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Showing posts from November, 2015

2015 Awards of Excellence in Metalforming Announced

We have announced the winner for our 2015 Awards of Excellence in Metalforming.  Presented annually, the awards recognize the high standards of achievement set by the metalforming industry in the areas of design, safety, quality, training and education, process control, product development, and productivity. Winners were honored with a special plaque, commemorative flag and a cash prize on November 8, 2015, during the FABTECH tradeshow in Chicago, IL, and will be featured in the December 2015 issue of MetalForming magazine. We applaud the achievements of this year’s winners, who have dedicated themselves to continuous improvement of their products and services.  Award Winning Company Location Higgins-Caditz Design Award Quality Industries LaVergne, TN Pitcher Insurance Agency Safety Award Trans-Matic Mfg. Co. Holland, MI Zierick Manufacturing Corporation P

The EPA’s Ozone Rule and What It Means for Manufacturing

On October 26, the Environmental Protection Agency released the new standard for ground level ozone, the main component of smog. The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone (O3) lowers the requirement from the current 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. In 2008, the EPA revised the 1997 standards from 80 ppb down to the current 75 ppb. The rule, which takes effect in 2017, requires states to submit plans to the EPA showing how they will reduce ozone emissions to comply with the new standards. This will include restricting economic activity, rejecting power plant permits, and blocking highway infrastructure projects. What exactly does this mean for manufacturers? A recent study showed that the new standard would reduce the U.S. GDP by $140 billion annually by restricting manufacturing and other economic activity in areas of the country that currently exceed the new ozone limit. That estimates to 1.4 million fewer jobs through 2040. Emission levels in ro