Fabricated Metal Products Sector Assessment Near Completion
Wood Products and Pulp & Paper Now Available

by Mike Garruto, P.E., Pollution Prevention Engineer

[From the Source - Spring/Summer 1996]

The Winter 1996 issue of From the Source highlighted P²AD's in-depth sector assessments of the wood products and pulp and paper industries in Georgia. These reports are now available upon request by calling Jancie Hatcher, P²AD's information manager, at 404/651-5120 or 800/685-2443. Currently, the fabricated metal products, printing industry, and rubber and plastic products sector assessment reports are also nearing completion.

As in the pulp and paper and wood products industries, fabricated metal products (Standard Industrial Classification 3400 - 3499) companies are a significant contributor of toxic emissions in Georgia. The sector report will identify common processes that contribute to these wastestreams, successful pollution prevention solutions undertaken in Georgia, technical assistance resources that companies have used to help them minimize waste, and impediments to pollution prevention.

According to the 1994 Georgia Manufacturing Directory, there are over 800 fabricated metal products manufacturers with approximately 28,000 employees in Georgia. Furthermore, the economic and environmental impact on the state is even greater when you consider that many companies in other SIC codes perform metal fabrication tasks. Related sectors include the following:

SIC 2500, Furniture and Fixtures SIC 3500, Industrial and Commercial Machinery and Computer Equipment SIC 3600, Electronic and Other Electrical Equipment and Components SIC 3700, Transportation Equipment SIC 3800, Measuring, Analyzing, and Controlling Instruments SIC 3900, Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries

Within SIC 3400, Georgia companies fabricate metal cans and containers, structural products, metal forgings and stampings, hand tools, valves, and pipe among other items. Many also perform coating, engraving, or allied services. The typical metal fabrication plant is small with over 80% of the plants having 50 employees or less. Fabricated metal products plants are located throughout the State with approximately one-third of the companies located in the metropolitan Atlanta counties of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Cobb.

In order to determine key issues within the sector, P²AD researched existing pollution prevention literature and compliance data. In addition, almost 10% of the fabricators were surveyed in order to compare experiential data with the findings outlined in relevant publications. From these sources, P²AD was able to determine several key pollution prevention issues. The following concerns were identified:

Waste generation from coatings application Waste generation from surface preparation and cleaning Waste generation from metal shaping processes Waste generation from metal plating operations Lack of technical resources at facilities

For the first four issues, P²AD was able to identify the types of waste generated, characteristics of the processes generating these wastes, proven pollution prevention options, and examples of companies in Georgia that have successfully implemented at least one of the options.

Our research also indicated that companies with over 60 employees are two to three times more likely than others to have undertaken certain pollution prevention measures including the following:

Spill and leak prevention programs Process equipment changes Process optimization Alternative product designs

In addition, small metal fabricators are less likely to generate hazardous waste as many of them perform only assembly or metal shaping functions and may not have painting or cleaning and degreasing operations. This data is valuable to P²AD in our efforts to ensure that our technical assistance is structured to meet the needs of our clientele.

The paper concludes with a list of manufacturers' technical and organizational needs that may prevent them from implementing successful pollution prevention programs and initiatives. Suggestions are made to effectively address these barriers to pollution prevention. Like the wood products and pulp and paper reports, the metal fabrication sector document will be reviewed internally and by industry peers. It is anticipated that the report will be available to the public this summer through P²AD's information center.