PPG and NATM present Green Manufacturing Award to Big Tex Trailers

PPG Commercial Coatings and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) honored Big Tex Trailers, a leading utility trailer manufacturer, with the second annual Green Manufacturing Award. The presentation was made at the NATM’s 24th Annual Convention and Trade Show held February 8-10, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The award recognizes the best innovation or solution by a member of the NATM that positively affects the environment.

Big Tex Trailers won the award by procuring the best materials, finding dependable vendor partners, and implementing effective processes to make significant environmentally responsible improvements throughout their manufacturing operations. Initiatives included utilizing powder coating to release only negligible amounts of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere, neutralizing wastes produced by paint booths, greatly reducing greenhouse emissions and total energy use by 80 percent, and nearly eliminating the eco-toxic impact on aquatic and terrestrial environments around their facilities. Big Tex also switched to fluorescent lighting to yield energy savings of up to 50 percent, and is recycling almost all the materials and components it uses to help reduce landfill waste. Big Tex Trailers designated Cypress Basin Hospice, also in Mount Pleasant, as the recipient of the cash donation associated with the award.

According to Ron Yarnell, PPG OEM sales manager, PPG Commercial Coatings partnered with the NATM two years ago to institute the Green Manufacturing Award as part of PPG’s commitment to protecting the environment. Companies competing for the award are judged on case studies in which they demonstrate improved, environmentally conscious performance in their operations. Award criteria include being an NATM member in good standing and documentation of the green initiative or improvements the company has made.

“PPG and the NATM have a mutual interest in protecting and improving our environment on a daily basis,” Yarnell said. “The Green Manufacturing Award recognizes and rewards the programs NATM members are implementing. Big Tex Trailers’ actions display that it is indeed acting to protect the environment. We congratulate the company on its efforts.”

The NATM represents manufacturers that produce light- and medium-duty trailers as well as suppliers to the industry. The organization promotes universal recognition of safety and quality in trailer manufacturing to the trailer industry and the general public. NATM works to improve the trailer industry through the promotion of compliance with its Guidelines and other initiatives. The association has more than 800 member companies across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other countries.

PPG’s Commercial Coatings group offers a full range of coating technologies for the commercial transportation and light industrial markets, including polyurethanes, alkyds, epoxies, polyurea, waterborne, pre-treatment chemicals and powder coatings. PPG Commercial Coatings products are marketed under several brand names including Delfleet Evolution, Delfleet Essential, Commercial Performance Coatings and Amercoat.