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Executive Director’s OfficePartner Level: West Valley
Documents
The Company
The Hexcel Corporation facility in West Valley City, manufactures carbon fiber and pre-impregnated tape, cloth and tow for the aerospace, automotive, construction, and recreational industries. Part of a well-known national chain, the plant currently employs 350. It was formerly known as the Hercules-Aerospace, Composite Products Division.
The Process
To be accepted as a Clean Utah Partner, the facility had to first pass a compliance screen to ensure that environmental regulations were consistently being met. DEQ, EPA, and the Local Health Department each confirmed that is the case.
DEQ verified the facility has an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). DEQ staff and a multi-interest review panel reviewed the proposed projects and recommended the company be admitted. DEQ Deputy Director Bill Sinclair sent a letter dated August 9, 2005 welcoming Hexcel to the Partner level of Clean Utah.
EMS Background
Hexcel is currently ISO 14001 certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance. It has been certified since October 2001 and is audited every six month to ensure standards are met.
In addition, a comprehensive self-audit program is undertaken each year. In past years, the audits were directed toward the individual elements. For 2005, the self-audits were based on process performance and how all the elements relate to the process being audited.
Environmental Improvement Project #1
Goal: Reduce plant-wide steam consumption by 10%
Timeline: Through 2006. Using 2004 as the base year.
Significance: Steam consumption is inefficient. Reducing its usage will have a corresponding reduction in the use of natural gas and water. Air pollution from the decreased burning of natural gas would be reduced correspondingly
Hexcel currently consumes approximately 33,500,000 lbs. of steam annually. To produce that quantity of steam requires 5,020,000 gallons of water and 3,865,000 cubic feet of natural gas. Reducing steam consumption by 10% will effectively reduce water and natural gas consumption by 502,000 gallons and 386,500 cubic feet respectively.
Approach: Steam usage surveys, repairs, and replacement of old inefficient steam equipment will be used to attain the reduction.
Monitoring: Measurement will be reflected in usage units (pounds of steam) per production units (carbon fiber.) Results will be tracked quarterly.
Environmental Improvement Project #2
Goal: Implement methylene chloride recycling in labs.
Timeline: Through 2006.
Significance: The use of recycled methylene chloride will greatly reduce the purchase cost as well as the amount of hazardous wastes needing disposal (and those associated costs). The plant currently uses slightly over 100,000 pounds per year.
Approach: The goal is to try to use the product at least one more time before disposing of it.
Monitoring: Quarterly tracking of results—the refuse/hazardous waste cost vs. the cost of raw materials.
Environmental Improvement Project #3
Goal: Fully integrate the plant-wide recycling program.
Timeline: Through 2006.
Significance: In 2004, the company recycled 1.6 million pounds. In 2005, the target is 2 million. This includes wooden pallets, rolls of paper and poly film (shipped to Griff Paper and Film – who use it in industrial wrapping), empty steel drums and industrial solvents. Usable materials will be reduced, thereby reducing refuse waste and non-hazardous waste disposal costs.
Approach: Encourage and train staff to recycle.
Monitoring: Results will be tracked quarterly.
Public Involvement
Clean Utah requires facilities to conduct public involvement activities. In addition to listing on this website and in DEQ promotional materials, Hexcel plans to do a website for the Utah facility.