As 2016 draws to a close and we prepare for another productive, exciting year, we at Gage Products are looking back on the past year’s many accomplishments and important blog posts. Having celebrated our 80th birthday in 2016, this was a particularly momentous time for our team.
Blog Highlights
Through our blog, we got the chance to share exciting news and events with our readers, some of which are highlighted below.
Our Continual Sustainability Efforts
To provide clients and readers with a better idea of our sustainability efforts, in our August post we highlighted our “continuous improvement” project; this effort includes facility upgrades that reduce our carbon footprint, as well as the installation of a high-efficiency furnace that improves overall plant energy efficiency. We also discussed the upgrading of our recycling system controls.
In our May blog post, we outlined the basics of a Circular Economy, which promotes resource productivity and reduces waste. Gage Products is proud to be an early adopter of Circular Economy principles. We reclaim solvent materials from our major automobile clients and then filter what we obtain for sale in the market, significantly reducing waste and decreasing our carbon footprint.
To mark Earth Day, we discussed our environmental management program and our dedication to sustainability initiatives. As a chemical supplier, we believe it’s particularly important for us to offer eco-friendly options. Not only do we promote sustainable product alternatives, we also focus on reducing energy and greenhouse emissions, upgrading solid waste and recycling systems, and improving wastewater treatment methods.
Our Work in the Automotive Industry
Because Gage Products works with many major auto companies, we attended The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which took place in January in Detroit. Our team was especially proud of our involvement here, as we acted as a sponsor of the 2016 AUTOGLOW: The 25th, which supports children’s charities through The Children’s Center. Every year, they help over 7,500 children and families deal with emotional and intellectual challenges, often stemming from poverty or abuse.
And in March, we blogged about the exciting SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge. Held in Houghton, Michigan, students got the chance to present their redesigned eco-friendly snowmobiles. The redesigned vehicles reduced both emissions and noise and showcased the forward-thinking work of the next generation’s designers.
More recently, one of the main focuses amongst the Gage Products team has been our contribution to create foreign business opportunities for the company, Michigan, U.S. and China.
Looking Ahead
2016 has been an exciting year here at Gage Products, and this coming year is sure to be just as productive. For more information on sustainability efforts and awareness, the automotive and manufacturing industries, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn!
We hope everyone has a relaxing holiday season, and we’ll see you back here in 2017!
National Manufacturing Day is today, October 7th! Celebrated the first Friday in October, this important day highlights common misconceptions about our industry. Manufacturing companies across the globe come together to open their doors to address topics like the skilled labor shortage and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education to connect with millennials while showing the public at large that “this isn’t your grandfather’s/father’s factory anymore!”
With huge conversations about STEM and moving away from the image of what manufacturing once was, leaders in the field plan to ensure industry growth and prosperity in future decades. Search the phrase above on Google or Twitter and you will see how much information is out there on the new changes to the industry that you will want to be a part of.
Yes, the industry is a changing, and manufacturing is, in fact, becoming one of the most successful careers in the U.S. Every industry needs parts, machines, gadgets and technology to make their products work. Without manufacturing other industries simply wouldn’t exist! Not to mention, the U.S. is predicted to overtake China and earn the top spot for the most competitive manufacturing nation in the world by 2020. With bringing jobs back to the U.S. and looking for a safety net for your future, and your family’s future, manufacturing truly is becoming the way to go. Even colleges are taking note and promoting STEM education programs. High school graduates that already have the interest can find niche programs that center on manufacturing entirely. And the push for women to consider a career in manufacturing is growing daily. Opening up the discussion to each new generation of middle and high school students, and the administration that guides them, is the focus we need to help the U.S. economy thrive. Today, a career in manufacturing means working with the latest technology to improve the world. This type of education will give your children the facets they need to become successful and stay on top of the fruitful future they’re so badly looking to achieve. Bottom line, manufacturing = security.
Gage Products has been committed to effective/green manufacturing since 1936. We specialize in chemical related products and processes to service industries such as Automotive, Heavy and General Industrial, Paint, Textile, Aerospace, Marine, Gas and Oil, Government, Furniture, Print and Package with high-performance solvent blends, custom test fuel blends, calibration fluids, paint line cleaning programs, and specialty product solutions for a wide variety of paint related applications. We also have sustainable closed-loop recycling systems and toll blending capabilities to reduce process costs and increase effective resource management. Our mission is a cleaner, greener environment for the world and the future.
We are happy to be celebrating National Manufacturing Day today and hope you are too! Please help Gage and companies across the industry in spreading the word about today’s changes in manufacturing. Taking the evidence into consideration both engineering and manufacturing are vital to all industries, your industry, your future, and the economy at large.
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often–Winston Churchill
We are strong believers in near-perfection and are always looking for ways to improve our business. We are currently working on a “continuous improvement” project that is adding new capabilities and making capital improvements to our plant. All of this work is designed to continue our dedication to the highest quality products and commitment to being environmental stewards.
What’s in the works? Our on-site improvements include adding new fuel blending tanks to increase our capabilities and production. The new tanks will help us meet the growing demand for our test & reference fuels, calibration fluids, custom fuel blends, and toll manufacturing. We will be better equipped to deliver unique and innovative custom technologies with the addition of the new blending tanks.
The improvements we are making are also improving our automotive industry part capabilities and emissions testing. The benefits will be our enhanced ability to meet the ever changing requirements of the automotive industry as they respond to changes in governmental regulations. Emissions testing will enable us to deliver fuels that meet the most up-to-date standards.
Additionally, facility upgrades are being made to improve our carbon footprint even more. We have installed new Big Ass Fans (that’s really the company name!) which are large industrial fans that feature quiet and energy-efficient air movement. These fans cool down large spaces quickly to improve employee comfort and productivity.
Installing an additional high-efficiency furnace also helps to improve our sustainability goals by improving the plant’s energy efficiency. New equipment in the maintenance department, building new office space for various departments, and upgrading the controls for the recycling systems complete the changes we are making in our latest round of improvements.
A major effort of Gage’s environmental stewardship program is to “reduce the environmental impact of our manufacturing operations focusing on energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction; water use and wastewater treatment; and solid waste reduction and recycling.” This latest remanufacturing project continues our work to make environmental management a priority.
For any questions in regards to our products or green initiatives, please contact us today!
Gage Products Company was founded in 1936, making this year our 80th year in business. This is quite an accomplishment for a business. Only those who consistently deliver quality products and services stay around as long.
When we started we were on a mission—to be the world’s preferred supplier of chemical related products and processes. We have succeeded and today we are the world’s leading provider of closed-loop recycling and toll blending processes for automotive and general industrial paint solvents. We also supply high-performance solvent blends, test fuels, calibration fluids, paint line cleaning programs, and specialty product solutions. Our solutions provide customers with innovative and unique custom technologies to meet the specific needs of their applications.
Even though we are a chemical company, over the years we have dedicated ourselves to making a constant commitment to sustainability and the environment. Our sustainable business practices help reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact. Through the use of our solvent and application solutions, we have been instrumental in helping many industries, and especially the auto industry, reduce their environmental impact as well. Uniquely designed water or solvent borne purge solutions and recovery systems maximize efficiency and minimize waste in paint line systems and equipment cleaning. We promote sustainable product alternatives and have helped industries use products and systems that are eco-friendly and offer outstanding capabilities.
The motto we have adopted “Vision, Quality, Commitment” wraps up our goals as a company. We truly think about the overall picture of how our products impact industry, people, and the environment now and for the future (Vision). We stand behind all of our products and consistently deliver chemicals that exceed the expectations of our customers (Quality). With a dedication to outstanding customer service, we strive to form partnerships with our customers to supply them with the specific products for their needs (Commitment).
We are proud and excited to be celebrating our 80th anniversary! Reaching 80 is a milestone and as a gift to ourselves and the field, we will continue to innovate and remain active with successful industry contributions as we work towards our next 80!
Although June has been designated as National Safety Month by the National Safety Council, safety is always at the forefront at Gage. The goal of safety focus in June is to reduce injuries and deaths that take place at work, at home, and on the roads. One of our biggest goals: to implement systems that deliver high-quality products, safe for both workers and the environment on a daily basis.
Because we work with chemicals, we must regularly consider the effects of our products and take proper precaution. This means refining our products and services to develop innovative and safe solutions as we work towards environmental sustainability. As a result of our efforts, we have received many excellence in industry awards.
At home, we take pride in working with our local fire departments. As mentioned in our July 2013 post, we continue to work with the Ferndale Fire Department on identifying hazardous materials and implementing the appropriate use of the AR-AFFF fire suppression foam. Fire safety protects firefighters and all in the community—a continuous commitment that we take to heart!
In addition to working with the community, Gage works diligently within our own facilities to keep our employees safe. Reviews of safety procedures are performed throughout the year to raise awareness of the importance of following appropriate working practices. Machine and equipment training and safety procedures are also routinely performed. Safety at Gage is serious business. In the case of an emergency, our employees are trained in fire safety and how to deal with chemical spills and releases. They are also aware of our pollution incident prevention plan and best chemical storage practices. To us, being safe at work means understanding the proper way to use equipment and how to best handle an emergency situation.
As mentioned, Gage takes safety seriously! It is an important issue that may be featured in June but is a part of our everyday practice 24/7/365. For maximum efficiency and minimal waste, choose products you can trust. Safety starts with Gage solvents, fuels, and solutions.
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!
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!
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.
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!
Gage Products is proud to offer a full range of fuel blends and calibration fuels for testing system components. In the past, our advanced fuels technology also has led to our developing specific fuels for individual customer requests. Gage has been a Q1 rated supplier since 1987, and is both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 registered. Our outstanding services earned us the 2013 Detroit Free Press Green Leaders Award for Automotive Innovation. Additionally, we proudly sponsor the EcoCAR 2 competition, recently won by The Ohio State, by providing the fuel. Some of our capabilities within the fuels segment are outlined below.
Reference Fuels
Our formulary contains more than 1000 reference fuel blends. Gage Products usually requires only a name of a product or a specified need from a customer in order to find the most appropriate solution. We work with EPA, CARB, and European gasolines and diesels. Witha full on-site fuels testing facility, we also provide C of A with all fuels. Chrysler, Ford, and GM are just some of the brands that utilize these blends.
Calibration Fluids
Stay up-to-date with the industry’s fast-paced changes in demand by utilizing our dedicated laboratory facilities. OEMs, Tier 1s, and various testing laboratories utilize Gage Products for their sourcing needs. Our capabilities include simulation of viscosity and flow, determination of critical vehicle systems values, and testing on rails, fuel pumps and injectors. With 25 different calibration fluids available, we can test multiple automotive applications.
Custom Fuel Blends
Our research and development team has experience producing the highest-quality results for even the most specific of customer designations. We offer bulk volume to one-gallon container packaging, and delivery times faster than the industry standard. All of these advantages are available for a competitive price.
Toll Manufacturing
We cater to clients looking for reliable, innovative, and environmentally-friendly solutions. Some of our varied services include: contracted work for unique fuel development, high-yield custom distillation, and blending or packaging for unique specifications.
As 2016 draws to a close and we prepare for another productive, exciting year, we at Gage Products are looking back on the past year’s many accomplishments and important blog posts. Having celebrated our 80th birthday in 2016, this was a particularly momentous time for our team.
