Nocturn
12-19-2004, 10:30 PM
Automaker unveils facility that's easier on environment
Vindy.com
Dec 18, 2004
LORDSTOWN — General Motors on Friday showed off its new $162 million state-of-the-art paint shop, a 560,000-square-foot facility the company says will reduce pollution and increase quality.
The Lordstown GM Assembly Plant started production of its new Chevrolet Cobalt in late October. It will benefit from the latest technology from the new paint shop.
The new shop, which has four floors, is one of three ultra-modern GM paint shops now under construction, officials said.
Maureen Midgley, Lordstown GM complex manager, noted Friday that the paint shop in the old building is outdated.
"The technologies that are going to be used here are environmentally friendly and will provide a superior paint job," Midgley said.
She explained that a powder prime process, which essentially makes a powder perform like a liquid, will significantly reduce volatile organic compounds, or vocs, which produce pollution.
It is expected to decrease plant emissions by approximately one third.
Midgley added, "We also have a water-borne base coat, which also has less impact on the environment. In addition, it gives that wet look that people really love."
Glen Santelices, Lordstown paint manufacturing engineer, explained other features of the new paint shop. They include installation of drying ovens on the floor above where 90 percent of the operation takes place. This, he said, will keep heat from the ovens from the main working area and keep the area comfortable for employees.
In addition, the Lordstown plant is the first GM facility to do a color specific priming, rather than a color prime of only a dark gray, which has been standard in painting cars.
Santelices said that an open house will be May 1 for the public to get a closer look at the paint shop, then a deep cleaning of the facility will take place to get all of the construction dirt out of the building.
Full production in the paint shop will get under way in late 2005.
Full Article Here: http://www.vindy.com/premium/local/309740456996036.php
Taken from GMinsidenews.com
Vindy.com
Dec 18, 2004
LORDSTOWN — General Motors on Friday showed off its new $162 million state-of-the-art paint shop, a 560,000-square-foot facility the company says will reduce pollution and increase quality.
The Lordstown GM Assembly Plant started production of its new Chevrolet Cobalt in late October. It will benefit from the latest technology from the new paint shop.
The new shop, which has four floors, is one of three ultra-modern GM paint shops now under construction, officials said.
Maureen Midgley, Lordstown GM complex manager, noted Friday that the paint shop in the old building is outdated.
"The technologies that are going to be used here are environmentally friendly and will provide a superior paint job," Midgley said.
She explained that a powder prime process, which essentially makes a powder perform like a liquid, will significantly reduce volatile organic compounds, or vocs, which produce pollution.
It is expected to decrease plant emissions by approximately one third.
Midgley added, "We also have a water-borne base coat, which also has less impact on the environment. In addition, it gives that wet look that people really love."
Glen Santelices, Lordstown paint manufacturing engineer, explained other features of the new paint shop. They include installation of drying ovens on the floor above where 90 percent of the operation takes place. This, he said, will keep heat from the ovens from the main working area and keep the area comfortable for employees.
In addition, the Lordstown plant is the first GM facility to do a color specific priming, rather than a color prime of only a dark gray, which has been standard in painting cars.
Santelices said that an open house will be May 1 for the public to get a closer look at the paint shop, then a deep cleaning of the facility will take place to get all of the construction dirt out of the building.
Full production in the paint shop will get under way in late 2005.
Full Article Here: http://www.vindy.com/premium/local/309740456996036.php
Taken from GMinsidenews.com