Qualtek's Quality Solutions

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Qualtek's Commitment to Sustainability

As a leader in the Colorado manufacturing industry for over a decade, Qualtek's sustainability is directly influenced by our ability to deal with our most pressing energy and environmental challenges. By focusing reduction of water consumption and efficient use of energy, our company remains at the leading edge of a competitive market. In 2011, Qualtek significantly expanded its commitment to reduce the company's impact on the Colorado Springs environment. We established a goal to reduce the use of electricity and natural gas as a percentage of sales each quarter. To achieve this goal we've invested in ultra-efficient technology, and expanded education and communication programs.

Spreading the Word

We are developing new communication
initiatives to help all Qualtek associates understand how we can improve our environment by changing our behavior.
The The Qualtek E-Team Newsletter allows employees to learn about steps
the company is taking toward achieving
our sustainability goals and provides a platform to share personal stories and
ideas of environmental stewardship.

Check out our previous newsletters here.

The E-Team

Technology alone won't accomplish our sustainability goals. Qualtek put together a team of dedicated individuals from various departments with goal of improving efficient use of natural resources and the health and well being of the people, facilities, and land involved in producing high quality metal products. This group will identify the role of sustainability in the culture of our people and ultimately our business practices. From this starting point we plan to build a truly inclusive environment where all Qualtek employees are willing and able to implement solutions for our most pressing energy challenges. Our successes will be measured in real time by our ability to decrease energy use as a percentage of sales while increasing profitability.

Sustainability Highlights

High efficiency T-5 High Bay lighting units are being installed in our metal finishing department. The new fixtures allow us to improve lighting capabilities while reducing our energy use by 50% from the prior system. Nearly 48 new fixtures will be installed by the end of 2011.

An ultra efficient Coolerado Evaporative Cooling system was installed to provide improved climate control in the stamping and heat-treating offices. A single Coolerado unit replaced 2 air conditioning units and reduced output from a third A/C unit by almost half. The net effect is a 7-ton reduction of A/C use.

In the Metal Finishing Department, the anodizing system layout was changed allowing installation of a smaller transfer pump that uses a watt-wise motor and removal of a second motor. Now the anodizing line operates with one pump and one tank instead of two systems. The move cut energy use in half and saves significant water use.

Increased numbers of well-marked recycling bins were distributed throughout the facility. Increased recycling has reduced the amount recyclable materials ending up in the landfill by approximately 50%. By renegotiating our waste contract to allow additional material such as cardboard to be recycled, we've reduced our trash hauling costs by 24%.

Overall awareness of energy use and personal behavioral changes helped us reduce our energy use as a percentage of sales from 4.45% in 2009 to 3.94% in 2010 and down to 3.6% through Q3 of 2011.

Qualtek partnered with Solar Resources Consulting LLC
of Superior, Co. to build a 30kw DC (direct current) energy system for one of our buildings, which

will offset approximately 98% of the energy consumption in that space. The system will consist of 120 250-watt solar modules, three Power-One 10kw inverters, and an S-5 Standing Metal Seam mechanically attached racking system.

Download Previous Newsletters

4th Quarter 2011

719 598-3394
4230 N. Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80907