Prestigious environmental award goes to Sanford plant

GKN Driveline’s Precision Forming plant at Sanford has become only the sixth organisation in the State of North Carolina to be presented with a prestigious Environmental Stewardship award.

Secretary William Ross Jnr, of the North Carolina presented the 2006 edition of the award to GKN employees and senior managers at a special awards ceremony. Among those attending were Paul Pugliese, VP North American Operations GKN Driveline Driveshafts and Charles Corwin, global director of Precision Forming, GKN Driveline Driveshafts. Earlier in the day invited guests had joined GKN employees on a tour of the Sanford plant.

“GKN is a leader in the development of management systems for efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing,” said William Ross Jr. “The company strives to reduce its environmental footprint not only for the betterment of North Carolina but also for future generations worldwide.”

The Environmental Stewardship Initiative is a voluntary programme that encourages facilities to use pollution prevention and innovation to meet and go beyond regulatory requirements.

In order to achieve Steward status organisations must demonstrate “aggressive environmental performance goals”, beyond compliance activities, a mature environmental management system that is integrated into core business functions and processes to communicate with the local community on environmental activities.

The GKN Driveline precision forming plant at Sanford has reduced energy consumption by 18 per cent since 1999, water consumption by 17 per cent and waste generation by 48 per cent over the same period. “Beyond compliance” activities have included; the installation of environmental control equipment, internal auditing and monitoring, recycling and reuse of solid and hazardous wastes and tracking of carbon monoxide emissions.

“This award reinforces our employees’ commitment to environmental excellence and sustainable development through the implementation of an effective EMS based on active employee involvement,” commented Charles Corwin. “In accepting this recognition, GKN is looking forward to a stronger partnership with the State, our customers, suppliers and above all our employers.”

The Sanford PF plant started production in 1984. The facility – with a current workforce of 114 – produces between 12 and 13 million forgings annually.