Zer Xiong reuses packaging returned from Ingersoll-Rand/Trane’s facility in Lexington, Ky., to package a drive product at the Danfoss facility in Milwaukee.

LOVES PARK, Ill. - Danfoss was presented the Ingersoll-Rand “Go Green” Supplier of the Year award for its efforts in reducing and recycling material at Ingersoll-Rand/Trane’s facility in Lexington, Ky.

Danfoss Power Electronics Division recycled 11,000 boxes totaling 40,000 pounds, and 50,000 pounds of wood pallets used for shipping panels from its facility in Milwaukee. Furthermore, Danfoss will soon eliminate the wood pallets used in its packaging.

The recycling project began as a challenge to Phil McIheran, continuous improvement leader at Danfoss in Milwaukee, to reduce the waste generated from cardboard and wood that are used in packaging Danfoss VLT® drive products.

McIheran arranged to have a trailer dropped at Ingersoll-Rand’s Lexington dock to collect the boxes and pallets received with Danfoss shipments and have them sent back to Milwaukee every two weeks.

“We would then re-use the old boxes and pallets,” said McIheran. “None of this would have been possible without the cooperative efforts of Kevin Thompson at Ingersoll-Rand (Trane) and our packers here in Milwaukee.”

In recognition of its achievement, Danfoss Power Electronics received an award certificate, a supplier award announcement within Ingersoll-Rand, and $500 toward the purchase of a tree to plant at the Danfoss Power Electronics facility in Loves Park, Ill.

For more information, visit www.danfossdrives.com.

Publication date:06/14/2010