News Release Anniversary –Page 3 of 3
For immediate release:
September 6, 2011
CertainTeed Siding Plant Celebrates 40 Years of Manufacturing Excellence
(Hagerstown, Md.) – More than 1,000 employees, friends and family are expected to attend the 40th anniversary celebration of the Hagerstown, Md. CertainTeed siding products plant this month. Adhering to the three pillars of safety, quality and service, the 253-employee plant has a rich history of sustainable manufacturing practices, community involvement and worker seniority — with 22 years as the average length of employment.
"Many of our employees have been with us for a long time", says Rick Holt, Hagerstown plant manager. “For example, we have eight employees working with us today who started their careers in 1972.”
The Hagerstown plant has a long tradition of giving back to the community, currently partnering with 18 local non-profit organizations. Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Autism Speaks, March of Dimes, the Salvation Army and local little league teams are among the beneficiaries of facility sponsorship and employee volunteerism. This includes donating materials and manpower to the area Habitat for Humanity chapter — assisting with six homes within the past two years. The siding manufacturer has also donated product for a local high school baseball field press box building.
“I’m proud to be a part of a group of such talented, hard working, technically-skilled professionals,” says Patrick Ebbitt, Hagerstown human resources manager. “When not at work, ties to the community run deep, with many serving in other roles such as EMTs, firefighters and military service men and women.”
Starting out in 1971 as a PVC pipe manufacturer, the plant turned to making vinyl siding and windows a few years later, constantly evolving manufacturing processes to include the latest technology while remaining cognizant of environmental impact. One such change occurred three years ago when the 35,000 square foot plant’s process water monitoring system was upgraded, which translated into a yearly savings of 3.9 million gallons.
By also adding supplemental water storage tanks, sewer discharges were reduced by 5,000 gallons per week — especially important considering the areas environmentally delicate Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In addition, the plant has achieved ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications for developing a formalized environmental management system and mandating sustainable business practices as a top priority.
All vinyl siding, soffit and accessories are manufactured using recycled materials while maintaining a cradle-to-cradle mentality, with all product debris reprocessed for future use. The plant has been recognized repeatedly for its commitment to sustainability, safety and promotion of healthy living programs. Awards include:
· Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star award, which recognizes a business’ ability to reduce waste, conserve energy and recycle.
· Bronze Livewell award, given to sites which have significant employee involvement in the company’s healthy living practices program.
· Great Strides award from parent company Saint-Gobain, which recognizes significant health, safety and environmental innovation as well as employee involvement and improvement.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The group had total sales of approximately $3 billion in 2010. www.certainteed.com
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