According to a recently released Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Foundation study, manufacturers in the United States spent $5.3 billion in 2014 – more than the other eight countries in the study combined – in reducing air pollution.  Also, in terms of greenhouse gas abatement, MAPI reports that the U.S. spends $1.2 billion annually, the most of any country in the study.

Anoosheh M. Oskouian, president and CEO of Long Beach, Calif.-based Ship & Shore Environmental Inc., said the MAPI data clearly shows why reducing air pollution and saving money simultaneously is the primary objective driving her company’s strategy.

Ship & Shore helps major manufacturers meet Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) abatement challenges by providing customized energy-efficient air pollution abatement systems for various industries. Also, it’s the onlycompany in its industry that offers a true “turnkey” solution and complete project management, including assessment, design, testing, engineering, fabrication, construction, and compliance and even coordinates product transportation - to the customer site- for installation and start-up.

The result is improved operational efficiency and tailored “green” solutions that help clients collect and reduce or eliminate air pollution emissions within environmentally acceptable guidelines.

“We provide everything for clients, from A to Z,” she explained. “Should an issue arise, Ship & Shore delivers the highest quality control and service in one place, due to a cost-controlled environment under one roof.”

Ship & Shore also designs its own pollution control equipment, making it not just an equipment provider, but a creative solutions provider as well. The engineering team holds a number of patents for its air pollution control products and other related equipment. “We design what is the best and most economic solution for the customer, including hybrid designs if needed,” said Oskouian.

From a green perspective, Ship & Shore’s low-cost solutions can capture waste heat “energy” which can be used to help heat a manufacturing facility – adding another dimension of efficiency and return on investment.

Ship & Shore recently launched a new division, Green Energy Industrial Solutions, to help clients implement a variety of energy reduction strategies, including alternative energy sources that not only positively influence client bottom lines, but also reduces their carbon footprint, and positively affects corporate sustainability programs that help promote “green branding.”

“When President Obama was elected, we knew that environmental consciousness would move to center stage, and took the initiative that our equipment would incentivize clients to improve their pollution control by earning them tax credits as well.”

“There is no industry segment with pollution control requirements that we can’t handle,” she said, listing oil and gas, plastics, food, pharma, printing and other industries among the company’s growing client base. “For any company that creates air pollution, we have a cost-effective, green solution.”

Oskouian added that the market response for these abatement systems have been favorable. "As general market conditions continue to improve, Ship and Shore Environmental has seen a wide interest in coating applications," she said. "Specifically, Ship and Shore RTO systems have proven extremely effective in abating high volume (air) low solvent applications prevalent in coating applications. S&SE RTO systems can achieve up to 99% destruction and 97% thermal efficiencies.  In addition, S&SE provides addition value added engineering services.  S&SE assist customers with environmental permit applications, and is extremely successful in obtaining equipment rebate incentives from local utility providers.  In some instances, these incentives can approach six figure awards - Obviously this is of extreme interest to our customers."

Oskouian added that today's highly sensitive environmental climate holds many medium-to-large process manufacturing companies to demanding standards. "The addition of air pollution control equipment does not add any value to their finished product, but only added cost to their capital and operating budgets. However, this equipment now becomes necessary as a result of these regulations," she said. "Our goal at Ship and Shore Environmental is to minimize the cost impact to these coating companies.  We strive to make the design process and operation of the equipment transparent to the day to day activities of our customers.  And in some instances, we can integrate our equipment to the operational benefit of the customers process - example utilizing heat recovery to heat air, water, or oil to the benefit of the customer process or building ventilation."

"As regulations become more demanding, the need for thermal oxidizer air pollution control will increase.  Although many customers try to alter their process to change coating materials - example switch to water based materials, many products will need to maintain their specific chemistry to achieve their exacting high quality finishes.  The key for Ship and Shore Environmental to maintain our success will be to evolve our product design to minimize customer capital and operating cost, and maximize our value in the design process.  We already offer heat recovery, process duct design, streamlined process controls, and recovery of incentive awards for the benefit of our customers. Maximizing the integration of process and abatement system effectiveness is the next step," Oskouian added.