The DECC Company Aids in the Prevention of 500 Tons of Metal Being Sent to a Landfill
Grand Rapids, MI - The DECC Company, a custom coater based in West Michigan, has reached a significant milestone in terms of their green business goals: in partnership with a major diesel OEM, over the course of 2010 and into 2011, the prevention of 500 tons of remanufactured material ultimately ending up in a landfill.
With over 30% of DECC's business derived from the remanufacturing sector, president and owner Fred Mellema is proud of his company's commitment to not only a sustainable business model, but an environmentally friendly and socially responsible one in particular.
"In terms of how we do business at DECC, relationships are key to our success," says Mellema. "But those relationships aren't always just business to business or people to people," he continues. "In order be successful and grow as a company, they need to be environmental and societal, as well."
While they have not laid out a specific "green plan," how DECC impacts the environment and community is a key driver of business decisions because, as Mellema puts it, "it's just the right thing to do." Reaching 500 tons of reclaimed/saved material was not a targeted number, but garnering a larger market share of the remanufacturing sector and contributing to the green cause was. "I had no idea our impact could be this measurable, so reaching the 500 ton milestone was pretty significant for us," says Mellema.
DECC's desire to have a positive impact on the environment and community can be seen in other ways, as well. Understanding the very nature of the industrial coatings industry in that many coatings contain high amounts of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), DECC has invested in equipment to reduce their emissions significantly. Purchasing a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) to destroy VOC's generated by their mass production processes, plant wide emissions were reduced from a potential of almost 46 tons to actual emissions of fewer than 4 tons - more than a 90% reduction.
Incoming review of coatings is another way DECC protects the environment and their employees. If for any reason it is determined that the coating is noncompliant with safety or environmental regulations, it will not be allowed into the facility despite the fact it could mean passing on a new opportunity for additional business.
In regards to their commitment to the community, DECC still provides the same employment opportunities to the people of Hope Network, a local non-profit organization that empowers people with mental and physical disadvantages, that they have been for the past 40 years.
The path followed so far has been advantageous for DECC as they have had the best first two quarters of sales since 2007. "The future is bright at DECC," says Mellema, "which only reaffirms that by doing the right thing, sales and success will follow."
The DECC Company is an ISO 9001:2008 registered functional coating applicator serving a variety of industries, including automotive, diesel, aerospace, furniture, alternative energy, commercial food processing, medical and military. DECC's capabilities include state-of-the-art electrostatic and robotic spray applications, surface preparation, rack coating design and fabrication, as well as assembly and packaging. DECC is successful providing solutions related to corrosion resistance, rubber to metal bonding, abrasion and wear resistance, chemical resistance, high temperature resistance, noise reduction, non-stick release, cosmetic appearance, squeak elimination and FDA approved coatings. Contact us today through our web site, www.decc.com or call 616-588-2850.
