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Pennsylvania Center Helps Printing Industry Reduce Pollution

Oct. 22, 2001

Pennsylvania gives a $300,000 grant to help the printing industry reduce volatile organic compound emissions.

The printing industry in Pennsylvania will soon have the "write" stuff.The state has awarded a $300,000 grant to the Electrotechnology Applications Center (ETAC) at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Northampton County, which will help the printing industry reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, forms when VOCs and nitrogen oxides "bake" in the hot sun, making it difficult for people to breathe.

"We need to find new and innovative ways to help small businesses such as printers reduce the VOCs they create as part of their operations," said David E. Hess, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). "Through DEP''s $300,000 grant, printers will be able to test new ways to reduce air pollution before they make investments in new equipment."

A renewable, environmentally friendly coating made from natural oils -- cured with a compact, low-cost, state-of-the-art electron beam -- is one of the new technologies that printers will be able to test.

Approximately 4,000 printing businesses operate in Pennsylvania, and they produce about 8,000 tons of VOCs annually.

The ETAC will receive $100,000 for each of the next three years for this project.

Since 1998, DEP has awarded $3.8 million in grants to ETAC to help small businesses through new technologies like infrared, ultraviolet, microwave and radio-frequency energies to improve coating and curing processes to prevent air pollution.

For more information on air quality, visit DEP at www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK "air quality").

by Sandy Smith

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.