COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins Inc. is among seven organizations to win the 2022 Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management said Monday that the Columbus-based company had received the honor for a pollution prevention project at the Cummins Mid-Range Engine Plant in Walesboro, which specializes in diesel and alternative fuel engines and generators.
The project consisted of reviewing processes that had been in place for 30 years at the facility in which engines were washed and painted to prevent rust and create brand association, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
After a two-year validation, including working with its supplier and customer, Cummins determined that painting was no longer needed. The company was able to eliminate five resource-intensive processes, including washing with chemicals, painting and using a dry-off and cure oven.
The benefits of this project include reductions in air emissions. The project also reduced natural gas usage by 79%, chemical usage by 23,500 gallons a year, clear-coat usage by 14,000 gallons a year, energy usage by over 10%, water usage by 12,000 gallons a day, as well as reductions in general waste from masking.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says that the award is the most prestigious environmental honor in the state and is “reserved for the most innovative, sustainable and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact Indiana’s environment.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
