Steelhead Composites recently achieved ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification. Why was this  important to your company? What did you have to do to earn this designation? How long a process is it?

1. 1. The foundation of Steelhead was founded on designing and producing products that change the world for the better and make a positive impact. Environmental stewardship and accountability is important to our company and we pledge to manufacture quality products without losing sight of the impact our manufacturing has on Steelhead employees and the environment that we live in.  The ISO 14001:2015 certification exemplifies Steelhead Composites commitment to identify the environmental impact of its operations, adhere to regulatory requirements and take a systematic approach to continuously improving performance.
   2. To achieve the 14001 environmental quality system, Steelhead had to understand, identify, quantify and plan significant environmental aspects of our manufacturing and operations including: energy usage, air emissions, water pollution, waste management, and state and local regulatory requirements.  We authored an environmental policy (available to the public, see website), begin a process of continuous improvement, initiate regular management environmental review and implement and track
   3. In whole, the process took around 12 months, with the majority of the work spent quantifying waste streams and identifying key risks. But note that work is not done, we are required to monitor, evaluate and meet regularly to ensure adherence and we also are audited by an outside entity.

Do you find more customers today are asking about the sustainability of your operations?

• • Honestly, we pursued the environmental quality system and certification as an internal campaign, not driven by customer requirements; however, there is an increasing amount of customer inquiries which prefer or require ISO 14001, predominantly European customers.

Can you give me some specific ways your company has changed its operations to become more sustainable? (Energy usage? Changes in manufacturing practices?) How do you manage this process of change, i.e., decide what steps to take when?

1. 1. We changed behavior by beginning systematic monitoring of waste streams, increasing recycling efforts, and minimizing or eliminating any liquid waste
   2. In the process of identifying risks, we determined our greatest risk was that of fire and the certification process illuminated need for improving internal fire response training which has made Steelhead a safer place.
   3. Additionally, we have a posted policy stating: Steelhead Composites pledges to limit adverse effects to the environment through its products, processes and operations by:

• • • Minimizing pollution, non-recyclable waste and energy usage
    • Considering the wider environmental impact of our product designs, manufacturing process and final products
    • Encouraging environmental sustainability among subcontractors and vendors
    • Meeting or exceeding all local, regional, federal and customer-imposed environmental regulations and obligations
    • Defining company goals and key performance indicators related to environmental objectives
    • Educating, training and motivating employees on this policy and the importance of sustainable environmental practices
    • Making its environmental policies, practices and results available to the community
    • Continually improving the Environmental Management System
    • Obtaining senior management commitment to ensure the company culture prioritizes the protection of the environment

What benefits have you gained from the adoption of sustainable manufacturing processes? For example, have you reduced your manufacturing costs? Improved your efficiency?

• • Steelhead Composites has always had a culture of environmental stewardship. The benefits of going through the process of certification has decreased our cost of solid waste disposal, decreased the cost of liquid disposal and highlighted ways in which we can save on our electricity bill (such as staggering machine start up times)

Are there any negative impacts (i.e., added time or costs?)

• • There is a material time and financial investment required to achieve ISO 14001, including internal audit, external audit, capital improvements to fix identified problems. We believe, however, the tangible benefits outweigh the investment, not to mention the intangible benefits of increased safety and a smaller environmental footprint.

What would you suggest as a good starting point for other composite manufacturers that want to make their operations more sustainable?  What challenges will they face along the way? Is this always an expensive proposition?

• • The first step for a composite manufacturer to going through the ISO 14001 process is for management to take steps to ensure that environmental stewardship is part of the company culture and DNA. The proposition is only expensive if you fight an uphill battle with employees who have not bought into the concept of safety, waste minimization, recycling, energy conservation etc.

Do you think that in the future composite manufacturers will be required to make their operations more sustainable?

• • We believe that regulations and customers will increasingly require an environmental quality policy and ISO 14001 certification. Emissions, air quality, water quality and sustainability will fully morph from a nice-to-have to an enforced requirement. But we, as manufacturers, shouldn’t wait until we are forced comply; we can proactively do what we can to make this planet in a better place for our children and grandchildren.

“What certification do I need?”

This is one of the most common inquiries Steelhead Composites receives from customers…and it’s not a simple question to answer. The regulatory framework surrounding pressure vessels is multifaceted and overwhelming. Add on the additional complexities of industry standards, local jurisdictions and insurance companies, and one can quickly get lost in a web of red tape. Luckily, Steelhead Composites has dedicated compliance specialists on staff whose job it is to navigate the red tape and arrive at a certification solution that meets the customer’s requirements. These specialists foster and maintain relationships with certification authorities worldwide and can manage the entire certification program for the customer.

Below are the top 7 questions the compliance specialists commonly field:

1. Do I need a certified pressure vessel?
   1. It depends on many factors including the region where the pressure vessel will be operated, the industry in which it is used, the specific application, the volume and pressure rating and a host of others (i.e. insurance companies, internal company policies). It is also quite common for a single pressure vessel design to require multiple certifications based on the above criteria. Moreover, it’s also common for certain applications not to require any certification at all.
2. What are common certifications for pressure vessels in the United States?
   1. The common certifications in the United States can be segregated into 2 categories; Regulatory and Industry Standards. The specific application of the pressure vessel defines which certification is required. Below are several examples:
      1. Regulatory: US DOT, US DOT Special Permit, UN/ISO, FMVSS 304
      2. Industry Standard: ASME BPVC, NGV 2, AIAA S-081, ABS, DNV
   2. What are common certifications for pressure vessels outside the United States?
      1. It depends on the specific regulations of the country. Some foreign jurisdictions will accept pressure vessels certified by an authority inside the United States. However, many have their own certifications. Below are a few common examples:
         1. EU Countries: CE Mark, TPED (pi mark), EC 79
         2. Canada: TC, CRN, UN/ISO
      2. How can I determine which certifications are required?
         1. Steelhead Composites can assist in identifying the required certifications based on the customer’s unique application. However, these are usually limited to regulatory and industry standard certifications. To expedite the discovery process, the customer should have a firm understanding of the physical requirements of the pressure vessel (volume and pressure), the location of use (country and regulatory jurisdiction) and specific application. If certification requirements are derived from 3^rd parties (ex. insurance companies), the customer should investigate internally and provide information to Steelhead as applicable.
      3. How much do certifications cost?
         1. It depends on the type of certification required. Some pressure vessel certifications are simply design reviews while others require destructive testing of sample vessels. Some of the newest pressure vessels codes require complex destructive testing and the costs can increase dramatically.
      4. What if my organization requires pressure vessel qualification testing outside the scope of the design standard?
         1. Steelhead’s in-house testing equipment can accommodate many unique destructive testing applications. Steelhead also works closely with testing facilities throughout the world and can manage complex testing scenarios.
      5. What is the difference between a design standard and a certification?
         1. A design standard is an accepted method to design a pressure vessel around a set of given requirements. Usually, these standards are published by internationally recognized organizations such as the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the America Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME). A certification involves a 3^rd party organization who reviews the design calculations for the pressure vessel, witnesses any destructive qualification testing required and issues a compliance statement. Most certifications require that a recognized design standard be followed.

It’s important to understand not every pressure vessel and application has a clear-cut path to certification. For further information about certifications or to learn how the compliance specialists can assist in your next program, please contact Steelhead Composites.

Andrew Coors and Marisa Veni Sundy will be at HANNOVER MESSE again this year. What days will you be walking the show?

Steelhead Composites tested some new dome designs on seamless stainless steel last week. The forming takes place at 1150 C – 1250 C (2,100 F – 2,300 F) — a truly jaw-dropping temperature. This is >3x the requirement for forming domes on our aluminum cylinders. The color striations of each pass during the formation was incredible! Unfortunately, the video doesn’t show the true beauty (I put the camera behind welding glasses)– if you know about camera filters and how to make this work, let me know and I’ll try to film it again.