PARSIPPANY, N.J., USA - January 30, 2009 - The Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA) honored the Sun Chemical Performance Pigments manufacturing facility in Muskegon, Mich. with the 2008 Silver Performance Improvement Award for the plants continual improvement in environment, health and safety.
Sun Chemicals Muskegon plant received the award because of its programs in waste minimization and resource management. One project included an installation that reduced the energy usage of a spray dryer by 30 percent. Additionally, half of the solvent-based parts washers in the plant were replaced with systems that use a non-hazardous heated aqueous soap solution to clean equipment and tools, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in hazardous waste.
“Receiving this award is a testimony of all our dedicated employees who continually strive to improve the operations and environmental conditions of the Muskegon plant,” Eldon Fink, director of Environment, Health and Safety, Sun Chemical. “It shows Sun Chemicals commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities in which we operate."
Created to help reduce the environmental footprint left by members facilities, the award is part of SOCMAs continuous performance improvement program in environmental, health, safety and security.
“Companies like Sun Chemical are to be commended for their commitment to our core principles of resource management and waste minimization,” said Joe Acker, president of SOCMA. “We are pleased to recognize them with this reward.”
“On behalf of the entire Muskegon operation, we are honored to accept this award,” said Allan Shearer, director of operations at Sun Chemicals Muskegon facility. “Our entire staff here in Muskegon really worked together to deliver on environmental protection, and we will continue to look for ways to minimize our impact on the environment.”
About SOCMA
SOCMA is the leading trade association, serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry since 1921. SOCMAs nearly 300 members employ more than 100,000 workers across the country and produce 50,000 products valued at $60 billion annually. For more information please visit www.socma.com.
About Sun Chemical
Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC group, is the worlds largest producer of printing inks and pigments and a leading provider of materials to packaging, publication, coatings, plastics, cosmetics, and other industrial markets. With annual sales over $4 billion, Sun Chemical has more than 11,000 employees supporting customers around the world. The Sun Chemical Group of companies includes such established names as Coates, Hartmann, Kohl & Madden, and US Ink.
Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group B.V., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our Web site at www.sunchemical.com.