Jan 2 2008
Kennametal Inc. announced today that it has presented its sixth annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Excellence Awards to six Kennametal projects worldwide. The awards recognize excellence in promoting progressive environmental, health and safety initiatives. This year Kennametal received a record 49 nominations spanning a wide array of projects and ideas.
"Environment, Health and Safety are an integral part of Kennametal's core business strategy," commented Kennametal President and CEO Carlos Cardoso. "We are dedicated to helping safeguard the health and safety of our employees and the environments in which they operate and are excited to recognize the projects that showcase excellence and commitment to our EHS initiatives."
Winners of the 2007 EHS Excellence Awards were chosen by a set of six external judges representing various environmental, health and safety institutions. Nominees were judged according to their demonstration of leadership, innovation, facility collaboration, employee benefit, measurable cost and risk reduction and improvement in business operations and quality.
This year's winners are:
-- Presidential Award for Health and Safety: ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA Kennametal's Asheboro, North Carolina, facility was recognized for their indoor air quality modifications resulting in improved air quality on the manufacturing floor.
-- Presidential Award for Environmental: ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA; AUGUSTA, GEORGIA; CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA; GREENFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS Through a scrap material recycling program, these Kennametal facilities will be able to recycle over 1,300 tons of material annually, as well as benefit from the elimination of potential disposal fees.
-- Health and Safety Excellence Award: KENNAMETAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER, CLEVELAND, OHIO Through the development of a reusable container, the Kennametal Distribution Center in Cleveland, Ohio, reduced potential ergonomic concerns and increased productivity by over 35 percent.
-- Health and Safety Excellence Award: BEDFORD, PENNSYLVANIA Through the installation of furnace loading improvements, Kennametal's Bedford, Pennsylvania, facility has reduced manual efforts associated with production further ensuring employee safety.
-- Environmental Excellence Award: ENGINEERED PRODUCTS GROUP Through employee awareness and involvement in Kennametal's Lean process, the company's Engineered Products Group, has significantly reduced energy usage resulting in savings across the entire business unit worldwide. (Irwin, Pennsylvania; TCM Detroit, Michigan; Traverse City, Michigan; Victoria, British Columbia ; Kelowna, British Columbia; Arnheim & Hardenberg, Netherlands)
-- Environmental Excellence Award: CORPORATE CAMPUS LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA Through Kennametal's Lean process, this facility was able to identify ways to reduce the consumption of electricity and natural gas significantly reducing costs and generating savings.