FACE TO FACE
A sustainability roadmap
Hypertherm Associates has established ambitious environmental impact reduction strategies for waste , energy and carbon emissions to be achieved by 2030 . These strategies help to guide its decision-making , as it strikes a balance between meeting current needs and building long-term resiliency and success in an increasingly resourceconstrained world .
“ We have released a sustainability roadmap , where we set clear targets . We want to reduce electricity consumption , increase the re-use of materials , maintain and renew our green certifications at different sites / offices and provoke change through small actions i . e . encouraging our Associates to practise sustainability at home . It ’ s all about the overall sustainability impact . Although our customers are not yet asking us to calculate the carbon footprint of our machines , we see that this is starting to happen in some markets . As we want to stay ahead of the curve , and for good practice , we are already preparing for this ,” stated André Rombouts .
Hypertherm Associates announced the release of its 2023 Corporate Culture and Social Responsibility ( CCSR ) report this July . The report highlights accomplishments and progress in areas such as community engagement , belonging , environmental sustainability and the organisation ’ s culture as a 100 % Associate-owned company .
“ 2023 was again a record-breaking year with 33,940 volunteer hours serving in the community and 585 Associates using 100 % of their Community Service Time ( CST ). Volunteer hours were used for a wide variety of ad hoc community projects , ongoing community support tasks and work connected to the HOPE ( Hypertherm Owners ’ Philanthropic Endeavours ) Foundation ’ s key strategic pillars of STEM education , early childhood development and substance use disorder prevention and recovery ,” it confirmed .
It furthered its commitment to diversity , equity , inclusion and belonging ( DEIB ) in 2023 with the creation of a new ‘ Inclusion & Director ’ role . Progress towards 2030 environmental sustainability goals continues with a 17 % decrease in electricity use of Hypertherm Associates ’ products since 2019 and a Circulytics score improvement from C to B , based on waste stream improvements , a product return programme and circularity training .
The 2023 CCSR report also demonstrates Associate owners ’ contributions to continuous improvements in the business and a positive safety culture , including the renewal of two of the company ’ s five OSHA Voluntary Protection Programme ( VPP ) Star Status U . S . manufacturing locations .
“ Our approach to sustainable corporate social responsibility has always been to
Part of the EMEIA team supporting the Boskalis Beach Clean-Up volunteering activity .
Above : Hypertherm ’ s 2030 sustainability goals .
Above : Cutting with Hypertherm X-Definition plasma system , the XPR460 .
empower Associates to develop solutions to the biggest problems and share what we ’ ve learned with other businesses to expand the collective impact ,” said Jenny Levy , EVP of People , Community , and Environment and President , HOPE Foundation . “ The 2023 CCSR report shows the impact behind the numbers , directly from the Associates improving our workplace , our communities and our earth every day .”
Facing the future
According to André Rombouts , the company ’ s ‘ associate-owned ’ structure ( where each employee ‘ Associate ’ also owns part of the company and is invested in its success ) is a key part of the company ’ s prosperity . It is , in effect , a company of owners . Every decision it makes is viewed through that lens .
“ By maintaining complete independence from external shareholders or other corporate entities , we can focus on our customers and partners to deliver exactly what they need . This gives us the freedom to be creative and get the best from our Associates and our partners . We take care of each other , as well as the environment and society in general . We have strong values , give regular charitable donations and encourage our Associates to spend ‘ community days ’ supporting good causes . Our Community Service Time ( CST ) programme gives most Associates 40 hours of paid time per year to volunteer when and where they choose . Many of our Associates have been with the company for a long , long time and we are very proud of that ,” he told ISMR .
“ We work with a huge global network of OEMs and partners , so we can track market changes and flexibly adapt our products and software wherever needed . Our values and mission are important strengths ; customers can trust us to support them as a strong and reliable partner ,” he concluded . n
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EuroBLECH 2024 stand crew .
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