CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
August 2008
Company News
CNC Software, Inc. Makes the CAD/CAM World a Little Greener
CNC Software, Inc., developer of Mastercam® CAD/CAM software, made a conscious commitment to incorporate environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices ever since the company was founded, 25 years ago.
“I have a strong interest in the environment and doing whatever I can within reason to minimize our company footprint on the planet,” says Mark Summers, co-founder and President of CNC Software.
When the company built a new 38,000 sq. ft. headquarters facility in 1989, in rural Tolland, Connecticut, Mark specified that geothermal heat pumps be installed rather than conventional oil or gas boilers used in most buildings in New England. A new 12,000 sq. ft. addition also features a soon to be completed 72kw photo voltaic solar array that will hopefully generate 25% of the electricity used in the building. Electricity is the only energy source used in the building.
“The upfront investment is slightly higher, but more companies are transitioning to alternatives as the cost of conventional energy sources rise,” says Summers. “The return on investment happens quicker now, and money is the driver in many businesses. Paying attention to currently energy technology will save money if you’re patient enough to wait a few years for the payback.
CNC Software provides glasses, dishes, and silverware and energy efficient dishwashers to its employees to reduce the everyday use of paper goods. Its building is maintained with environmentally safe cleaning products. The company even makes available alternative, biodiesel fuel for its employees.
Other environmental initiatives at CNC Software include reducing the size of product brochures and posting more content to the Mastercam web site. Product packaging is changing from four-color printed boxes with coatings to a smaller box using recycled, unprinted cardboard, and Mastercam manuals are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper that is fully compliant with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
“For disposable paper goods, we use products that are made from 100% recycled paper with 80% post-consumer content,” says Summers. “The white disposable paper products we use are whitened with an environmentally safe process – never with chlorine bleach. Our buildings are cleaned with environmentally safe products, made from renewable, non-toxic, phosphate-free, and biodegradable ingredients as much as possible, and are never tested on animals. We have established company-wide practices by which we can recycle and compost appropriate materials.”
While working on the recent 12,000 sq. ft. addition to its corporate facilities over the last several months, CNC Software had the opportunity to incorporate even more “green” materials and components. Some were developed within the last 20 years and some were improvements on former systems considered efficient in 1989. These include:
• Geothermal heating and cooling
• Radiant floor heating
• Spray foam insulation
• Insulation under the concrete slab
• Energy efficient Andersen windows
• FSC certified lumber – Forestry Stewardship Council (both environmentally and socially responsible solution)
• Enviro interior doors – no formaldehyde
• Energy efficient T8 lighting
• Dual flush toilets and low water use urinals (1 pint)
• Super engineered thermally efficient NanaWall garage door
• Solar photovoltaic panels
• Low VOC paints and finishes
• Low VOC carpet – no PVC
• Fresh air exchange
• Herman Miller modular furniture (Herman Miller is also deeply committed to the environment)
“Each individual and company has a direct impact on the environment through daily consumption of energy and resources,” says Summers. “One of CNC Software’s goals is to build on our history of quality products and services while continuing to explore more ways to reduce our environmental impact as we grow the company.”
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