Hartford Business Journal

www.CTGreenGuide.com SPRING 2016 • CONNECTICUT GREEN GUIDE 5 SMART BUSINESS: WEB INDUSTRIES Efficiency upgrades help precision manufacturer outbid competitor I n 1969, Bob Fulton had a dream, entrepreneurial deter- mination and $10,000. He founded Web Industries, a Massachusetts-based provider of contract converting and manufacturing services with operations in the Day- ville section of Killingly as well as several other states. Today, the 100 percent employee-owned company en- courages its workers to find ways to enhance operations, particularly as overseas competition intensifies. That mentality led Web to evaluate its older manufac- turing equipment at its Connecticut location and partner with Eversource to develop an energy savings plan. "With so many new technologies in the manufactur- ing industry, we felt it was important for us to take a closer look at our systems," said Todd Pihl, general man- ager at Web Industries. "This analysis found that newer, energy-efficient equipment could better handle our cus- tomers' requirements, operate at higher speeds, increase safety and ultimately cut down on energy costs." Web zoned in on how to squeeze efficiencies out of its most energy-intensive activity: the manufacturing process. Eversource helped Web secure more than $526,000 in incentives from Energize Connecticut, a state program that offset 34 percent of the $1.5 million project cost. The upgrades included more efficient motors, known as electronically commutated or "brushless" motors, as well as variable-frequency drives for speed control. The project also included new LED lighting with oc- cupancy sensors and advanced controls. Together, the improvements have reduced idle heat- ing time, scrap, and the amount of energy Web uses to manufacture products. The company expects to save more than $200,000 in electricity costs annually, and the savings helped it outbid an overseas competitor for a multi-year contract with an undisclosed customer. "With the reduced energy and operating costs, we were able to make a potential customer a better offer," Pihl said. Web employees designed and built many of the im- provements onsite themselves. "Through their commitment, creative thinking and enthusiasm, the employees of Web Industries Hartford have proven that energy efficiency is as good for busi- ness as it is for our planet," said Matt Gibbs, director of Connecticut energy efficiency at Eversource. (Left) Web Industries in Killingly; (Top right, left to right) Leadership team Shannon Flanagan, Mark Dupuis, Pat Roy, Jim Evans, Todd Pihl, Ray Stockwell and Ed Martins; (Bottom right) One of the company's six "idea teams." PHOTOS | PABLO ROBLES

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