a partner that takes continuous improvement seriously.