Carpet Recycling Process Wins World Energy Globe Award
Quogue, N.Y. - Post Consumer Carpet Processing Technologies (PCC) has been named the national winner for the United States and one of three winners in the Earth category of the World ENERGY GLOBE Award. PCC was selected out of 853 projects from 109 countries.
    PCC is being honored because its new technology enables companies to recycle used carpets, save oil and help clear landfills. Each line of the machinery can reclaim up to 30 million pounds of used carpet annually. The equipment separates oil-based fiber from oil-based carpet backing. Both materials can be reused, thereby promoting sustainability and saving energy.
   "Our equipment takes apart petrol chemical components that make up the carpet," says Sergio Dell'Orco, President of Dell'Orco & Villani, S.r.l., in Capalle, Italy. "By reusing the components, business people can be both profitable and socially responsible. We hope the recognition from this award will stimulate companies and governments to help clean up the Earth's landfills."
   The World ENERGY GLOBE Award was started in 1999 to honor projects that make economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources. Visit www.energyglobe.info for more information.

Company Receives Manufacturing Excellence Award
Spartanburg, S.C. - The Silver Crescent Foundation and the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership presented Milliken & Company with the state's Silver Crescent Award for Manufacturing Excellence in the large manufacturer category. Also recognized were Floralife, Inc. as a small manufacturer and BorgWarner TorqueTransfer Systems in the medium category during ceremonies last week.
   "These companies represent the best of the best in South Carolina," said Gary Foster, president of Automation Engineering Corporation and chairman of the Silver Crescent Foundation. "All of these companies play vital roles in the communities where they do business, providing valuable jobs, contributing to the tax base and giving back to their communities by supporting charities and mentoring young people. They are positive reminders of why manufacturing is still the cornerstone of South Carolina's economy and we salute their ongoing success!"
   Judged by an independent panel, the three winning companies' nominations demonstrated their manufacturing excellence and commitment to workforce enhancement, and described their community involvement, including efforts to support local educational opportunities and resources.

CARE's Large Recycler of the Year Named
Dalton, Ga. - Shaw Industries, Inc. was named Large Recycler of the Year by the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), a joint industry-government initiative to promote carpet recycling, reuse and waste reduction of post consumer carpet. Shaw's cradle-to-cradle recycling program has recycled 100 million pounds of post consumer carpet to date through its Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility, the company reports.
    Shaw president Randy Merritt says that the company's commercial and residential carpet products embody the carpet-to-carpet design as a means to reduce landfill waste and virgin raw material usage. The company's efforts have lead to increased amounts of recycled content available for the production of new Shaw products in the future. "Shaw has come a long way in implementing its cradle-to-cradle products," states Merritt. "Beyond the ability to design a product for reclamation and recycling through Evergreen, we had to organize and facilitate a nationwide collections network to service our customer's recycling needs. It is a great honor for Shaw to be recognized by CARE for its recycling successes."
   Shaw's nationwide collection network collaborates with entrepreneurs and businesses across the U.S. in establishing recycling centers for post consumer carpet. In conjunction with these businesses, Shaw has collected 165 million pounds of carpet, keeping it from landfill. 

Resilient Flooring Solution Gets Nod for Medical Center
Chicago -  Gerflor announced at NeoCon the continued use of its Building Research Establishment (BRE) 'A' rated Mipolam flooring in the Johnstown, Pa., Memorial Medical Center. Since 1991, Memorial has specified Gerflor on its numerous operating rooms because of Mipolam's resistance to stains and punctures / indentations by heavy medical equipment, the company reports.
    "Gerflor's Mipolam is extremely durable and is ideally suited for Memorial Medical Center's operating rooms," said Ben Policicchio, director of Architectural Planning and Design for Memorial Medical Center. "Its high stain resistant qualities and ability to withstand heavy medical equipment and foot traffic are further enhanced by Gerflor's patented anti-microbial surface treatment Sanosol. It has been nearly seven years since our last major floor installation using Gerflor, and the floor still looks brand new. When our flooring needs call for high quality solutions, Gerflor is a natural choice."
   According to Gerflor, r educed energy and water consumption are key features in the manufacturing process for Mipolam. No heavy materials are used and the use of volatile organic compounds is heavily restricted. Mipolam floor coverings are 100 percent recyclable and are certified to the ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 Environmental Management System Standards.