INDEPENDENCE, OH — Electroplating specialists SIFCO ASC has been awarded its ISO 14001:2015 certificate, demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability.
An internationally accepted standard, ISO 14001:2015 addresses various aspects of environmental management and recognizes companies that identify and control their environmental effect across a variety of areas. SIFCO ASC completed its Phase 1 Audit with Smither’s Quality Management, showcasing how it follows the standard’s framework, which encompasses a product’s entire lifecycle, rather than just its production.
SIFCO ASC met the criteria of the standard by taking measures to reduce energy consumption at its U.S. headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. The company has generated savings through reductions in electrical usage by switching to LED lights, reducing the amount of hazardous waste produced, and actively monitoring bottle usage and the amount of paper used throughout the office.
Darrin Radatz, Environmental Health and Safety Manager for SIFCO ASC, said, “Voluntarily maintaining a quality and environmental management system to ISO standards helps us understand how we can minimize our impact the environment, comply with government regulations, continuously improve and crucially, be as sustainable as possible. “An audit conducted 18 months ago of our environmental management system revealed that we had already made several positive changes, such as using low-energy LED lighting, reducing compressed air use, recycling plastic and cardboard, reusing packaging, and ensuring that all electrical equipment is turned off when it is not being utilized.
“Since that audit, we have made additional changes to the way we operate, which has led to SIFCO ASC being awarded the ISO 14001:2015 standard for environmental management.”
A Quaker Houghton company, SIFCO ASC provides practical, cost-effective selective electroplating solutions to improve part performance and reduce manufacturing costs.
“We are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts and it is testament to our commitment to improving the efficiency of our operations and the wider focus on our environmental credentials,” said Radatz. “As part of our continuous improvement program and dedication to environmental management, our aim is to further reduce our energy consumption, plastic use and hazardous waste generated from our chemical processes.”