U.S. distribution and manufacturing company switches forklifts to CNG
Houston-based Building Products Plus, supplier and manufacturer of structural timber products and extended-life building materials for marine & shoreline, zoos & recreation, commercial, industrial, and high-end residential markets, has taken another step toward running leaner and greener by switching their entire fleet of forklifts from diesel to CNG forklifts. These new forklifts are expected to reduce the company’s output of NOx by 3 tons per year, roughly a 90% reduction in emissions compared to their old diesel forklifts.
The new CNG-powered Hyster forklifts with Kubota engines are simply “another step in the right direction,” according to Founder and President of Building Products Plus, Dorian Benn. “We are always seeking to improve, and part of that is running a cleaner operation overall. These forklifts operate much more cleanly, are powerful and reliable, and make sense, financially-speaking. It’s a win, win,” he added.
Houston is on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of non-attainment zones because of poor air quality, and diesel engines are the largest contributing factor. In this regard, EPA offers grants to help with the cost of switching out the old, dirty diesel machines with new low-emission CNG-powered ones. As an example, the grant provided to Building Products Plus offset their investment in the new fleet of natural gas forklifts by 57%.
Several years ago, Building Products Plus switched their entire delivery fleet, including semis and tilt-bed trucks, to all CNG-powered trucks. They are an approved supplier and manufacturer of SFI Certified products©, and many of their products are selected and offered because of minimizing environmental impact. Being ‘green’ is a consideration in everything they do from the products they sell to the ways they produce and deliver them.
