Decade Products Receives Eco-Intelligent Design Certification for RACX(TM) Product Line
Becomes First-in-the-Nation Plastic Pallet to Earn
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry Silver "Cradle-to-Cradle" Certification
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., December 1, 2008 - Decade Products, a joint venture between Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cascade Engineering and Israel-based Dolav Plastic Products, today announced that it has been awarded Silver Certification by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) for its Cradle-to-Cradle design of the RACX(TM) pallet product line.
The MBDC Certification is a scientifically based process that reviews specific criteria to assess the environmental attributes of materials used in products. The third-party certification acknowledges the RACXs achievement in multiple areas, including closed-loop lifecycle, use of safe materials for humans and the environment, product and system design for material reutilization, use of renewable energy in the manufacturing process and efficient use of water.
"This certification is further validation of our commitment to creating eco-friendly products that help reduce our carbon footprint, while delivering an exceptional product to customers," said Fred Keller, Chairman and CEO of Cascade Engineering. "I am very proud of the long hours and hard work the Decade team has put into this process in order to achieve this first-in-the-industry recognition."
The certification process, which began in July 2008, represents another milestone for both Decade Products and Cascade Engineering's in developing high-quality sustainable products. Decade also noted that it will continue to refine the RACX product line and manufacturing process in order to achieve the next level of MDBC certification.
Ralph Harris, President and CEO of Decade Products added: "There were a number of people involved in helping us achieve this outstanding accreditation, each of whom deserve to be recognized for their work. With this accreditation, our customers can rest assured knowing that they are receiving the best-in-class, environmentally friendly products."
About RACX(TM) Pallets: Decade's new RACX(TM) pallet combines strength and economy in a lightweight one-piece design for superior performance at an affordable price. Fabricated of 100% recycled HDPE plastics, these rackable pallets feature a picture frame bottom with runners on all four sides for stability. They are ideal for use in warehouse racking systems, as well as stack loading, closed loop transport, floor storage and automated material handling applications.
In addition, RACX® pallets are engineered so that the bottom pallet can handle the full static load when loaded pallets are stacked 2 or more high; and offer unsupported rack capacities up to 2,200 lbs. Available in a standard size of 48x40-inches, RACX® pallets may be fitted with optional rubber grommets or a lip to keep contents from slipping.
About Decade Products: Manufactures bulk shipping and storage containers and pallets for industrial, agricultural and food processing applications worldwide. Whether you need pallets to transfer automotive components in-plant, or USDA-approved containers for food processing applications, you will discover that our products offer a unique level of quality, performance and cost-effective advantages unlike any other containers on the market. That's because we engineer our products from HDPE structural foam materials to stand the test of time. These strong, yet lightweight, completely reusable containers offer increased life span, superior corrosion resistance, and virtually no maintenance.
About Cascade Engineering: Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cascade Engineering is a leader in the development, engineering and manufacturing of plastics solutions for multiple industries, including the automotive, industrial and solid waste markets. The Company is a strong advocate for "sustainable" business practices that emphasize the key role business can play in building financial, social and ecological capital. Through its focus on attracting and developing welfare recipients as long-term employees, Cascade has learned that becoming an "Employer of Choice" can be a powerful component of overall business strategy
Cascade Engineering and Decade Products Partnership: Located in modern manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids, Mich., Decade Products is the culmination of a joint partnership between industry leaders Dolav Plastic Products and Cascade Engineering. Based in southern Israel Dolav specializes in large structural foam injection moldings and has achieved worldwide recognition for its heavy-duty, multipurpose box pallets. Dolav's manufacturing facilities are certified to ISO 9001: 2000. Cascade is a world leader in injection molding serving global markets with plastic systems and assemblies for the automotive, furniture and container industries. Cascade's container production facility houses extensive production, research and development facilities, as well as North America's largest injection molding press. This facility is certified to ISO 9001: 2000 and ISO-14001: 1996. Drawing upon the expertise of both parent companies, Decade Products offers the level of quality product, service and support that has become the new industry standard.
