Lincoln Electric Announces Green Initiative Awareness Program
New green labeling highlights equipment enhancements and manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impact
Inverter Technology
EPA Tier 4i
Cleveland - Lincoln Electric announces its new Green Initiative Awareness Program to promote the company's initiatives to reduce environmental impact of its manufacturing processes and products. The continued investment in technological advancement for its welding products has resulted in lower environmental impacts for its customers and underlines its commitment to creating products that help customers reduce welding costs and adhere to environmental standards. To help customers easily identify the products connected to these initiatives, Lincoln Electric is labeling them with a new "Green Initiative" logo that clearly states the product's green advantage. The Company has also created a Web site to further explain these initiatives at lincolnelectric.com/green.
Lincoln Electric has initially focused its efforts on two equipment initiatives-inverter technology and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Tier 4i engine emission compliance. Welding equipment featuring inverter technology can save customers more than 10 percent on total energy consumption related to welding over traditional transformer-based power sources. EPA Tier 4i compliance means Lincoln Electric and its engine suppliers meet and exceed EPA guidelines two years before it is required for emissions on its diesel engine-driven welders.
Inverter Technology Reduces Energy Consumption
Inverter-based welding power sources, such as Invertec® stick, TIG, and multi-process welders and the line of Power Wave® machines, operate at higher frequencies than traditional power sources. These higher frequencies allow for smaller, more efficient magnetic components that require less electrical power and reduce overall energy use.
Lincoln Electric Responds to Early EPA Challenge
Beginning in 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency will require diesel engine suppliers to reduce exhaust emissions on engines manufactured for use in off-road products in the United States. Any diesel engine-including diesel engine-driven welders-must meet either the EPA Tier 3 or EPA Tier 4i standards. As of fall of 2008, Lincoln Electric's entire line of diesel engine-driven welders was upgraded to the new standards - two years earlier than required by the EPA - and received a new product number in connection with engine changes to EPA Tier 4i or Tier 4 Final.
Products meeting the new EPA standards include Lincoln Electric's wide selection of Ranger® and Vantage® engine drives. These state-of-the-art, multi-process welder/generators are ideal for construction teams, pipe rig owners and rental fleet managers. Also available with EPA Tier 4i compliance are Lincoln Electric's Pipeliner® 200D engine-drive-ideal for cross-country pipeline welding- and the Classic® 300D engine-drive with consistent DC generator welding output.
Lincoln Electric Analyzes Manufacturing Processes
ISO 14001 certified since 2004, Lincoln Electric is continuously working to lessen its environmental impact. Lincoln is reducing its environmental impact through various methods such as Six Sigma projects to reduce scrap and waste, improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes, enhance paper and metal recycling programs, remove old or obsolete equipment, and focus on energy efficiency and manufacturing process improvements.
"Lincoln Electric is committed to minimizing risks to human health and the environment in and around the workplace. More specifically, Lincoln is dedicated to maintaining the health and safety of its employees, customers and neighbors, as well as preserving the integrity of our environment," said John Petkovsek, environmental, health and safety director, Lincoln Electric.
The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, fume extraction equipment and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment. The company holds a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market.
