Anodizing:
The anodizing process utilizes (2) chemical recovery units:
Caustic Recovery Unit - Removes dissolved aluminum from the caustic, thus allowing the caustic to be continuously re-used. This process eliminates 228 annual tons of waste (Aluminum Trihydrate) that would otherwise find it's way to a local landfill. This material is given to an industry that uses it as a beneficial re-use product in their manufacturing process.
APU (Acid Purification Unit) - In the anodizing process, the APU removes excess aluminum from the solution and the solution is then returned back to the anodizing tanks for continuous re-use. This recovery prevents the need for treatment or wasting the used solution.
Waste Water Treatment - The anodizing process creates over 42 million gallons of anodizing waste water annually. The waste water goes through our full in-house water treatment system and we meet or exceed all (NYSDEC) New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and (USEPA) United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations prior to the water being discharged.
Thermal Break:
In the thermal break department, left over aluminum chips combined with polyurethane are inherent in the process, due to the debridging operation. The aluminum/polyurethane chips are not recycled internally, due to the toxicity of emissions if Keymark were to utilize our melting facility internally, instead the material is sent to a recycler for separation and re-use.
Packaging:
All of our cardboard used in the packaging process is of 100% recycled content. Also, all of our leftover cardboard or scrap is then turned back over to a recycler.