Farmington, CT Connecticut Spring & Stamping (CSS) has built its reputation on quality products and a dedication to the environment. With its latest energy retrofit, the 76-year-old 3D metal forming company is expected to see an additional projected annual savings of $8,171 in natural gas energy costs.
CSS is currently making changes to its dust collection system, which requires a significant amount of energy, with machines that typically run at full capacity for up to 24 hours a day. Manufacturers like CSS that operate 3D Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines must employ these full-scale dust collection systems to manage the significant amount of metal dust and particles created during the manufacturing process. With new “stop gate dampers” at each machine and improvements to the 150-horse power motor, CSS’s upgraded system is much more energy efficient. In addition, CSS is adding demand control ventilation to its HVAC system. The combined efforts will result in an estimated annual natural gas savings of about 7,428 CCF or $8,171.
Using initiatives and incentives through Energize Connecticut and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), CSS is able to continue growing its business while upgrading to cleaner, dependable and energy-efficient solutions. CNG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., estimates a total project incentive of $25,998 was provided to CSS to help make these changes, which are projected for completion soon.
“Our company has been growing steadily over the past 10 years. We have roughly 750 customers and supply precision parts to the medical, firearms/defense, aerospace and automotive industries,” said CSS vice president of operations Robert Allen. “Through programs like Energize CT and CNG’s gas incentives, we have offset some of our operation costs while improving the efficiency of our facilities. Cost savings measures like this have helped fuel our growth from 300 employees to almost 500, allowing us to meet increasing customer requirements.”
The company purchased a 52,000 s/f building in 2014 and retrofitted the entire space with energy upgrades, the catalyst for making the current updates at their original 135,000 s/f facility in Farmington. According to longtime CSS facilities manager Joe Tourville, the company wanted to mirror what was done at the new building in their larger facility.
“The dust collector upgrades improve the efficiency of the system overall and benefit the entirety of operations at CSS,” said Tourville. “Due to better suction control, there is less heat removed from the facility, a reduction in noise level and less dust escaping into the air, improving air quality.”
This project is the latest in a string of energy efficient and environmentally friendly initiatives implemented at CSS to reduce energy use and save money as well as alter processes to minimize hazardous waste. With the new dust collector, upgrades to LED lighting at both buildings and HVAC upgrades, total savings is estimated at $157,266 annually, according to Tourville.
“CT Spring & Stamping is a great example that manufacturing is alive and growing here in Connecticut and that initiatives like Energize Connecticut will continue to support that growth,” said CNG energy engineer Fred Schiavi.