Arbortech - Aqueous Cleaner Recycling Equipment Manufacturer

A Customer of Ours Wins Pollution Prevention Award

Eagle Wings industries, Inc.'s Governor's Pollution Prevention Award

The following is an excerpt from the Governor's P2 Awards' Program, the cover of which is seen above, to the left of the trophy...

Eagle Wings industries, Inc. (EWi) is a high quality manufacturer of steel stampings and weldments to the automotive industry. Operations include stamping, welding, electro-coat painting, and assembly. The company implemented a study to determine the efficiency of adding an ultrafiltration system to recycle the cleaner bath on the paint line. Through collaboration with the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center and the University of Illinois, engineering students performed a feasibility study on site at EWi.

Based upon the results in the reduction of cleaner used on a daily basis, the amount of surfactant to be replenished, the reduction in waste volume through the treatment plant, and project cost savings the decision to purchase a unit was an easy one. Once in operation, the system reduced chemical cleaner usage by 51% in the first four months and is projected to maintain this level of reduction over the year. The quarterly dumping and recharging of the system has been eliminated as the bath no longer becomes saturated with dirt and oil. This equates to 28,000 gallons of wastewater reduction annually. Another benefit is eliminating the need to de-scale the tank. This eliminates another 14,000 gallons of wastewater annually and eliminates 715 gallons of hydrochloric acid from the wastestream. The cost of the system will be paid back within the first year of operation.