Heil Environmental Looks to Make Little Impact at Major Tradeshow [6/16/2009]
– Company’s tradeshow strategy aims to reduce the negative environmental impact of its tradeshow displays –
Chattanooga, TN – Heil Environmental, an international leader in the manufacturing of refuse and recycling collection vehicles, has unveiled what it hopes will be a big display with little impact. By using already recycled, sustainable, and recyclable materials in a major tradeshow exhibit, the company hopes it will leave little lasting impact— on the environment— through its marketing efforts at the nation’s largest Waste Industry event, Waste Expo 2009.
“The tradeshow industry, in general, is resource intensive” said Randy Brown, Heil’s Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing. “Companies spend vast sums of money creating displays that have a shelf-life of just a few days. Additionally, tons of waste are generated and must be handled by the city hosting the show. We thought we could achieve our commercial purpose at these types of events in a much more efficient manner.”
Starting with the demand that its booth be constructed entirely of sustainable materials, Heil worked with its exhibit design company to fashion a display that was environmentally friendlier than what had traditionally been used. “We looked at every aspect of our tradeshow activities,” explained Ken Beaver, Heil’s Director of Marketing. “Immediately, we saw the impact getting our equipment and people to the show would have on the environment, so we reduced our staff presence by over 50% and reduced our on-hand booth equipment by 80%. We then looked at the materials actually used in the booth itself and found ways to use recycled cardboard for walls, soy-based foam seat pads, and promotional items that were largely compostable after their useful life had expired.”
In addition to recycled materials being used in its booth, Heil found ways to use products that could serve a purpose well after the close of the show. Working with Artificial Turf and Putting Greens, a Kansas City company that has manufacturing facilities outside of Chattanooga, TN, Heil specified an artificial grass as the flooring to be used in its Waste Expo Booth. At the end of the show, Heil will remove the artificial grass and donate it for use under play equipment at an underprivileged children’s center in the city of Las Vegas.
“We felt the space should reflect our commitment to the environment and the communities in which we operate,” said Chris Dutton, Marketing Communications Manager at Heil. “Right now there are children playing in what is, essentially, a gravel pit and we happened to have a beautiful looking turf that would allow them to play in a cleaner, more natural looking environment. Additionally, this turf won’t require water, fertilizers, or pesticides to serve its purpose. Heil is absolutely thrilled there will be real benefit for the community hosting our industry.”
Apart from the promotional items that turn into growing flower plants when placed back in the environment, Heil will print no other handouts for Waste Expo. Using re-usable interactive kiosks, customers can see all of the company’s literature instantly and have electronic copies sent to an e-mail account; alternatively, for those customers who prefer printed materials, copies can printed, on demand, on recycled paper.
About Heil Environmental
Heil Environmental, established in 1901, is a manufacturer of refuse and recyclables collection bodies, including front loaders, rear loaders, side loaders and models designed specifically for collecting recyclables. The company has manufacturing facilities in Fort Payne, Ala.; Greenville, SC; and Hillend, U.K. Heil is part of the Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV) holding group. For additional information, visit www.heil.com.
Heil Environmental Offers Simplified Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversions [6/9/2009]
– Focus on sustainability, efficiency leads to manufacturing expansion –
Chattanooga, TN – Heil Environmental, an international leader in the manufacturing of refuse and recycling collection vehicles, has announced it will expand its manufacturing capabilities by offering compressed natural gas (CNG) conversions at its Fort Payne, Alabama facility. Heil officials say the move allows the company to improve operational efficiencies and helps grow and promote green energy initiatives for its customer base.
“The demand for cleaner burning, environmentally-friendlier refuse collection trucks has grown rapidly over the past few years,” said Randy Brown, Heil’s Vice President of Global Sales & Marketing. “The decision to offer our customers a single source for equipment manufacturing and CNG conversion will improve our ability to more quickly deliver on an order once it is placed. It also helps us to increase our customers’ overall efficiency as we regularly look for ways to reduce the logistical complexity of orders while, at the same time, improving the quality of our trucks.”
When a CNG chassis arrives at the Fort Payne facility, Heil engineers are prepared with customized truck bodies to accommodate the engine’s unique wiring, fuel line and storage system configurations. Because Heil trucks vary in body style and function, each model requires its own CNG-customized conversion. Previously, customers were forced to coordinate shipping vehicles to a third-party contractor for CNG conversions, which increased production time, transportation costs, energy wastage, and carbon emissions.
Customers across the U.S. are increasingly seeking healthier and more efficient vehicles, thanks in large part to the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), which provides municipalities and businesses up to $300 million in incentives to reduce diesel emissions by purchasing energy efficient vehicles. CNG vehicles significantly reduce CO2, NOx, particulate matter and other emissions that impact air quality.
In addition to helping clients reduce their carbon footprint, Heil is also committed to using sustainable business practices in its day-to-day operations. From its corporate offices to its manufacturing facilities, the company has resolved to function in a way that is eco-friendlier, such as recycling, reducing paper consumption and designing vehicles that can help customers maximize efficiencies and reduce waste. At the 2009 Waste Expo convention in Las Vegas, the Waste Industry’s largest trade show, Heil’s booth will be built using recycled and recyclable materials and will be recycled once again at the end of the show. Artificial grass used in the booth will be donated to the city of Las Vegas for installation at a playground for underprivileged children.
“Just as it’s important that we assist our clients in meeting their needs with regard to the environment, we too are focusing on sustainability in the way we conduct business,” said Chris Dutton, Heil’s Marketing Communications Manager. “Everything from the kind of paper we use to increasing operational efficiency by expanding our manufacturing capabilities play a role in reducing the company’s carbon footprint. Evidence clearly shows that environmental sustainability equals business sustainability.”
The company’s expanded CNG operations are not the first move designed to increase Heil’s operational efficiencies. Earlier this year, a painting facility, utilizing low volatile organic compound paints was also added to the Fort Payne manufacturing plant. Heil executives credit the desire to more quickly meet customer demand and improve delivery time for orders as motivating factors for streamlining the production process. Increased production efficiencies also reflect the company’s commitment to environmental awareness and sustainability.
|
