James Hardie Building Products Inc., headquartered in Mission Viejo, Calif., has received a $756,000 federal grant to help it update its fiber cement recycling operations in Peru, Ill. The money was awarded to the company through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) as part of the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The DCEO administers a portfolio of programs under the State Energy Plan that is designed to invest in developing Illinois' green economy, including renewable energy resources, energy efficiency, green buildings and biofuels.
The grant money will offset the cost of equipping James Hardie's trim manufacturing plant in Peru with more efficient fiber cement recycling machines. The equipment will collect and reclaim off-specification HardieTrim XLD boards and fiber cement dust for use in James Hardie's new line of crown molding.
"It's a great example of how sustainability can be good for business," says Tom Jagiella, trim engineering manager at James Hardie. "Sometimes errors occur during the manufacturing process, which result in boards that don't measure up to James Hardie's quality standards.” He adds, “The standard practice within the industry is that off-spec boards are sent to a landfill. With this equipment we're able to convert them into high-quality marketable products. The new equipment will allow James Hardie to improve this process.”
Warren Ribley, DCEO director, says, "Illinois is a leader in the green energy revolution. This funding will not only provide a boost to the state's energy efforts during a critical time but will also create greater opportunities to put more people to work and grow Illinois' economy. Our targeted investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and green manufacturing will pay dividends for workers today, as well as future generations."
The project qualified for DCEO/ARRA funding in the category of "Recycled Content Products," which is considered part of "Green Industry.”
The grant will cover 50 percent of the $1.5 million projected cost of equipping the facility. The remaining 50 percent will be covered by James Hardie.