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METAL FORMING (INDUSTRIAL MULTIMEDIA BRANCH, SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, NRMRL)
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Description:
The Industrial Multimedia Branch's research program in metal products manufacturing was developed to identify environmental problems and deliver solutions for environmental improvements based on sustainable technology to the industry. There are over 35,000 manufacturing establishments in the U.S. having the primary SIC code 34, indicating that their primary business involves metals fabrication as their principal business. About 90% are small businesses. In 1992, this manufacturing segment was considered by the Agency to rank in the top ten of the most polluting industries. Pollution prevention opportunities mainly involve the reduction in the use of toxics; the prevention of the formation of large volumes of wastewater, hazardous waste or air emissions containing toxic pollutants; and improvements in energy conservation. These efforts should enable this manufacturing category to improve environmental management and benefit from economies by speeding adoption of emerging technologies that will reduce waste and costs for environmental compliance and energy. This program was designed to leverage resources by partnering with several federal agencies that have well established programs in Advanced Manufacturing Technology research and development. EPA has contributed resources to identify the P2 potential of emerging technologies and to catalyze their infusion into the existing technology transfer network. Efforts recently addressed are (1) advanced casting technologies, (2) environmentally friendly metal working fluids, and (3) surface cleaning technologies. For more information on this research program, visit the website at http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/std/mtb/MetalForming.htm. To access directly from this website, click on downloads on the navigation bar.