“Under Brightsmith’s lead as an energy-efficient manufacturer, we are always looking for ways to think green,” Coffey said. “The new splicer creates less scrap waste, and that is a great thing for our customers and the environment.”Sustainable advancements at Brightsmith also have included recycling solvents and water used in the coating process, as well as paint drums; reusing plastic ID rings that come off the ID of coils from steel mills for the packaging of painted coils being shipped out of Brightsmith; and using sponges for cleanup and changeovers at the coaters instead of rags. Sustainability at the facility even includes managing energy efficiency of machinery and lighting. As repairs are addressed, 480-volt motors on the process lines are replaced with energy-efficient motors rated at 98 percent efficient energy rather than the standard motor at 88 percent, and fluorescent lighting ballasts are replaced with energy-efficient ballasts instead of the old magnetic ones.

The introduction of BRIGHTSITE, a new tool that facilitates customers’ experiences with Brightsmith, has been incredibly useful in gauging company performance. The interactive website, controlled with a username and password, allows customers to access inventory and production reports at any time. The site is accessible through the Brightsmith homepage.

Efficiency improvements are steadfast at the Brightsmith facility with the addition of rail service in 2013. With each rail car holding 220,000 pounds of material, four tractor trailers are removed from the road. Increasing the company’s yields and widening customer options, the choice can now be made between truck or rail shipping based on an individual’s specific costs and timeframes.

 For more information, visit www.brightsmithcoaters.com.