Released on September 28, 2007

Empire Die Casting Co., Cleveland, was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Champion Plant Award on Sept. 21.

Out of 700 companies participating in energy reduction programs, 65 won an award. To qualify for the Energy Champion Plant Award, a company must participate in a “Save Energy Now” assessment, completed by an Industrial Assessment Center. The Univ. of Dayton completed Empire’s industrial assessment. To win the award, a company must save more than 250,000 MMBtu of energy, or more than 15% total energy savings.

“The achievement involved working with all of Empire Die Casting’s departments,” said Ken Simko, manager of cost accounting and energy management. “Various department teams discussed energy savings ideas that would be most rewarding to Empire’s facility without interrupting production capabilities.

“We developed and implemented energy savings opportunities that included the areas of lighting, air compressors, natural gas furnaces, electric equipment, HVAC equipment, water heating and green power.”

Empire produces aluminum, zinc and magnesium die castings for a wide range of markets.