Names in the News: SAS Automation makes money with the sun, Steve McCance with us

Robotic end-of-arm-tooling supplier SAS Automation figures that within three years it will have paid for its recent investment in a new photovoltaic solar array on its corporate headquarters in Xenia, Ohio.  Thereafter there is a good chance the solar array will turn into a moneymaker for the manufacturer.

On sunny days the solar panels generate approximately 36,000 watts of power, and are expected to produce over 60 Million Watt Hours of electricity over the next year, saving the SAS manufacturing facility over 30% of its electricity costs.

The array consists of 222 solar panels each providing 230 watts for a total of 51.2 kWatts. Local electricians, contractors, and installation crews installed the solar installation last month. This total project cost approximately $280,000.  

Helping SAS to finance the installation was a $140,000 from an Ohio State Grant and a 30% Federal Tax Credit.  The company will be eligible to sell its Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) enabling the equipment to pay for itself within 3 years, and showing a positive income after that.

According to SAS owner Trent Fisher, "We see an opportunity to continue leading the industry by being the first 'green' renewable energy robotic tooling supplier worldwide. We hope by installing the clean and reliable solar system, we will attract like-minded customers who share in the vision of reduced carbon emissions and taking action to curb the global warming green house effect. We are committed to renewable energy and pleased to take this leading step. My hope is that other manufacturers will see our success and better apply the opportunities that solar and other renewable energy sources offer."

Closer to home, we're happy that so many readers took the time to complete a poll we recently sent. One of them, Steve McCance, VP sales and marketing at Fiber Tech Engineering (Escondido, CA), was the winner of a $100 AMEX gift card from PlasticsToday. Congratulations, Steve, and thank you and everyone for your feedback.