Expansion Management

The Envy of Manufacturers

Feb. 3, 2009

Here is the company that all manufacturers envy. The Hansgrohe Group, based in Germany, has the environment covered at every angle. One of its products, the Pontos AquaCycle, recycles grey water from the shower or bath using an organic, non-threatening biological technique. The hygienically clean water, or gray water, can then be used to do the laundry, water the garden, clean the house and flush the toilet.

But wait it doesn’t end there. Guess where they manufacture this progressive product? They manufacture the products in a production facility in Offenburg, Germany, using environmentally-friendly solar energy equipment. The electricity from the solar energy is fed in its entirety into the Offenburg plant’s power grid and is utilized in eco-friendly shower manufacturing.

http://www.hansgrohe-mea.com/pic/MEA/solar_206x330.jpg

The power generator reduces roughly 100 tons of greenhouse gases per year.

And before you say that they are merely following the green trend, the plant has been doing this since 1993!

Of course this type of company continues to search for environmental improvements and is finding ways to recover and reuse the nickel and brass used in faucets and the plastics used in the molding of shower heads and hand showers. Since 2004 the company has been reutilizing over 85% of material wastes that would have otherwise been scrapped and impacted the environment.

Hansgrohe take a bow!

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

Follow Adrienne on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Call: 216-931-9235

Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.