Fresh air, dry hands for Dana

Dana Corporation Automotive Systems group facility in Dry Ridge, Kentucky is approximately 350,000 square feet and is one of Dana Corporations’ largest facilities in the state. It is home to more than 500 full time employees.

Aubrey Dan’l Adams, the MRO purchaser at the Dry Ridge facility, had a messy problem on his hands.

“We found ourselves in a constant battle to maintain clean restrooms,” he said. Paper towels littered restroom floors and clogged toilets. He wanted to cut waste and become more environmentally sound. He also wanted to cut costs, improve visual appearance, put an end to clogged toilets and move toward making his facility world class. The paper towel dispensers were also an expense and annoyance to stock, plus they continually broke down.

In August 2007, Adams used an Xlerator hand dryer for the first time. Xlerator hand dryers dry hands three times faster and use 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers. They are also among the few dryers still made in the United States.

Impressed by its high-speed performance, Adams took down the number and contacted Your Environmental Solutions (YES), LLC in Bloomington, Indiana, the only company in the country that leases the Xlerator hand dryer. In September, Adams installed nine Xlerator units for a 30-day trial. After just two weeks, he added 15 more and did away with paper towels altogether.

“We viewed this as an instant cost savings,” Adams explained. “We had been spending $17,100 per year on paper towels versus $8,640 per year to lease the Xlerator hand dryers. We had no up front cost for these dryers as YES installed them free of charge and gives us 24 hour service, with a free replacement warranty. We were able to take the money we were spending on paper towels, cut it in half, and use what was left to pay the lease on the dryers.” Adams encountered no up front costs in making this switch.

One aggravation Dana hoped to eliminate by installing dryers was the nearly $5,000 per month being spent to clear toilets clogged with paper towels. Since the installation of the 24 Xlerator hand dryers in October 2007, the company no longer incurs any such costs. “I credit this solely to the Xlerator hand dryers,” said Adams.

“Working with YES has been great,” says Adams. “We have accomplished our goals: We cut our overall costs dramatically, our facility is much cleaner and more environmentally sound, and we have heard virtually no complaints from our employees. It’s a win-win for everyone.”  Item 151

This article appeared in the February/March 2008 issue of MRO Today magazine. Copyright 2008.

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