Powder Recycling Project – Altoona, PA - USA

Solder powder is the primary ingredient in the manufacture of our ALPHA® world class solder pastes. The solder powder is manufactured to exacting standards requiring a very tight particle size distribution. Material which does not meet that size distribution is sent for recycling to the foundry resulting in consumption of natural gas and some emissions to the atmosphere from our filtration system. The objective of the project was to develop an in-line recycling system that would reduce the consumption of natural gas and emissions to the atmosphere by at least 50%.

Design for Six Sigma employs a tool known as the House of Quality in order to capture the Voice of the Customer. Using this tool we were able to design an effective in-line recycling system for the powder manufacturing operation.

The Team exceeded their objective and actually reduced natural gas consumption and site emissions by over 60%.