August 8, 2008

GAGE DEVELOPS ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCT FOR FORD KENTUCKY PLANT



FERNDALE, Mich. – Gage Products, a leading supplier of test fuels, paint solvents and paint-system recycling programs for the automotive industry, recently played a significant role in helping Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant (KTP) earn its second annual Ford Environmental Leadership Award.

SThe award recognizes Ford manufacturing facilities that implement groundbreaking ideas and projects to benefit the environment and improve sustainability. The Kentucky plant received the award for paint-shop improvements resulting from the use of Gage’s new zero-volatile organic-compound (VOC) hydropurge systems technology.

Volatile organic compounds have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants. When released into the environment, VOCs can damage soil and groundwater, as well as contribute to air pollution.

Paint-shop improvements at the Ford plant included the installation of robotic paint applicators to spray truck door interiors. Cleansers used to clean residual paint from the new applicators between color changes were ineffectual due to static electricity generated during the process.

To solve the problem, Gage developed a zero VOC hydropurge solvent with low conductivity. Following successful tests using the new solvent, KTP switched all of its paint applicators to use Gage’s new zero VOC hydropurge product.

The robotic applicators use a rotary atomizer to paint trucks. There are only about 12 seconds between applications in which to change from one paint color to another. The water-borne base-coat application process previously required the use of a cleanser containing VOCs to effectively purge the atomizer of residual paint between different color applications.

"The change over to the new zero VOC hydropurge product was a success," said Michael Grosshans, Gage Products account manager for KTP. "The new solvent facilitates quick color changes with no degradation in quality."

KTP’s new base-coat paint-application process reduced the use of solvents by 78 tons and eliminated more than 200,000 gallons of hazardous waste. Gage’s zero VOC hydropurge solvent does not require special handling for disposal, providing the plant with an additional annual savings of $325,000 and eliminating 16 tons of transportation-related emissions.

"Not only did this project result in a cost savings to the company, it also has had a huge impact on the environmental performance of the plant," said Barbara Hall, KTP environmental engineer. "KTP personnel are always seeking ways to be more environmentally friendly while performing cost-effective operations at the plant."

Headquartered in Ferndale, Mich., Gage is a leading supplier of closed-loop, paint-system recycling programs. Over the past 20 years, Gage’s closed-loop recycling systems have been used by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler to safely recycle more than 70-million gallons of waste material. Gage also manufactures paint-related products and cleaners for a wide variety of industrial uses for the auto industry. Visit www.gageproducts.comfor more information..

Company Contact:
Mark Wiseman
Gage Products Company
Phone: 248-691-6783
Email: mwiseman@gageproducts.com

Media Contact:
Andrea Wilmes
AutoCom Associates
Phone: 248.647.8621
E-Mail: awilmes@usautocom.com