Three members of the Green Manufacturing Industrial Consortium led by Western Michigan University -- Landscape Forms, Fabri-Kal and Post Foods -- have been fully assessed by the WMU teams to determine what issues need to be addressed in energy and material operations to develop more green practices.
Green projects also have been completed for a number of companies that have contacted WMU with specific energy and environmental issues. Other projects are under way.
And University officials say Ralcopor's Post Foods has become the latest company to join the
Green Manufacturing Industrial Consortium.
Taken together, there's plenty of evidence, momentum for the consortium continues to build.
When companies join, the consortium identifies and promotes projects that will help the company and promote green manufacturing. The efforts undertaken could be focused projects -- such as material selection in product design and green manufacturing processes -- or general activities such as energy conservation or waste reduction and elimination in manufacturing.
Projects are typically led by a faculty member. Students conduct most of the analysis and engineering.
The consortium got under way in January 2010 and since then 80 companies have been a part of the process. Seventeen faculty and 10 students have worked on green projects and activities.
Its May 3 gathering, the third for the consortium, is part of a green manufacturing initiative funded with a nearly $1 million in federal funds awarded to Dr. John Patten, chair of manufacturing engineering and director of the WMU Center for Manufacturing Research. The award was intended to assist businesses throughout West Michigan in creating more energy efficient and environmentally sound processes and products.
It also is sustained through dues of $25,000 per year paid by member organizations.
Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Deanne Puca, Western Michigan University
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