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Cossins Windows Canada is “GREEN” |
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One of our Core Value Statements states that: |
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“Our products, services and workplace reflect our belief that what is good for
the environment and the safety of our people is good for Canada”. |
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This has been a key initiative for our company and as a result we have worked
hard to ensure that the products we produce are “green”. |
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Aluminum |
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Our focus as a company is providing custom powder coated finishes primarily to
companies that manufacture products for the Architectural Community. “Aluminum
used in the building and construction industry contains a high percentage of
both post-consumer and post-industrial recycled content. At the end of its long,
useful life a building application it is 100% recyclable. Aluminum building
components can be repeatedly recycled back into similar products with no loss of
quality, and aluminum in its various forms provides the most valuable component
for most municipal recycling efforts”. |
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Pre-treatment |
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The key to producing quality painted material is largely dependent on the
process used for cleaning the metals. The chemicals used historically have been
chrome based. Stringent regulations, imposed by the EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency), OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) have
made the use of chrome-based pre-treatment an expensive process. Currently
federal and provincial laws require the monitoring and permitting of all
exhaust, including pre-treatment stacks. As the world becomes more
environmentally correct, tighter controls and penalties will be placed on all
pollutants, including chrome. |
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The pre-treatment chemicals chosen by Cossins Windows Canada contain no
chromates, cyanides or other metals listed by the EPA or the OSHA. No sludge is
produced in the waste treatment process, which eliminates the production,
hauling, and storage of destruction of hazardous waste materials and reduces the
costs associated with potential liabilities. |
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Powder Paint |
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The basis of our business for both the custom colour and wood grained finishes
is powder paint. Although a finish represents only one attribute of a coated
part, it is the most visible and influential characteristic to the consumer.
Powder coatings have a positive impact on the consumer, both directly and
indirectly, and provide solutions to issues of public concern. Powder coatings
have become the coating technology of choice for consumable goods from
toolboxes, bicycles, office furniture, lawn furniture to widespread markets such
as appliances and automobiles for the following reasons: |
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1. Quality: The unique application characteristics of powder coatings
provide superior consistency and uniformity of finish without sags, drips, runs
or bubbles. They provide extremely tough, durable films enhancing the high
quality, value added image of consumer products. In general, the performance
properties, such as impact resistance, flexibility, and corrosion resistance, of
powder coatings are better than with liquid paints. Powder coated parts resist
cracking, peeling, and marring during handling and normal service use. We have
found consistently that powder coated finishes require less packaging which
lowers overall cost of the product as well as the amount of waste that goes into
landfill. In many cases, merchandise is specifically being advertised as “POWDER
COATED” because of the quality image it projects. |
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2. Economics: Powder coatings are frequently a cost saving alternative to
liquid paints with respect to the energy savings, labour costs, rework costs,
material usage, waste disposal, and overall efficiency. The advantage to
manufacturers and the consumers is a coated part with a superior finish at a
reasonable cost. |
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3. Environmental: Environmental issues are of significant interest and
importance to the government and general public today. Unlike many liquid
paints, powder coatings are compliant with environmental regulations. Liquid
paints often contain solvents (volatile organic compounds or VOC’s), which can
contribute to air pollution and, in some cases, ozone depletion. Powder coatings
are free of such pollutants. Wet painting processes can generate sludge, which
must be disposed of into hazardous waste landfills. Properly formulated powder
coatings generate no such hazardous waste. The consumer can feel good about
buying a powder-coated product which is
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE. |
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A key component to the products offered by Cossins Windows Canada ltd. Using
powder as a base we are able to create a variety of wood grained finishes onto
aluminum utilizing a process called sublimation. These “Alluminated” finishes
not only offer the same environmental advantages as our custom powder coated
products but also contribute to the conservation of our forests. |
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Wood Grained Aluminum |
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WHY POWDER? |
1. LEEDS (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
• Specifying powder paint is worth one point towards LEED certification
• Specifying exterior powder coatings is worth ONE Innovation credit
• Having a LEED Accredited Professional on your certified project is worth ONE
Credit. |
2. No VOC’s ( Volatile Organic Compounds)
• Powder paint does not contribute to air pollution/ozone depletion and
complies with environmental regulations. |
3. Chrome Free Pre-treatment
• Our chemicals do not contain chromates, cyanides or heavy metals |
4. Cost Saving Alternative
• Lower labour costs, rework costs, material usage, waste disposal and overall
line efficiency |
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5. AAMA 2640 & 2605 Certified |