SUSTAINABILITY IS MORE THAN A BUZZ WORD FOR JLG

Responsible Manufacturing

A key area in which JLG achieves its sustainability goals is through the equipment it manufactures.

The machines themselves emit as few emissions as possible, and this has led to JLG reimagining its product portfolio. The company has invested extensively in product electrification since the early 1990s and this is now reflective in the many electric models JLG offers customers.

The fully electric AE1932 Electric Scissor Lift is a prime example of JLG’s innovation, investment and industry leadership – it’s the first machine of this kind available in Australia and showcases advancements in key performance areas including batteries, energy recovery, charging and adoption of common machine components such as motors, controllers and actuators.

For some applications where electrification isn’t yet viable, JLG specifies low emission internal combustion engines. In Australian and New Zealand markets, all engines meet stringent Tier4i emission performance or higher.

Efficient Facilities

JLG applies Environmental and Energy Management Systems to all its manufacturing facilities. The company has attained ISO 14001 certification at the Tianjin, China facility and achieved ‘50001 Ready’ at its facilities in Shippensburg and McConnellsburg, in the United States.

In Australia during 2021, JLG’s Port Macquarie manufacturing facility and technology hub became the first Oshkosh Corporation site to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, allowing the location to produce approximately 80% of its electricity requirements. All sites operate a broad recycling program covering batteries, used oil, scrap metal, water and general recycling such as paper, cardboard and pallets. Additionally, facilities operate low draw LED lighting and are well progressed in transitioning to paperless work environments.

In recent years, there’s been an increased interest shown by many companies in minimising the environmental impact of their operations. For some, it’s the requirements put in place by the Paris Agreement that are driving change, but for JLG Industries, this prompting wasn’t needed.

Protecting the environment is a core value at JLG Industries, and as a group there’s been a strong focus on sustainability for considerable time – it’s all part of demonstrating good social responsibility. Parent company Oshkosh Corporation is an industry leader in responsible

Managing Resources

On a global scale, JLG Industries has identified responsible water use, energy reduction, recycling and reusing initiatives, and general energy reductions as high focus areas, in order to further increase sustainability outcomes.

A growing number of facilities such as the Leon site in Mexico utilise a water reuse system to wash parts prior to paint. The system treats waste water that’s generated during the equipment manufacturing process and places it through a reverse Osmosis membrane which allows a certain percentage of the waste water to be used on site again. It’s estimated that this water reuse system meets 20 to 30% of the water required for painting operations.

As mentioned earlier, there is has been a shift at JLG facilities towards lower power LED lighting. The transition is well underway and along with consuming less power, other benefits of LED include a brighter white light that more closely resembles daylight which helps improve visibility and employees’ work environment. Compared to older style lights, LEDs are also more reliable and longer lasting.

manufacturing, careful resource management and developing environmentally sound products and services, ensuring sustainability goals for all its companies are promoted at the highest levels.

Oshkosh has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI), for three consecutive years, highlighting a commitment to sustainable business practices, and was also recognised by financial advisory company, Barron’s, as one of the world’s Top 100 Most Sustainable Companies.

Other power reducing efforts have been achieved by upgrading boilers and HVAC systems throughout facilities to more efficient technologies, cutting down considerably on energy use. There’s also been a change in the type of energy used at certain JLG facilities.

In the United States, Oshkosh Corporation partnered with ALLETE Clean Energy in a renewable energy sale agreement to develop a wind energy site in Oklahoma capable of 303-megawatts. This is the first virtual power purchase agreement Oshkosh has made and the first offsite purchase of renewable energy. It supports the group’s strategic sustainability and environmental goals to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. The Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from the project will offset a significant portion of the emissions resulting from the electricity utilised by Oshkosh’s US manufacturing operations which come from non-renewable sources.

At a group level, Oshkosh Corporation is working steadily towards its goal of diverting 90% of waste from landfill by 2024 – that’s good for everyone.