Our Benchmarks
Unlike many industries ERMCO has chosen to invest wisely in managing our environmental impact through best technologies and recycling practices. Our Environmental Management System has served as a bench mark for CAPS Research, a joint venture whose purpose is to better understand how organizations in the utilities industry supply chain are addressing climate change and are working to reduce their impacts in key environmental performance areas including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, water use, waste & materials management and toxic emissions. The research is sponsored by a group of investor-owned electric utility companies that have committed to work with their suppliers to advance sustainable business practices across their supply chains. CAPS Research is a non-profit research organization jointly sponsored by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) and the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. CAPS Research remains committed to quality products and world-class customer service.
Our History
ERMCO’s manufacturing history began in January 1971, and we have never used askerals or any other oil containing PCB’s. In addition, every rail car delivering to our facilities is checked for contamination, and all processing equipment, holding tanks and samples of finished transformers are checked for possible contamination on a regular basis. All tests have shown less than 1 part per million of possible contamination. As product development evolved so did ERMCO’s effort to reduce our environmental footprint. In the late 1980’s and on into the 1990’s advances were made in surface coating allowing ERMCO to replace traditional painting systems with modern powder coatings. To date, as a result of new technologies, ERMCO does not produce any hazardous waste streams. Even residual powder paint resulting from general cleaning and filter changes has been granted state exemptions allowing disposal in public landfills, all due to the non-hazardous paint formulations.
Lean Green
Being mindful of our natural resources, ERMCO’s recycling efforts continue to discover innovative ways to reclaim raw and spent materials. For example, cardboard, wood pallets, transformer oil and scrap metal are all recycled in an effort to minimize waste while enhancing profitability. Also, ERMCO carefully monitors wastewater and storm water to assure the return of one of the world’s most precious resources back to nature as intended. In partnering with local recyclers, ERMCO continues to find solutions to excess landfill waste.“Lean & Green” is a reality highly regarded within our organization. Recyclables include:
- Pallets
- Scrap Wood
- All Plastics
- Paper Products
- Metal/ Plastics Drums
- Fiber Drums
- Bailed Cardboard
- E-Waste
- Laser/Metal Cutting Dust
- Reclaimed Powder Paint
ERMCO has transitioned from traditional oil absorbents to recyclable Higher Quality Absorbents (No Longer MRO Purchased/Inventoried). This has meant an estimated 25% plus reduction in cost for the management of reclaimed transformer oil and the end of land filling sorbent materials. Benefits of recycle sorbents include:
- Reduced Landfill Waste
- Oil is Recycled – Protecting Future Natural Resources
- Reduced Liability
- ISO Compliance
From biodegradable transformer oils to reusable shipping products, ERMCO leads the way in Environmental Stewardship. ERMCO continues to research better, safer methods of operation in the design of products and raw material use.
