After Seeing Eco-Tec's Nickel Recovery System In Action, Danaher Tool Group Saw Big Savings

When a change in process led to an increase of nickel metal waste at Danaher's North Carolina plant, only Eco-Tec could provide them with a system designed to reclaim the nickel to its highest purity and concentration.

As far back as 1938, Danaher Inc. enjoyed a position as the primary supplier of brand-name craft tools for Sears & Roebuck. However, it wasn't until 1990 that the company set up its independent business unit – Danaher Tool Group – to specialize in the manufacture of more than 1,500 non-powered hand tools for such prestigious customers as Sears, Allen Tools, and K/D Tools. Although not necessarily a household name, Danaher Tool Group is possibly the largest supplier of non-powered hand tools in the world.

Of course, this type of market power is not achieved without a rigorous commitment to quality, both in the products it manufactures, and the processes it relies on. That is why, in mid-1996, Danaher Tool Group became concerned about the nickel waste by-products it was producing in its North Carolina Operation. Without any metal reclaiming system in use, nickel drag-out from Danaher's plating baths averaged 122 pounds (55.5 kg) per day. Not only was this waste build-up seriously affecting raw material costs, but it was also posing an environmental hazard. Danaher's priorities were two-fold. First, it wanted to upgrade the performance and reliability of its end-of-pipe waste treatment systems to ensure that they consistently complied with environmental standards. Second, it wanted to reduce the costs of this compliance.