Innovations in Advanced Manufacturing That Support Sustainability

Going green is certainly the trendy thing to do across various industries—but it's the ethical one, too, especially when it comes to commercial machining and industrial fabrication.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says the industrial sector accounted for a whopping 23% of the United States' greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.

In other words: This field has a bit of work to do when it comes to becoming planet-friendly.

Working towards that is just the right thing to do, given the impact on emissions industrial applications are responsible for. Luckily, manufacturers everywhere make eco-friendly innovations in their advanced manufacturing progress – a concept we discussed on our blog.

Learn about a few from BSM North America, your Burnsville, Minnesota, provider of custom steering columns.

Machine-Assisted Manufacturing

As discussed on our off-road steering column blog, skilled workers will always have a role in the CSI machining process. However, the increasing use of these machines has created more efficient manufacturing processes – in terms of time, preventing human error, and more.

Efficiency in these senses also reduces environmental impact, as fewer parts are rendered unusable, and less energy is spent making replacements. It also has significant implications for worker safety, which also has implications for sustainability.

Safe workers are efficient workers, and efficient workers mean efficient energy usage.

Near-Sourcing

As we discussed previously on our blog, near-sourcing refers to a business's shortening of its supply chain in the geographic sense.

Spurred on by the pandemic of recent years as a solution to supply-chain bottlenecking, it can result in fewer energy expenditures thanks to less significant transportation needs. This approach to supply chain management has been taken in various industries, and businesses that offer advanced manufacturing are also no strangers to it.

Sustainable Chemistry

According to the United States Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, more than 95% of all manufactured products rely on chemistry. Focusing on this near-ubiquitous part of all manufacturing processes could yield significant benefits in terms of environmental sustainability.

Laser Marking

Lasers are an increasingly used tool in manufacturing. Their ability to create intricate or impossible features using fine lines with traditional equipment makes them critical for precision output and sustainability practices.

Most commonly, they're used to imprint identification numbers on products and parts for easier tracing, but they can also help with surface texturing, cutting, welding, and several other areas.

Their efficiency is remarkably higher than other options because they don't use ink, making them an eco-friendlier choice. This means no additional solvents must be purchased and incorporated, resulting in a cost-saving and efficient option.

Fewer consumables mean less waste, and their compact size also decreases the space required for running operations. Laser systems also have impressive statistics for durability, and they can last longer than most other types of industrial equipment, meaning less use of resources and waste creation.

BSM North America: Steering Column Production Your Way

Ready to embrace sustainable custom steering column creation? We're right there beside you! For over 30 years, BSM North America has been a one-stop shop for the highest quality OEM products.

Our team is here to answer all your questions, so contact us online or call our Burnsville office today at 952-890-8146.