City recognizes efforts to reduce pollution

Spencer awards to three companies that started programs voluntarily

Thursday, September 28, 2006

From staff reports
Huntsville Times

Huntsville city government on Tuesday honored three local companies for their efforts to reduce air pollution.

Mayor Loretta Spencer presented awards to BASF Catalysts LLC (formerly Engelhard Catalyst Technology Group), International Diesel of Alabama LLC and Siemens VDO Automotive Electronics Corp. Each company initiated a voluntary program to reduce emissions beyond regulatory requirements.

BASF Catalysts reduced the natural gas combustion in its manufacturing process by installing heat recovering systems to capture waste heat from its selective catalytic reduction high-temperature exhaust. BASF's plant in Jetplex Industrial Park makes catalytic converters for the automotive industry, as well as catalysts used in other air pollution control applications. Emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and other products of combustion have been reduced by 20 percent, or 48 million cubic feet annually.

International Diesel, which operates a V-6 and V-8 diesel engine manufacturing plant in Jetplex Industrial Park, reduced emissions produced by its engine painting process. The company reprogrammed robotic paint applicators to reduce the need for touch-up painting, and modified paint additives to extend shelf life. As a result, emissions that had already been lower than the limits allowed have been reduced by some 40 percent, and waste paint has been reduced by nearly 60 percent.

Siemens VDO, also in Jetplex Industrial Park, upgraded its soldering equipment to reduce emissions of isopropanol, a volatile organic compound. The progression has moved from conventional wave technology, to spray and foam fluxers, to select solder equipment. In 2005, select solder machines were installed on a number of the lines at Plant 1, continuing Siemens' steady stair-step reductions in annual VOC emissions.

The Air Pollution Control awards program began in 1997. In addition to highlighting the achievements of the award recipients, the program aims to encourage companies to reduce pollution and increase public awareness of air pollution control measures.