The California Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, recently honored Clovis, Calif.-based Valley Chrome Plating company and its president Ray Lucas for taking steps to significantly prevent pollution in the Clovis/Fresno area and leading the industry in greening their business. Valley Chrome Plating, which joined DTSC’s Metal Finishing Model Shop program in 2008, implemented a “cleaner, greener way” to manufacture truck bumpers and truck accessories. An award ceremony was held on Thursday, Oct. 7, followed by a media tour of the facility.
During the past two years, DTSC experts helped Valley Chrome Plating make its business more environmentally friendly and reduce pollution. Valley Chrome Plating, a leading manufacturer of truck bumpers and accessories, has now switched chemicals used during its manufacturing process from hexavalent chrome, a carcinogen, to trivalent chrome, which is much less toxic. This means:
- Eliminating about 3,000 pounds per year of potential lead waste that could have ended up in landfills
- Eliminating 6,000 pounds per year of hexavalent chrome waste
- A safer, less-toxic manufacturing process
By participating in DTSC’s Metal Finishing Model Shop program, Valley Chrome has demonstrated its commitment to being “green” while aiming for innovation and industry leadership. DTSC’s Metal Finishing Model Shop program helps companies to reduce the wastes they create, and the expense of dealing with that waste. The Metal Finishing Model Program is a partnership between industry and regulatory agencies.
For general inquiries, please contact the Department of Toxic Substances Control online or by phone at (800) 728-6942. For more on Valley Chrome Plating's environmental efforts, look for the November/December dual edition of Metal Finishing.
