what’ s working
Innovation HPF Manufacturing
For more than 30 years, HPF has been designing, developing and manufacturing heavy equipment attachments. The company’ s skill and innovative mindset has recently attracted the attention of the Discovery Channel’ s“ Gold Rush,” where star and gold miner Tony Beets asked HPF to design and fabricate custom parts for dredges used in the Yukon. location: Snohomish the product: Its Rail-X Excavator is a hybrid Caterpillarstyle excavator modified with retractable rail wheels, allowing the excavators to be used on railroad lines by a single operator and without a locomotive. point of excellence: HPF’ s entrepreneurial spirit, customer dedication and creativity in solving heavy-duty
problems mean the creation of products that can clear mudslides from remote railroad tracks or help Yukon gold miners haul out a treasure from the Alaskan wilds. how it’ s done: HPF’ s team of hydraulic technicians, electrical technicians, engineering staff, and machinists are able to envision and implement rugged solutions for real-world problems. in their words:“ We are the shop that is capable of large projects. We have the ability to do the jobs that no one else does. We make new products for the marketplace that are needed today in this world.”
~ Wendell Malmberg, president
Green Manufacturing Waste Connections of Washington
Since its founding in Vancouver 20 years ago, Waste Connections has become one of the largest recycling and solid waste companies in the state. Working with public-sector partners and the general public, Waste Connections goes beyond the typical garbage disposal company in its mission to collect, handle and transition waste into a second use. location: Founded in Vancouver, Wash., Waste Connections now provides services throughout the region. the product: Waste Connections recycles, composts, converts waste to energy, and is a major reason that more than half of the waste collected in Washington state is recycled. The company is deploying its recycling expertise across North America, leading the way to further encourage materials reuse and waste minimization. point of excellence: From resale of collected plastics and other recyclable materials, conversion of organics into
compost, development of a renewable fuel fleet, to the capture and conversion of landfill gases into electricity, Waste Connections is a model for other companies in its industry and for the business community at large. how it’ s done: After starting with a focus on traditional recyclable materials, Waste Connections continues to expand the scope of materials it recycles, and the green methods it uses for processing and transport. That includes enlarging its composting operations, capturing methane gas from landfills for use in creating electricity, and ongoing conversion of its fleet to run on clean alternative fuels. in their words:“ Environmental, organizational and financial sustainability initiatives have been key components of our success since we were founded in 1997. We remain committed to growing and expanding these efforts as our industry and technology continue to evolve.”
~ Ronald J. Mittelstaedt, chairman and CEO
32 association of washington business