Autocam Medical is a global contract manufacturer of medical equipment headquartered with a new headquarters in Kentwood, Mich., that will be powered by a near $2 million investment in solar and energy efficiency. The privately held company is starting with roof-mounted solar power systems and following that up with a 1.5-acre solar farm generating over 1 MW of power.
The West Michigan company feels its infrastructure commitment to solar technology is the right thing to do and makes good business sense. “Although the goal of zero environmental impact is not new, looking at how to minimize the amount of electricity and using solar for generating energy is the next step forward for our company,” said John Kennedy, founder and owner of Autocam Medical.
Other initiatives include state-of-the-art cooling systems to capture manufacturing process heat and redirect it into climate control systems, further reducing power consumption. Kennedy said most people would be shocked if they knew how much the company spent on air conditioning in the plants. “It costs us lots of energy to get rid of the processed heat. The reclamation of heat alone will reduce our energy consumption by over 16%,” he said.
The company says it is also presently investigating retrofitting its existing Kentwood manufacturing facility with the same energy efficiency strategies. Kennedy attributes the company’s continued growth to its culture, which values “employees for what they bring in their heads, not necessarily their hands” and “strives to make everyone feel like they want to be part of the organization.”
Tags: commercial and industrial
