Spotlight on Eco-Friendly Manufacturing at Centaur Floor Systems
4.1.20
On our recent visit to Centaur Floor Systems’ manufacturing plant in Lancaster, Pa., we were enthusiastic to get an up-close look at their eco-friendly practices in manufacturing their floor coverings for recreational, fitness and athletic applications.
“I was thoroughly impressed with their entire operation,” says Josh Cucinotta, sales manager for Michael Halebian & Co. “Their commitment to the environment is most predominantly illustrated by Centaur and its parent company, Ecore, diverting more than 100 million pounds of truck tires from landfills annually in the course of manufacturing their products. The EPA and government officials are frequent visitors to the plant to see the state-of-the-art upcycling process first-hand.”
Tires provide traction and absorb shock, so when Centaur upcycles the tires into flooring it has those same attributes. Plus, their flooring is ergonomic and sound-reducing. The steel in the tires is sold back to the automotive industry.
Two other eco-savvy choices are packaging their products on wooden pallets that can be re-used and using recycled newspaper or cardboard for shipping.
Next, Centaur makes water conservation a priority. By using a closed-loop chilling system, water is re-circulated rather than being released into the sewer system. Centaur and Ecore together conserve 17.5 million gallons of water each year.
There’s also an emphasis on energy savings. Ecore has developed exclusive equipment and has incorporated it into the manufacturing process to use 40 percent less energy than standard industry procedures. The amount of natural gas they conserve each year could service 120 average American homes.
Looking at the big picture, our company is seeing that recycled content information and certifications from organizations like Floor Score and Mindful Materials are almost becoming a requirement.
“We come across many companies that are very interested in ‘green’ materials and include sustainability as part of their mission statement and their corporate DNA, but there are still situations where being ‘green’ can only become a reality if everything else is equal,” says Bill McDonald, commercial specification manager for Michael Halebian & Co.
“Fortunately, in the case of the Centaur products,” he continues, “there are competitive advantages — such as pricing, lead-time, quality and durability — that make it easier to use products that meet the needs of the present without compromising those of future generations. We recommend Centaur with confidence.”