DBG is a custom metal products and services company catering to the Heavy Truck, Automotive, Military, Agriculture, Consumer and Industrial industries. The company operates five North American facilities, three in Canada and two in Mexico; each functioning as a focused business unit that delivers leading edge metal products and services. At DBG’s Shawson facility in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, the primary focus is to supply customers with components and assemblies requiring medium to high tonnage presses. This facility is also supported with auxiliary equipment including robotic weld and automated assembly cells.

The Challenge:
When DBG decided to move their IT and finance departments from a neighboring structure into their Shawson facility, the building’s second floor had to be renovated to accommodate the added office space and IT equipment which would accompany the move. This was the perfect time for DBG to expand and upgrade the building’s small data center with a fresh and innovative approach.

Many components come into play when reducing fuel costs – not just the fuel economy of the vehicle. Route planning, driving techniques and many other variables can save your company dollars and emissions, as long as drivers know how to control them.

SmartDriver is a professional drivers’ course designed to help trucking companies save money on fuel and increase profits. Based on data gathered over two years from 40 fleets and 10,000 trucks, SmartDriver training offers participants specific techniques that will help them get the most from their vehicle, their driving skills and themselves. A company can reduce its fuel consumption by 5-10% after participating in a driver training program.

With SmartDrivers on the road, you can improve margins, lower maintenance costs and reduce your fleet’s environmental impact. With almost 50% of shippers considering a company’s green credentials when selecting a supplier, it offers a competitive advantage as well as a financial one. This training is suitable for drivers from any size of fleet – independent owner/operators to companies with 500+ trucks.

Since Lassonde Beverages Canada opened its Toronto facility in 2004, it has been implementing projects to make its site more sustainable. Its commitment to all three pillars of sustainability is demonstrated through environmental policies and practices, social sustainability programs, and financial performance.

On the environmental front, Lassonde Beverages Canada developed an aggressive sustainability program in 2009 with Guelph Food Technology Center (GFTC) which includes five main strategies, including:

Five years ago General Electric (GE) launched an innovative business strategy known as Ecomagination. Recognizing the growing challenges and opportunities the world faces, Ecomagination focuses on solving the world’s toughest environmental challenges. To this end, GE has put 5 Billion dollars into research and development of new environmental solutions while launching over 93 new products in the Ecomagination portfolio. Through this process, GE also examined its own environmental performance and reduced energy costs by over 100 million dollars. During the 5 year period that Ecomagination has been in place, GE has worked with thousands of customers to reduce their operating costs, as well as their environmental footprint.

Taking this even further, GE recently launched a global challenge. GE’s Ecomagination Challenge is a $200 million call to action for businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students to share their best ideas and come together to take on one of the world’s toughest challenges – building the next-generation power grid to meet the needs of the 21st century.