Farmington Manufacturer Continues to Expand Operations and Tap Energy Efficiency Programs to Support Growth
Farmington, Conn. – CSS (Connecticut Spring & Stamping) has built its company’s reputation on quality products and a dedication to the environment. With its latest energy retrofit, the 76-year-old Spring, Stamping & machining manufacturer will see an additional projected annual savings of $8,171 in natural gas energy costs.
CSS is currently making changes to its massive dust collection system, a significant source of energy with machines that typically run up to 20 hours a day. Manufacturers like CSS that operate 3D Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machines must employ these full-scale dust collection systems to manage the significant amount of metal dust and particles created during the manufacturing process. With new “stop gate dampers” at each machine and improvements to the 150-horse power motor, CSS’s upgraded system is much more energy efficient. In addition, CSS is adding demand control ventilation to its HVAC system. The combined efforts will result in an annual natural gas savings of about 7,428 CCF or $8,171.
Using initiatives and incentives through Energize Connecticut and Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), CSS is able to continue growing its business while upgrading to cleaner, dependable and energy-efficient solutions. CNG, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., estimates a total project incentive of $25,998 was provided to CSS to help make these changes, which are projected for completion this month.
“Our company has been growing steadily over the past 10 years. We have roughly 750 customers and supply precision parts to the medical, firearms/defense, aerospace and automotive industries,” said VP of Operations Robert Allen. “Through programs like Energize CT and CNG's gas incentives, we have offset some of our operation costs while improving the efficiency of our facilities. Cost savings measures like this have helped fuel our growth from 300 employees to almost 500, allowing us to meet increasing customer requirements.”
The company purchased a 52,000 square foot building in 2014 and retrofitted the entire space with energy upgrades, the catalyst for making the current updates at their original 150,000 square foot facility. According to longtime CSS Facilities Manager Joe Tourville, the company wanted to mirror what was done at the new building in their larger facility.
“The dust collector upgrades improve efficiency of the system overall and benefit the entirety of operations at CSS,” said Tourville. “Less dust escapes into the air, making for better air quality and less noise. The new system will have a much stronger suction as well.”
This project is the latest in a string of energy efficient and environmentally friendly initiatives implemented at CSS to reduce energy use and save money as well as alter processes to minimize hazardous waste. Total savings with the new dust collector, upgrades to LED lighting at both buildings and HVAC upgrades is estimated to save the company $157,266 annually, according to Tourville.
“CT Spring & Stamping is a great example that manufacturing is alive and growing here in Connecticut and that initiatives like Energize CT will continue to support that growth,” said CNG engineer Fred Schiavi.
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Green Bank, Eversource, UI, SCG and CNG, with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. Information on energy-saving programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling 877.WISE.USE.
Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG) is a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR). CNG, established in 1848, serves approximately 170,000 residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the greater Hartford-New Britain area, and Greenwich, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.cngcorp.com.
CSS (Connecticut Spring & Stamping) is a global advanced manufacturing company and a strategic supplier of custom metal springs, stampings, machined stampings and assemblies. As a family owned and managed company that’s been in business for 77 years, we have decades of experience honed by our expertise in the fields of medical devices, defense and firearms, aerospace, consumer products, electronics and automotive. We are a comprehensive solutions provider that collaborates with our customers through all aspects of development, managing projects from prototyping and product launch to full volume production. What sets us apart is our experience in developing innovative, advanced, and difficult-to-make parts. Companies and industry leaders work with us because they know they can rely on our ability to tackle the most challenging of components and assemblies.
