RMI’s NextGenM Energy Forum Recap

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Leading Maryland Manufacturers Publicly Endorse RMI Energy Efficiency Approach
Companies in RMI program project annual savings of $597,000

next gen m forum header
Over 250 manufacturing stakeholders came together at RMI’s Energy Forum in Timonium to learn about RMI’s new energy efficiency program, which was launched last fall, and heard directly from the first two groups of companies who are participating.

The twelve represented companies were: Northrop Grumman, U.S. Gypsum, Chesapeake Specialty Products, Green Bay Packaging, Medifast, Sun Automation, Maryland Applied Physics Corporation, Zentech, Ellicott Dredges, Maryland Thermoform, Danko Arlington and General Motors Baltimore Operations.

The event was hosted by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) in partnership with the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and featured an address by Governor O’Malley, an address by MEA Director Abigail Hopper, an executive panel discussion, a town hall meeting and networking opportunities.

Update: Check out this recap of the Energy Forum recap below. For more videos, click here.

Companies like Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) highlighted the value of the RMI Energy Efficiency initiative.

RMI Medifast Meg Sheetz“Before we engaged RMI, we were spending $140,000 annually on energy,” said Mark Rice, President of MAPC. “Now in just six months’ time, we have committed to both small and large energy upgrades, which will cut that spending by one third. The best part is that within five years, we will be generating $40,000 in cash with no out-of-pocket costs.”

Participants involved in RMI’s Energy Efficiency Program must agree to commit to a six-month program that provides $30,000 worth of services, including: RMI engineering experts to audit their facility and present findings and recommendations to management; RMI management consultants that help establish green teams and help firms become more energy efficient; and executive leadership meetings to share best practices on lessons learned from each company in the program.

The audience heard how the establishment of the green teams has been very successful, not only in helping companies’ bottom lines, but also in improving company morale.

“Waste is the enemy,” said Tyson Aschliman, General Manager of Green Bay Packaging in Hunt Valley. “RMI’s Energy Efficiency Program helped us to look internally to eliminate the cost of waste.”

Green Bay Packaging was involved with RMI’s pilot energy effort (in 2012,) and while the company only decreased its kilowatt usage by one percent, over that same period of time, it increased its production by 20 percent through new business growth. The cost reductions coupled with that business growth led to increased employment.

“By adopting RMI’s culture change initiatives, we now have institutionalized a green team to regularly review and come up with better ways to eliminate all kinds of waste,” Aschliman said.

The twelve featured firms are on a path to collectively implement annual electrical savings of 5,360 MWh, an annual summer demand savings of 1.2 MW, and annual cost savings of $597,000.

NextGenM Martin O'Malley

During Governor O’Malley’s remarks, he thanked the manufacturers in the room for their hard work and encouraged them to continue to innovate in order to help the next generation.  The Governor praised the efforts of the twelve companies in the program and helped recognized the respective green team employees who all received certificates of recognition.

“I have a strategic goal to grow my business,” said Ken Sanchez, President of the Sparrows Point-based Chesapeake Specialty Products. “What has amazed me is that RMI’s energy efficiency program has helped me to realize a 20 percent energy savings while also helping me to increase production. This is allowing me to higher five additional employees. … For a small 30 person company, that’s a big deal.”

We are very pleased with the overall progress of the program,” said Mike Galiazzo, President of RMI. “As manufacturing continues to grow and change in the state of Maryland, it is a pivotal time for the industry to focus on innovation and to become more energy efficient. Overall, we have seen Maryland manufacturers greatly reduce their energy spending, which in turn can lead to the creation of more jobs, improvement in productivity, better bottom lines and much more.”

RMI is currently recruiting for its fourth group of six companies, which is forming now. Companies wishing to participate in the initiative should contact Mike Galiazzo at (410)-771-8111 or Peter Gourlay at (443)-275-2489 to reserve their slot in the program.

RMI also offers Maryland manufacturers with a call line to get answers to all of their energy efficiency-related questions. For more information, call (443)-200-6100.

Click photo above for our event photo gallery on Facebook.

Comments and Quotes
The event kicked off with networking and opportunities to view Maryland manufacturers’ exhibit.

Medifast President and COO Meg Sheetz was at the company’s booth before the event.

Zentech also had an exhibit, which literally lit up the room.

After viewing of the exhibits ended, Mike Galiazzo welcomed the crowd of more than 200. He then introduced Kathy Synder of the Maryland Chamber, who spoke on the importance of creating and retaining jobs in-state.

Abigail Hopper, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, took the stage after Snyder. After thanking Galiazzo, Peter Gourlay and the rest of the RMI team, she explained the importance of manufacturing in the state. She stressed the importance of relationships between the state and manufacturers. To drive home her point, she even gave out her cell phone number, asking manufacturers and others in the room to call her with any ideas or questions they may have.


Panel Discusssion
The first panel of company executives then took the stage to discuss how the RMI Energy Efficiency Program has impacted their companies.

The companies represented ranged from small businesses to large companies like Northrop Grumman.

Mark Rice of MAPC, Meg Sheetz of Medifast, Bob Sims of U.S. Gypsum, Donna Kreis of Northrop Grumman, Ken Sanchez of Chesapeake Specialty and Tyson Aschliman of Green Bay Packaging all addressed the audience, testifying to the benefits of RMI Green Team programs.

NextGenM Energy Panel

Table Discussion After a brief break, in which attendees had opportunities to view the various exhibits lining the walls of the room, Galiazzo kicked off the second round of the program. Six Maryland manufacturers will discuss how management is taking a new look at energy. Matt Turpin of Zentech, Deanna McGill of Maryland Thermoform, Robert Croom of Ellicott Dredges, John Danko of Danko Arlington, Steve Adamski of Sun Automation and Bill Tiger of GM Baltimore Operations all spoke at the table discussion.

McGill offered an in-depth yet practical view of an RMI Green Team. McGill is an instrumental part of Maryland Thermoform’s Green Team. She spoke on how energy spending was reduced by implementing efficiency across the company. Each department of the organization at Maryland Thermoform found ways to cut costs by running machinery less, using smaller packaging and more. By doing so, not only did the company save money, but it also helped its consumers save as well.

Governor Martin O’Malley’s Remarks
martin-o'malley
Galiazzo introduced Governor O’Malley, noting his spirit and heart and thanking him for his influence.

Governor O’Malley thanked all of the manufacturers in the room, saying “You really are the entrepreneurs and innovators.”

He also discussed the importance of setting goals and becoming more energy efficient.

“It is foolish to leave money on the table when the technologies exist,” he said.

To sum up his remarks, Governor O’Malley mentioned how manufacturers can help preserve the American dream and how their work is impacting others’ futures.

“You’re creating a new world for your kids and for mine,” he said. “Keep up your good, job-creating work.”