A more environmentally friendly manufacturing process, combined with an advanced wastewater recovery system, is making a massive, measurable difference in and around the Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) manufacturing operation in Huntington, Indiana – and earning high praise from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the company says.

For its efforts in reducing the environmental impact of its engine vibration damper production, Bendix Huntington has earned a 2023 Better Project award from the department’s Better Plants program. The company was recognized during this year’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit on April 12, along with other honorees.

Part of the DOE’s Better Buildings initiative, awards in the Better Plants program honor partners’ innovative, industry-leading work in energy efficiency, water efficiency, emissions reduction, and waste reduction. The Better Project award acknowledges partners for outstanding accomplishments in implementing industrial energy, water, and waste projects at individual facilities.

“Bendix faced a complicated challenge when we expanded our Huntington operations in the summer of 2020 to include our vibration damper production,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director, environmental, social, and governance (ESG). “First, we wanted to implement a water-based solution in our raw materials cleaning process to reduce the impact of chemicals on the environment. And, second, we wanted to address the amount of water used in that process. As a result, Huntington reused 500,000 gallons of water in 2022 and cut carbon emissions associated with the old processes – and we’re proud and excited that our progress continues to earn recognition from the Department of Energy.”

This year marks the third consecutive year that the Better Plants program has honored Bendix. Bendix Huntington earned a Better Project award in 2022 for its 1.168-megawatt solar installation, and the company overall earned a 2021 Better Practice award for its Zero Waste to Landfill self-certification process.