York International

Year Submitted: 2007

Process: Wastewater Treatment

Industry: Metal Fabrication

Wastes Reduced: Water

Location: Norman OK

No. of employees: Approximately 1,000

Contact: Allen Gaines

Phone: (405) 419-6366

Description:

York International Corporation manufactures Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioner, HVAC, units for commercial and industrial applications. Production includes two (2) basic processes, fabrication and assembly. Fabrication includes cutting, forming, bending, brazing, and painting raw materials into finished components and parts. The finished components and parts are then assembled, using additional purchased components, to form a finished product for sale.
Brazing is performed at numerous locations throughout the production area. At 12 of these locations water is used for contact cooling. The discharge from each of the brazing tables is passed through a particulate filter prior to being hauled to the pretreatment system.

P2 Application:

The cooling water used in the brazing process was initially set up as a once-through use. In about May of 2005 the system was modified to recycle the water used at each table until such time as it became too dirty for reuse, about two (2) weeks. Once the water has become too contaminated for reuse it is discharged to a portable tank and hauled to the wastewater treatment system and introduced into the facility's categorical wastestream.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

Although water use records for the brazing tables prior to and after the modification are limited, it is estimated that an average of approximately 15,000 gallons of water are saved each month.
Due to the limited drainage system and other considerations in the manufacturing area where the brazing tables are located, it was necessary to develop an alternative transport system for moving the wastewater from the brazing tables to the treatment system. Plant personnel constructed a small transport trailer by attaching a tank and pump to a small trailer that could be pulled by one of the forklifts used extensively throughout the facility.

Source: City of Norman