NewAge Industries recently completed the installation of a one megawatt (MW) rooftop solar panel system, the sixth largest in all of Pennsylvania. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday, June 8, and the system is now in operation supplying half of the plastic tubing manufacturer’s energy needs.
The event, attended by local dignitaries, members of the press, and other invited guests, included a plant tour and a trip to the rooftop to view the solar array up close. A presentation following the tour covered NewAge’s journey from a small, family owned distributorship to the manufacturer it is today.
The company, which has been in business since 1954, experienced record growth last year. Despite the challenging economy of recent years, demand for its high purity products, sold primarily to the biopharmaceutical industry, resulted in an employment increase of 20%. Its team members are proud to note that NewAge carries no debt and continually invests in improvements to its tubing and hose manufacturing processes.
“To see what you’ve done here is quite phenomenal,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, R-8. “You’re demonstrating an example a lot of other manufacturing organizations should take a look at.” The congressman went on to say that NewAge is the “quintessential American success story.”
The solar project was financed in part by a $1 million solar energy program grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. Federal grant dollars of approximately $1.2 million are expected to be received next month. The total project cost was $4.2 million.
“As a responsible manufacturer, we’ve taken a number of green steps over the past several years, but the solar energy project was definitely the most ambitious,” stated Ken Baker, NewAge’s CEO. “It’s a great way to use renewable energy, help our community, and contribute to our bottom line.”
NewAge partnered with Borrego Solar Systems Inc., based in California, for the design and installation of the system. The solar panels – over 4,000 of them – were made in the U.S. by SolarWorld USA of Hillsboro, Oregon. The racks that support the panels and the inverters, which convert the electrical current, were also manufactured in the U.S.
“We wanted to work with U.S.-based companies and use U.S.-made parts,” said Baker. “We’re very pleased we were able to do that.”
The project started last summer with upgrades to NewAge Industries’ roof. Solar panels now cover three-quarters of the rooftop on the 244,000 square foot building located in Southampton, Bucks County, Pa.
“It’s great to be able to do something so incredibly useful and green with the space on our rooftop,” Baker said. “Saving money on our electric bill is a bonus.”
NewAge Industries, an ESOP company, sells its tubing and hose products worldwide to markets such as pharmaceutical, chemical, food and beverage, medical, industrial, appliance, and many others. Products sold through its AdvantaPure® division target critical application industries such as biopharm and biomedical. Committed to continued progress and improvements, the company’s next project involves replacing all the facility’s windows with energy efficient types and is already underway.
About NewAge Industries and AdvantaPure®
In business since 1954, NewAge Industries manufactures and fabricates thermoplastic and thermoset tubing in both reinforced and unreinforced styles. The company offers an overall product quality rating of 99.7%, provides extensive custom extrusion and fabrication capabilities, and services customers worldwide. NewAge Industries maintains a large inventory and prides itself on same-day shipment of 98% of orders for its core product lines. In 2006, NewAge initiated an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) for the benefit of both its employees and customers.
The AdvantaPure division of NewAge Industries is ISO 9001:2008 certified and specializes in high purity tubing, hose, single use systems, manifolds, and other molded components for the pharmaceutical, biomedical, food, beverage, and chemical industries. All products are manufactured, stored, and shipped using the cleanest methods possible to ensure unsurpassed product purity. RFID systems, including gamma-irradiatable styles, are offered as well.
For more information, visit www.newageindustries.com or contact info@newageindustries.com.
NewAge Industries, Inc.
145 James Way
Southampton, PA 18966
(800) 50-NEWAGE | (800-506-3924)
P:(215) 526-2300
F: (800) 837-1856 | (215) 526-2190
