Thanks to the generosity and hard work of PennTAP, we were able to afford and install equipment necessary to increase productivity, efficiency and assist us in competing with larger companies.
The Need
Innovative Sintered Metals, Inc. (ISM) is a powdered metal manufacturer located in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. PennTAP and ISM have worked on two projects together, improving the site’s productivity and reducing energy usage. The first was the installation of a pre-heat chamber on one of ISM’s sintering furnaces. The pre-heat chamber uses a small amount of electricity to combust waste hydrogen and lubricant vapors. The additional heat allows for energy to be recovered from a waste stream, and therefore lower the usage of electricity. ISM wanted to determine the energy savings as a result of the pre-heat chamber.
The second was the installation of a cooling tower for a different sintering oven. The cooling tower was used to reduce the amount of water used in the system while also improving the quality of the product.
The PennTAP Connection
For both projects, PennTAP technical advisors visited the facility to observe operations and collect data. This service was offered to ISM at no cost, through grant funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) State Energy Program and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency (DEP).
The Project
PennTAP analyzed the energy savings as a result of the two projects. As part of the analyses, PennTAP identified grant opportunities to help ISM offset the costs of the projects.
For the pre-heat chamber, PennTAP recommended using the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Energy Assistance Program (REAP). PennTAP also helped ISM complete the grant application documents. ISM was awarded $13,000.
For the cooling tower, PennTAP recommended using the Small Business Advantage Grant (SBAG) from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). PennTAP helped with the completion of those grant application documents as well. ISM was awarded $7,000.
The Outcome
The annual cost savings were estimated to be $24,000 per year, based on savings of 690,000 gallons of water and 120,000 kilowatt hours per year. The grants provided a funding of $20,000 for the projects combined, making it easier for the site to implement the projects.
As a result of these two projects, ISM expects to be able to increase the rate of production and the quality of the products.
About the Client
Innovative Sintered Metals, Inc.
1037 Delaum Rd.
St. Marys, PA 15857
Phone: 814-781-1033
County: Elk
Industry: Metal
https://innovativesintered.com