SAM Mouldings win Green Apple Environment Awards 2003

SAM Mouldings, the Antrim-based MDF architectural mouldings manufacturer was named as Ireland Champion in the Green Apple Environment Awards 2003 which took place in the House of Commons. The Green Apple Environment Awards are an annual international event to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world.

SAM Mouldings entry for the awards was based on the implementation of a combined heat and power plant at their Antrim factory. Due to continuous growth and the resulting increase in waste sawdust and electricity consumption the company had a large and growing requirement to reduce costs in these areas. The company has responded by investing in a new dust extraction system and combined heat and power plant (CHP).

The waste dust is now extracted and recycled in the CHP plant providing all the heat necessary for the offices, factory and paint drying process as well as generating up to 160kw per hour of electricity. Emissions to the atmosphere are monitored every 30 seconds to ensure local requirements are met. In a five year period it will eliminate the need for over 20,000t of MDF dust to be disposed of, as well as eliminating transport pollutants used in the process of waste disposal.

Sam and Julienne McCrea, the owners of SAM Mouldings represented the company at the award ceremony in London. Mr. McCrea said "This was the first time SAM Mouldings have entered for an environmental award and we are delighted to have been chosen as Ireland Champion."