Those sturdy old industrial boilers will have to undergo a makeover by Sept. 13, 2007, to comply with new federal emissions standards. That's not an easy task considering 80% of the boilers in the United States are nearly 30 years old, making them less likely to meet new Environmental Protection Agency regulations, according to Dan Willems, vice president of product development for boiler and boiler room products manufacturer Cleaver-Brooks Inc.
The Milwaukee-based company is working with its customers to meet EPA limits on four classes of pollutants. Cleaver-Brooks is doing this by investing millions of dollars each year into product development at its research and development center, where the company focuses on improving boiler emissions, efficiency, safety and reliability, Willems says. Emissions reduction is accomplished by changing the burner design to improve the fuel-to-air ratio in the boiler process or with higher-performing boiler controls. Both modifications can be retrofitted into an existing boiler system.
| Green Manufacturing: An Inconvenient Reality |
About the Author
Jonathan Katz
Former Managing Editor
Former Managing Editor Jon Katz covered leadership and strategy, tackling subjects such as lean manufacturing leadership, strategy development and deployment, corporate culture, corporate social responsibility, and growth strategies. As well, he provided news and analysis of successful companies in the chemical and energy industries, including oil and gas, renewable and alternative.
Jon worked as an intern for IndustryWeek before serving as a reporter for The Morning Journal and then as an associate editor for Penton Media’s Supply Chain Technology News.
Jon received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Kent State University and is a die-hard Cleveland sports fan.