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Earth Day 2016 Reminds Us to Be Good Stewards for the Environment
April 11, 2016 4:37 pm Leave a Comment
This year’s Earth Day celebration marks the 46th anniversary of the event and continues to focus attention on the importance of today’s environmental issues. Although Earth Day is celebrated annually, the mission for a sustainable future is something that needs to be contributed to daily. At Gage, we incorporate sustainability into our brand through values, philosophy, and commitment to environmental responsibility and continuous improvement. Conducting business in a socially responsible manner is extremely important to us as we lead the way through progressive environmental stewardship.
Because we are a chemical company we make environmental management a priority. Over the past 30 years we have committed to reducing our carbon footprint through sustainable business practices. This includes promoting sustainable product alternatives and reducing the environmental impact of our manufacturing operations and distribution channels. Areas we have focused on include reducing energy and greenhouse gas emission, addressing water use and waste water treatment, and improving solid waste and recycling systems.
Our aim is to take the industry by storm and work towards becoming the world’s preferred supplier of chemical related products. Today, we are well on our way to achieving that goal. Our chemical researchers and engineers guide the design, formulation, and manufacturing of all of our products, while minding the care of our natural resources and planet. As a reliable partner in sustainability, our solvents maximize efficiency and minimize waste, our fuels meet stringent emissions requirements, and our paint system products reduce both waste and environmental impact.
Gage’s proprietary technologies also helps our customers improve their sustainability practices. Through our recycling programs, we manage waste streams for major OEM’s protecting the environment from potential pollutants. We pride ourselves on tailoring each project to our customer’s specifications.
Chemicals are a part of every industrial operation, but choosing the chemicals that have the least environmental impact is choosing to be a good environmental steward. Contact us to learn more about our environmentally friendly products and services today!
Not Done With Winter Yet: This Year’s SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge Winners
March 30, 2016 1:37 pm Leave a Comment
This year the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge took place on March 7th, 2016 through the 12th, and it was no surprise to us that the challengers went hard again this year. The event that annually takes place in Houghton, Michigan, brings together contestants of all different kinds. At Gage Products, we are personally involved with the gas and diesel sleds specifically, and we’re no rookies to the cause. This was our 15th year sponsoring the event while donating alternative fuels to the challenge. Electric snowmobiles were also included in the competition.
At Gage, we take a special interest in the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge because it allows students to challenge themselves with engineering and design – to ultimately test capabilities. The common goal of the challenge? To redesign an existing snowmobile in an attempt to reduce both emissions and noise.
The other events that the snowmobiles competed in this year included: fuel economy/endurance, acceleration, handling, static display, cold start and design.
The breakdown of the winners this year went as follows…
The overall winners of the gas competition:
1. University of Wisconsin – Madison
2. École De Technologie Supérieure & Clarkson University tied for second
The best fuel economy on the endurance run, in the order they placed:
1. University of Idaho – 19.3mpg
2. Clarkston University – 18.9mpg
3. École De Technologie Supérieure – 18.5mpg
And last, but not least, the overall order for the diesel mobiles:
1. North Dakota State University
2. State University of New York at Buffalo
If you know Gage, you know that we are happy to be at and/or sponsor any events that speak to the importance of sustainability for a better environment. The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge is one way for the younger generations to start getting involved with improving our surroundings, and it won’t stop there. For further information on our sustainability practices and how to become part of the cause, visit our website today. On behalf of the Gage Products team, we would like to congratulate the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the University of Idaho, and North Dakota State University on their first place victories! We look forward to seeing everyone there next year!
Looking Forward to an Eventful 2016
February 23, 2016 9:00 am Leave a Comment
Starting fresh means setting out a new list of goals to potentially improve circumstances and, at the beginning of a new year, usually comes in the form of resolutions. For us, a resolution doesn’t give our name justice because, at Gage Products, we continually work to provide the highest quality products and services year in and year out. We call this TheGage Difference.
This summer, Gage will celebrate 80 years in business. This is quite a milestone! Started in 1935, we are still a family-owned operation that continues to serve the automotive industry as we did in the beginning. We have won numerous awards for our manufacturing excellence and operational compliance. In 2016, we will continue our tradition to innovate this year with new solvents, fuels, recycling systems, and solutions for any challenging manufacturing problems.
In the coming months we will also be redesigning our website to incorporate the most up-to-date company news, plus the addition of new content. Increasing our site information brings more value to our customer’s ability to interact with our company. We will be featuring our latest tweets, news, events, and new product developments. Be sure to check in with us often!
As we set out to take on the new year, we are looking forward to another year of exceptional commitment to environmental and community stewardship, the sustainable manufacturing of solvents, and providing solutions for manufacturers’ greatest challenges.
Happy New Year from all of us at Gage Products!
Gage Partners with Ford to Support The Children’s Center at Detroit Auto Show
January 26, 2016 5:22 pm Leave a Comment
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) is a premier destination for industry professionals and auto enthusiasts from around the world. This yearly event is attended by millions of people who come to Detroit to view the vehicle introductions and concept vehicles from all leading manufacturers. The show ran from January 11th to the 24th in Detroit, Michigan.
NAIAS kicked off the festivities with the Charity Preview event. We were personally proud to be a sponsor of 2016 AUTOGLOW: The 25th presented by Ford Motor Company. This event was held at Ford Field on the 15th, and supported children’s charities through The Children’s Center. For over 85 years The Children’s Center has been providing therapeutic mental and behavioral health services to families and children to help them overcome emotional and intellectual challenges they may suffer as a result of trauma from abuse, neglect, or poverty. Each year over 7,500 children and families from the greater Detroit area receive services through The Children’s Centersupported children’s charities
Our sponsorship helps to provide the resources the center needs to support group play therapy and art supplies for children who have suffered trauma that they cannot verbalize.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of AutoGlow and, since its beginnings in 1976, the Charity Preview has raised over $100 million for the children of Southeastern Michigan. We were happy to attend and support this exclusive and high-profile fundraising event to champion the children of Michigan and empower their future.
For more pictures from the event click here.
Another Year Comes to a Close: Putting the Final Brushstrokes on 2015
December 14, 2015 9:00 am Leave a Comment
Gage Products has been in business since 1936, and in these almost 80 years and 3 generations of family ownership, we have celebrated many holiday seasons. What we have learned is that the holidays are a time for family and friends. As a family-owned company, our family and friends include the men and women we work with every day. Without the support and dedication of our employees, Gage couldn’t reach the quality and service standards we are committed to uphold.
Every year we host a holiday celebration to show our sincerest appreciation for our work family. This year we will be celebrating on Dec. 11 with our annual Gage Holiday Party. It’s a fun event where everyone has a chance to relax and unwind with good food and good company. The holiday party is our way of saying thank you for all the hard work and dedication our employees give to make Gage’s products and services the best in the industry.
Over the past year we continued our commitment to delivering customer-driven products that meet the most demanding requirements. Our customer service team is empowered to apply their knowledge, skill and creativity to apply the standardized tools and documented practices that improve customer satisfaction. We consistently meet or exceed environmental laws and with the Gage Production System we will continue to be the world’s preferred supplier of chemical related products and processes. Operations in North America, Brazil, and Europe support the global effort of high-quality manufacturing.
As we close out another year, it’s the perfect time to extend our heartfelt thanks to our employees and our loyal customers.
From our family to yours we hope you all have a happy and healthy holiday season!
General Motors Facility Receives Pollution Prevention Award
November 23, 2015 9:00 am Leave a Comment
In order to promote improvements in public health and environmental quality, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) recognizes projects that “eliminate or reduce the generation of pollutants or wastes at the source or projects that conserve natural resources.” The Pollution Prevention Award was recently presented to the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City for its Purge Thinner Reduction Project.
The goal of this project was to find ways to reduce the amount of the thinner used to clear paint lines when changing colors. The plant began the project by forming a Purge Reduction Committee that examined and analyzed the current process and materials. In monthly meetings they looked at how the thinner was used to determine where reductions could be made without sacrificing quality or productivity.
By switching thinners from the one they were using to Gage purge solvents, they realized the savings and benefits almost immediately. Our high-performance formulations are designed to improve the quality of paint applications using less solvent than is required by other products. Using the new product reduced paint per vehicle as well as lowered material and waste disposal costs. And, best of all, environmental compliance is increased and less thinner is needed to complete the purge process.
By reevaluating the process of purging the paint line piping between color changes and switching to Gage purge solvents, GM decreased thinner use by 101,894 gal, lowered VOC emissions by 92,700 pounds, and saved $405,500 over 12 months.
Using Gage purge solvents improved efficiencies at the Chevy Malibu and Buick Lacrosse assembly plant and resulted in clean, efficient, and fast color changes. Process variability and system costs were reduced which maximized the plant’s efficiency while minimizing wastes.
Gage develops high-quality solvent solutions and specializes in:
• Uniquely designed purge solvents
• Solvent recovery and solvent blending solutions
• High performance blended solvent and water borne purge solutions
We are continually working to shrink the environmental impact of our products and are proud to have been involved with the GM Purge Thinner Reduction Project and the recognition it received through this award. For more information on our sustainable products check out our website.
Celebrate the Opening of Gage’s New Innovation Center
November 18, 2015 9:00 am Leave a Comment
At Gage, we follow some straightforward ideals: quality, reliability, innovation, customer focus, and environmental stewardship. With the opening of our new Gage Innovation Center we have put all of these concepts into overdrive to strengthen our commitment to vehicle manufacturers and the automotive and industrial suppliers we serve.
Our commitment to advancing research and development efforts for new products and continued growth is evident in our new center. This multi-million dollar facility, located at our 12-acre Ferndale headquarters site, is important for many reasons: It lets us bring the Quality Control (QC) and Research & Development (R&D) departments together under the same roof for easier collaboration and in-house testing. We celebrated the official opening on Oct. 15th with community leaders, state and local officials, and, of course, all of our valued employees.
One of the most exciting aspects of this new center is the state-of-the-art laboratory outfitted with highly technical equipment. Our scientists now have access to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment, both of which are critical to the multitude of tests we run. In the past, it was also time consuming to deliver reports and findings across departments — the new computerized, integrated information system allows technicians to share QC and R&D testing results much more quickly and efficiently.
This new facility also allows us to add new capabilities. We are now able to:
• Perform aromatic and detailed hydrocarbon analysis for fuels
• Determine compound identifications through use of a mass spectrometry upgrade
• Execute critical testing on up to 50 distinct fuel properties
• Increase storage capacity for customer-product test samples
As one of our missions is for continuous improvement, this new Innovation Center gives our QC technicians better control and focus on the 500+ tests that we run each week. Performing all the tests in our own laboratory, without needing to outsource, lets us deliver results in 1-2 days. If re-testing is necessary, it can begin right away. The benefit greatly enhances the service we provide for our customers.
This new Innovation Center is an investment in our future so that we can expand our capabilities and develop new products while continuing to offer outstanding customer service. Gage is certified for ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 and the new Gage Innovation Center laboratory is in the process of certifying to ISO 17025 standards.
To learn more about our expanded and upgraded facilities and capabilities, feel free to contact us. We’d love to share our new innovations with you!
Highlighting the Advantages of Cobra® and Hydra® Line Cleaning
September 21, 2015 9:00 am Leave a Comment
As the experts in paint system cleaning solutions, it’s only natural that we offer paint line cleaning products and services to ensure that paint systems continue to run efficiently. In addition to keeping the systems running at optimal levels, using our paint line cleaning services restores the system to original design specifications and our turnkey program ensures that used chemicals are recycled safely.
Gage Products’ on-site paint line cleaning program utilizes our proprietary Cobra® and Hydra® line cleaning solutions. These paint cleaners restore paint circulation lines to as-new condition, that is, taking the lines back to ‘Bare Metal Clean.’ With in-plant monitoring and annual cleaning, our clients have seen 30% less dirt in the paint, reducing product waste considerably. The correct maintenance of paint lines improves productivity and the quality of finished products.
Both the Hydra® and Cobra® cleaning products use a scrubbing action to remove the paint that has adhered to the pipe walls over time. The Hydra® cleaner is designed for waterborne systems and the Cobra® works on solventborne lines. These custom designed products remove residue and supply and return piping to Bare Metal Clean specs with just one cleaning cycle!
Both Hydra™ and Cobra® are technology-blind meaning that these efficient cleaners will work for any paint chemistry, formulation, or color. Gage’s On-Site Service Program results in improved productivity and efficiency, a reduction of product waste, lower VOC emissions, and overall cost savings. In industry it isn’t always easy being green, but with our paint cleaning services we are able to make the process greener for all. Contact us to learn more about our outstanding products and services.
Our Mission: Gage Products Company’s mission is to be the world’s preferred supplier of chemical related products and processes by:
- Delivering superior value to all stakeholders
- Developing and utilizing the knowledge, skills and creativity of our people
- Demonstrating responsible behavior toward ourselves, our community and our environment
Gage Products Company Awards Karly Wilson 2015 STEM Scholarship
August 3, 2015 9:00 am Leave a Comment
Gage Products Company is proud to announce that Karly Wilson, a 2015 graduate of Ferndale High School, is this year’s recipient of our 20^th annual community scholarship award.
We established the scholarship fund in 1996 and have awarded the $1,000 scholarship each year to an outstanding and deserving Ferndale High School graduate. Originally awarded to students who were planning to pursue chemistry, we have broadened the requirements to any student who is planning to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM). The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic achievement and community involvement and recipients can continue to receive money for up to four years as long as they stay in a related program.
Karly had a 4.0 grade-point average her senior year and graduated Ferndale High School with a grade-point average of 3.68. Her schedule included a number of advanced and honors-level courses as well as being an Executive board member of the United Student Assembly and Class Council and was involved in the National Honor Society. In addition to her academic achievements she was a team captain of the Ferndale High School volleyball team, which won the district championship and also volunteered her time with the Salvation Army, The Red Cross, and OAA’s Charity Week. Karly also spent time working with special education students. She will attend Michigan State University in the fall and plans to pursue a career in medicine or biomedical engineering.
Gage Products Company was founded in Ferndale in 1936 with a focus on providing our customers with the best solutions for paints, solvents, and fuels. Today, our company is built on value-driven, high quality products and services. It’s grown through careful planning, forward thinking research and development, product integrity and solid customer partnerships on a global basis. To learn more about our company and our dedication to corporate citizenship, visit our website. We also post more updates on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.
Gage Products Company Announces New Lab
July 14, 2015 7:26 pm Leave a Comment
Gage Products Company is excited to announce our new, state-of-the-art laboratory, which is set to open in August. This new lab will be our dedicated in-house product development facility and will allow us to improve our quality control and analytical capabilities for our customers. We built this new lab to increase our internal capabilities and streamline our current processes to enhance new product development to better service our customers. It will also help grow new opportunities by developing an innovations center and help Gage Products Company meet the needs of chemical and automotive industries for today and the future.
We are thoroughly committed to reducing our environmental footprint through sustainable practices that support the needs of today and for future generations. Our products are all designed, formulated, and manufactured with the care of our natural resources in mind.
Our solutions are known for providing customers with unique and innovative custom technology. We are a prominent supplier of high performance solvent blends, test fuels, calibration fluids, paint line cleaning programs and specialty product solutions for various applications. We firmly believe, as we continue our mission to be the world’s preferred supplier of chemical related products and processes, that we can also build a better world. Our purge solvents are developed with recovery in mind and our closed loop remanufacturing process allows us to recycle solvents and chemical waste resulting in millions of gallons being remanufactured. Additionally, our chemical recycling, fractional distillation, and toll remanufacturing help us to build a more sustainable future.
Since our business opened in Ferndale in 1936, we have dedicated ourselves to earning the trust and respect of our customers, partners and neighbors, which has helped our company grow locally and globally. Gage Products Company now spans three continents and we will continue to grow through careful planning, forward thinking, product integrity and solid customer and community partnerships.
To learn more about Gage Products Company and our new lab, visit our website. We also post more company updates and industry news on our Twitter and LinkedIn pages.