Chief

ORLANDO, FLA  – InfoComm International, the leading professional audiovisual trade association, presented its Sustainable AV Award to Middle Atlantic Products and Milestone AV Technologies. The awards were presented at the InfoComm 2013, the top annual commercial audiovisual trade show taking place June 8-14 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

 

The Sustainable AV Technology Award was created by InfoComm to recognize people and organizations for implementing environmentally sustainable practices in the manufacturing of products, integration of AV systems, reduction of waste in the workplace or through similar strategies.

 

Shortly after its founding in 1979 — and well before sustainable AV became an industry priority — Middle Atlantic Products made its first environmentally-friendly decision: to finish their AV products using a powder-coat process, instead of using standard, solvent-based paints. The powder-coat process doesn’t involve harmful chemicals or release toxins into the air or water. In addition, unused powder can be reclaimed and reused.

 

Thus began more than 30 years of devotion to sustainable practices, from initiating Middle Atlantic’s electronics recycling program in the 1990s to company founder Bob Schluter’s involvement with the InfoComm International Task Group that developed the INFOCOMM/ANSI 4M: 2012 Audiovisual Energy Management System Standard. Along the way, the company achieved Greenguard certification and became an ISO 14001-certified manufacturer. It created the RackLink Power Management System in support of the InfoComm energy management standard, and introduced heat recycling and cogeneration in its manufacturing facility.

 

Middle Atlantic’s 425,000-square-foot world headquarters in Fairfield, N.J., is built on a brownfield site that the company rehabilitated. Through its sustainable practices, the company recently reduced water consumption by 48 percent, natural gas consumption by 34 percent and electricity use by 4.6 percent.

 

Milestone AV Technologies is home to the Chief, Da-Lite, Sanus, Projecta and Procolor product brands. Many Chief products qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits under Materials & Resources or Innovation in Design. Da-Lite operates a quality and environmental integrated management system that complies with ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 140001:2004 requirements and its front- and rear-projection screen fabrics are Greenguard-certified. Sanus has only used recycled paper for assembly manuals since 1986, created a scrap-parts recycling program in 1991, and invested in a new, near-100-percent recyclable powder-coating process for wood in 2001.

 

But the crowning jewel in Milestone AV’s sustainability efforts may be its new headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn. The company chose to renovate rather than build new, in order to reduce its environmental impact. The updated interior was designed to incorporate natural lighting for 95 percent of regularly-occupied seated spaces and ENERGY STAR ratings for 95 percent of the equipment in the building. Water use was reduced 30 percent and energy consumption cut by five percent. In recognition, Milestone AV’s headquarters recently earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

 

“Middle Atlantic Products and Milestone AV Technologies have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability principles,” said David Labuskes, CTS, RCDD, Executive Director and CEO, InfoComm International. “Both of these companies set a high standard for corporate stewardship that elevates the stature of the AV industry, and we are grateful for their leadership.”