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Author Archives: Gage Products

  1. New and Improved: Hydra™ and Cobra® Paint Line Cleaners

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    This month, Gage Products is pleased to announce two updates to our paint line cleaner product family: the relaunched, reformulated Cobra® solventborne cleaner, and the brand new Hydra™ waterborne cleaner. Each is capable of restoring paint circulation lines to Bare Metal Clean conditions, when proper protocol is followed, making switches between paint colors and types quicker and simpler than ever.

    How do they work? Both Cobra® and Hydra™ use the scrubbing action of tiny plastic beads to mechanically scrub your paint lines clean, combined with Gage’s expertise in custom purge formulations to ensure that Bare Metal Clean specs are met. This combination ensures that one cleaning cycle – consisting of pre-cleaner, line cleaner, post flush, then purge solvent – is all that you’ll need, and your paint lines will be back up and running in an efficient manner. What’s more, Cobra® is the only line cleaner you’ll need for your solventborne paint lines, and Hydra™ will take care of all of your waterborne needs. Each cleaner is technology-blind, which means that it will work for any paint chemistry, color, or formulation.

    Both Cobra® and Hydra™ are safer than chemical-based paint line cleaners, in keeping with Gage’s mission of sustainability and stewardship. With the additional benefits to your process and efficiency, we’re confident that we provide the ideal range of options for any type of paint line system you may have. Contact us to learn more.

  2. Gage Heads East: China Trade Mission and New Customers

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    Last month, Gage Products took part in one of our most exciting opportunities to date. A trade mission to China, organized by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., gave 21 companies from the state the chance to explore export options in major Chinese cities. According to the MEDC, China is expected to be the largest consumer market in the world by 2015 – a trend bolstered by strong economic development in the business and manufacturing sectors, which is why Gage participated in the trip. The opportunity to explore potential partnerships with manufacturers looking to increase efficiency in the face of a squeeze on land resources allowed Gage to demonstrate our full and broad range of sustainable, efficiency-improving products.

    One of the major benefits of trade missions like this one is the potential to explore not only overseas partnerships, but also business with fellow Michigan-based firms. On this particular trip, almost half of the 21 companies that went were related to the automotive industry, an area in which Gage has extensive expertise. Working with some of these manufacturers while discovering the potential for business abroad can, in many cases, lead to partnerships that might not have otherwise occurred.

    By expanding our indoor diesel blending capabilities and packaging facility, we are better equipped to extend the provision of products and services to our customer base, which has led to our first fuel sale in China. The introduction of cutting edge fuel additive equipment allows us the flexibility to make additions of small quantities precisely and efficiently. As a result, Gage continues to attract new Fuels customers while remaining flexible enough to deliver the level of exceptional service our current customers are accustomed to. A cornerstone of the recent growth Gage has seen is based on a combination of product excellence, flexibility and service distinction.

    The sheer size of cities like Shanghai can be overwhelming, but in many ways, there is no better place to explore new business than burgeoning economies like this one. Whether at home or abroad, however, we look forward to the chance to share our technologies with you.

  3. Closed-Loop Recycling: 25 Years Of Environmental Stewardship

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    This fall, Gage Products is celebrating 25 years of our closed-loop solvent recycling process. This process, representing a commitment to sustainability, safety, and the environment, has been adopted by several leading automotive manufacturers since Gage developed it. The underlying strategy of maximizing the remanufacturing and recycling potential of each component of a manufacturer’s paint and purge lines means that overall environmental impact is reduced on several fronts. Gage’s philosophy in developing the closed-loop recycling system views each of these components as a material to be repurposed, not as waste to be disposed of.

    Under this principle, each portion of a manufacturer’s waste stream is analyzed and separated – we call it understanding the DNA of the material. Paint solids are separated from the spent purge solvent, and rather than becoming landfill waste, instead becomes cement kiln fuel, replacing coal. Water and any other contaminants are removed, and the solvent is re-blended to meet the same standards as unused, virgin solvent. Throughout all of this, spent solvent that might have been hazardous waste releasing emissions into the air and potentially the ground is instead being treated and handled at our facility.

    As you can see, the benefits of the closed-loop recycling system are many – not only to the environment, but to the manufacturers who implement it as well. In the course of developing the closed-loop system, Gage can optimize the formulations and blends used, creating faster purging and quicker paint line changeovers. We’re pleased to be celebrating 25 years of commitment to sustainability on this front, and look forward to sharing more innovations down the road.

  4. The Navy and its “Great Green Fleet”

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    The USNS Henry J. Kaiser.

    The USNS Henry J. Kaiser.

    Everyone at Gage was thrilled when we found out that the U.S. Navy made the commitment to sail a “Great Green Fleet” by 2016. This fleet will include nuclear vessels, hybrid electric ships, and aircraft powered by biofuels. In the past couple of months, the Navy got things rolling by launching the oiler (a ship designed to carry fuel) USNS Henry J. Kaiser with nearly 900,000 gallons of biofuel blended with petroleum. It is on its way to help fuel ships and aircraft of a strike group that will be part of the largest annual international maritime warfare maneuvers, the 22-nation Rim of the Pacific exercise. The Navy is hoping that this important test of the biofuels will convince everyone that the project is worth not only the higher price tag but also a viable way to keep America safe. There has been a great deal of push back from some lawmakers about the initial costs of the plan. The biofuel itself will cost $26 a gallon compared to $3.60 for conventional fuel. However, the Navy believes that, in time the cost will come down and that you can’t put a price on energy independence. Only time will tell how this innovative plan will work. But as proponents of alternative fuels, Gage is a fan of anything that will add up to a cleaner and greener environment for us all.

  5. Sustainability in the UK, and Beyond

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    At Gage Products, we have a serious commitment to recycling and sustainability.  We are global experts in the recycling and remanufacturing of solvents and chemicals using environmentally friendly recycling processes, and our distillation and recycling programs have proven innovative and invaluable to customers around the world.  Within this area, we provide exceptional work in the form of fractional distillation/evaporation and toll remanufacturing, and we are the world leader in closed loop solvent recovery and remanufacturing.  At our facilities in the UK, we have developed a reputation for being groundbreaking in these areas.  Here are some details on our involvement:

    • Since the program began in 2011, the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) credits achieved are  398,247 kilogrammes. Through April 2012, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) credits are 181,725 kilogrammes.
    • Since the program began in 2011, Paint Solids Hazardous Landfill Elimination versus Incineration has resulted in 118,940 kilogrammes saved. Through April 2012, that number is 54,613 kilogrammes.
    • The paint solids are sent to cement kilns and are typically used as a substitute for coal. The substitution is normally  1:1 with respect to BTUs, and the waste fuel typically burns cleaner than the coal, as an added benefit!

    This is of particular importance to us, as the UK produces approximately 290 million tons of waste per year.  The government is working hard to move the country towards more sustainable practices, and we are helping these efforts.  Things are looking up; in 2002-2003, 42% of commercial/industrial waste was recycled, while the number jumped to 52% in 2009.  While there is still a long way to go, and more chemical and solvent recycling needs to be done each year, we are pleased to see that the UK is moving in the right direction, and especially happy to know that we are helping with that.

    As we continue to help our UK and worldwide customers save money, increase their efficiency, and reduce their carbon footprint, we look toward a greener future.  You can read more about our recycling services at www.gageproducts.com/recycling.html.

  6. And the Winner Is….

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    University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Team – winner of Gage Products’ award for best overall fuel economy and third place winner overall.

    As a proud sponsor of the SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, we are excited to announce the winners of the event, which proved to be a huge success.  Gage Products’ award for best overall fuel economy went to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, who was also the third place winner overall.  First place went to Clarkson University of Potsdam, NY, and second place to Kettering University of Flint, Michigan.  All of the college students who participated in the event, held in Michigan every year since 2002, showed ingenuity and enthusiasm.  As described in our previous blog, the over 200 competitors were challenged to re-engineer existing snowmobiles for improved fuel economy, lower emissions, and reduced noise levels without sacrificing performance, competing in a variety of events rating emissions, noise, fuel economy, endurance, acceleration, handling, static display, cold start and various design factors.

    “Gage blends the fuels used for our indoor lab emissions tests and all of the other outdoor events,” said Jay Meldrum, lead competition organizer for the Clean Snowmobile Challenge.  “Gage’s expertise and generosity have made this event a huge success.  I do not know how we could do this without their support.”

    As a leading supplier of test fuels, paint solvents, and paint-system recycling products, and a pioneer in green practices, it has been our privilege to sponsor and provide the fuel blends for the event, and we congratulate the winners.  We can’t wait to see what they do next year!

  7. Pristine Trails: The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge

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    Today’s snowmobiles are already far removed from the bulky, belching vehicles of a few decades ago. As official sponsors of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Gage Products is interested to see just how far college students can push these new, clean, and quiet standards for snowmobiles. Can they top 25 mpg? What are the best options for zero emissions? Demonstrating their expertise in modifying existing internal combustion engines to meet benchmarks for speed, engine volume, fuel efficiency, cost efficiency, cleanliness, and several other criteria, the competition, held from March 5th through 10th this year at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI, is the perfect mixture of fun and brains.

    One important goal of the competition is to develop feasible engines for the real world – not impractical concepts that would be too expensive to mass-produce, let alone market to consumers. To this end, engines should be able to meet real-world requirements, one of which is the ability to handle a number of different fuel compositions, which can vary in ethanol levels for gasoline-powered sleds or biodiesel content for diesel-powered ones. As part of Gage’s sponsorship, we supply all test fuels, ensuring a level playing field as well as the ability to handle a range of fuel types. With over 10 years of support for the Clean Snowmobile Challenge, this is just one more way that Gage acts as a great environmental steward.

  8. Gage Products, There From the Beginning

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    Efficiency, sustainability, recyclability: these are certainly not new buzzwords in the automotive industry, or industry in general, but they are areas in which greater focus and great strides have been seen recently. Gage Products, which recently celebrated 75 years as a successful solvent and fuel blender and distributor, has been acting in pursuit of those goals for much longer than just the past few years. What’s more, we’ve been providing the means for incredibly high levels of production efficiency for nearly 30 years.

    When the environmental impact of automobiles is discussed, the conversation typically revolves around topics like fuel efficiency, hybrid engines, and electric cars. Gage has made its mark on sustainability in auto production in a different, though just as important area. By developing a closed-loop remanufacturing system for paint solvents in manufacturing plants, Gage has not only saved companies millions of dollars, but also kept millions of pounds of hazardous by-product and paint waste, out of the environment.

    Re-distilling used solvents is just part of our sustainability effort. Follow our blog for more information about our fuel efficiency efforts, and more. Thank you for reading!