“Going green” is everywhere these days. We see it from large efforts such as wind and solar power to smaller efforts like reusable grocery bags and recycling.

At Midland Metal Products we have been making a concerted effort to reduce our environmental impact.

Our location in the Midwestern United States has made us a natural choice for those who want to reduce waste and cost in transportation, but there is so much more.

We have a foundation of sustainable, cost effective processes and are committed to enhancing our green methods and standards in the following areas:

• Implementation of a Comprehensive Manufacturing System
• Purchasing Procedures
• More Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing Methods
• Reduce Energy Consumption and Costs
• Purchase Energy-Saving Machinery
• Steel Products: The Ultimate Recycled Material
• Reduce and Recycle Waste

Implementation of a Comprehensive Manufacturing System
Lean Manufacturing
Midland Metal Products has adopted the “lean manufacturing” principle, which creates more value to manufactured products through less work.

Lean Manufacturing recognizes the “elimination of waste” as the primary goal toward creating manufacturing efficiencies. Lessening our environmental impact is an important benefit from adopting a lean methodology. The “lean principle” recognizes seven wastes:
• Transportation
• Inventory
• Motion
• Waiting
• Overproduction
• Over-Processing
• Defects
Our Manufacturing system gives us total control to reduce our environmental impact.

ERP Technology
Midland employs a comprehensive ERP system to track and analyze our production data daily. Our investment in this technology coupled with our focus on interdepartmental communication has resulted in a team effort of which we’re very proud.

We continuously look for opportunities for improvement - always striving to run as lean as possible while operating at maximum efficiency. We know that operating with a minimum of waste is in keeping with our commitment to being environmentally sound. This business strategy has the added benefit of being cost effective creating a win-win situation for both Midland and our customers.

Purchasing Procedures
Midland’s ERP system provides clear visibility of our inventory requirements and allows us to purchase more strategically, thus reducing material cost, material handling, freight cost and labor cost.

Midland uses material-optimizing nesting software to minimize waste and determine our purchasing requirements. This lowers our raw material costs and reduces our global footprint by ensuring that we purchase the minimum raw materials required to make our display fixtures.

We form partnerships with local suppliers that share the same environmental and operational commitments.

More Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing Methods
Midland’s fabrication process does NOT require the use of lubricants whether petroleum based or otherwise.

Midland’s entire fleet of powered material handling devices, which consists of four forklifts and three pallet movers are battery powered.

Reduce Energy Consumption and Costs
In 2001, Midland Metal Products initiated an energy-saving program beginning with a facility-wide lighting retrofit. Fluorescent fixtures using petroleum-based, magnetic ballasts have been replaced by energy-efficient metal-halide fixtures that use one third of the energy while offering the same safe level of illumination as the previous configuration.

The acquisition of new machinery has reduced power consumption greatly. In the case of the addition of an automated Laser-cutting cell to our process, Midland Metal Products effectively eliminated 10 low-technology OBI-type power presses.

Purchase Energy-Saving Machinery
Midland Metal Products has taken advantage of every possible technological advancement appropriate to our manufacturing process. Modern machines are energy efficient, cost effective and have less impact on the environment.

Automated processes reduce costs by operating more efficiently, and supporting features such as software and asset management techniques allow improve material utilization, lower raw material costs and create less waste. Midland Metal Products can produce better, more accurate parts faster.

Midland Metal Products has implemented a two-story tall, automated material handling system that houses 28 modular “drawers” that can carry 6000 lbs of sheet metal and can be delivered to both an automated laser or turret punch cell, as well as two other locations in the facility. This reduces wasteful movement and energy, and makes sure materials are used in a timely manner.

Our commitment to having the most accurate, cost effective and least wasteful equipment has greatly reduced the need for outsourcing.

Steel Products: The Ultimate Recycled Material
Steel is the most-recycled material in the world because it is easily recyclable and because it’s an essential ingredient in the steel-making process for all steel mills.

The display fixtures that Midland builds, even powder-coated or plated, are 100% recyclable by any steel recycling facility. All metal scrap incurred during our fabrication process is recycled by the facility with whom Midland has partnered.

Reduce and Recycle Waste
When you select Midland Metal Products to assemble and pack your project, you are ensuring that sustainable, cost-effective materials are being used.

We use recycled and recyclable packaging materials such as pallets made from recycled lumber, biodegradable poly bags, and newsprint for void fill.

The shipping supplies (pallets, corrugated boxes, metal spools), on which our raw materials are delivered, are reused either through recycling or a return program with our suppliers.

We recycle bottles and cans. We reuse packing materials such as packing peanuts and air pillows. We recycle all used batteries, ink and toner cartridges, and e-waste such as computer terminals and monitors. We purchase recycled paper products whenever possible and recycle any paper products that cannot be reused. Not long ago cost and quality were considered when purchasing recycled products, but these days the recycled products are high quality and close to the same price as virgin paper.