Manufacturing Today Issue - 227 August 2024 | Page 67

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Makefast
about engineering , which , as a father of two daughters , I find inspiring . We are committed to doing anything we can to encourage women to join the engineering field .”
Green strategy
Turning to sustainability , Chris reveals Makefast ’ s approach to reducing the environmental impact of its operations . “ While we are still working on a formal policy , we have already made great strides towards being more sustainable . For instance , we have installed solar panels , and our sales team uses electric vehicles . Although a couple of our vans still have combustion engines , we will probably transition them to hybrid or electric vehicles once their leases expire .
“ To limit waste , we use a cardboard shredder to turn any incoming cardboard boxes into filler material for our packages . Additionally , we package our awnings
( which are one of our best-selling products in the US ) in recyclable cardboard crates . We do have a slight advantage in that the main material we use is stainless steel , which is infinitely recyclable . Likewise , when it comes to plastic , we predominantly use nylon , most of which is also recyclable . Furthermore , we are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and have already made good progress . Therefore , while we are doing a lot in terms of sustainability , we are aware that we need to formalize our strategy and initiatives , partly because customers are increasingly asking for it ,” he concludes .
By integrating new machinery and automation while reducing its impact on the environment through recycling , Makefast is raising the bar for engineering excellence . With these optimizations in motion , the company is poised for further growth . ■
www . makefast . com
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