At ConMet, progress isn’t only measured in products made or miles traveled, it’s also about how responsibly we operate. That commitment was recently put into action at our Canton, North Carolina, facility, where two major projects are reshaping the way we work, saving energy, and helping reduce our environmental impact.
Moving Beyond Propane: Forklift Fleet Transformation
Inside every ConMet plant, forklifts are a major part of daily operations. In Canton, they just got a major upgrade. The team has transitioned the full fleet of propane-powered forklifts to advanced electric forklifts.
The impact is immediate and measurable. By eliminating the use of 45,000 gallons of liquid propane gas each year, the Canton facility is cutting emissions, improving indoor air quality for employees, and lowering fuel costs. Operators benefit from quieter, more efficient equipment, making day-to-day work safer and more comfortable.
“Converting to electric forklifts aligns with our goals to reduce our environmental footprint while increasing equipment efficiency and operator comfort,” said Mike Lietert, Vice President of North American Plastics Operations. “It’s a smart investment in both our people and our planet.”
This forklift fleet conversion is a clear example of sustainable manufacturing in action, combining environmental responsibility with smarter, more efficient operations.
A Brighter, Smarter Approach to Lighting
The forklift transition is only half the story. Step inside the 378,000-square-foot Canton facility and you’ll notice another change: brighter, smarter lighting.
Through a full LED lighting retrofit, ConMet replaced every fixture – inside and out – with new, made-in-America LED lighting. Each fixture is equipped with occupancy and daylight sensors, automatically adjusting brightness and usage. Partnering with Duke Energy’s SmartPath incentive program, the Canton plant created a system that saves energy and adapts intelligently to the needs of the space.
The results are significant: more than 3 million kilowatt-hours saved annually, a 66 percent reduction in lighting-related energy use. Additionally, all old lamps were responsibly stored, transported, and recycled at an EPA-certified facility – ensuring the project supported sustainability from start to finish.
“Efficiency and sustainability go hand in hand,” said Ron Boos, Technical Services Manager at ConMet Canton. “By upgrading to smarter systems and equipment, we’ve made the Canton facility cleaner, brighter, and safer while reducing our environmental impact at the same time.”
Sustainability in Action
For ConMet, sustainability in manufacturing isn’t a buzzword – it’s a responsibility. Projects like these are part of a broader initiative across our global facilities to reduce resource consumption, support renewable practices, and improve the environments where our employees work every day.
By replacing propane forklifts with electric models and implementing a large-scale LED lighting retrofit, the Canton plant is showing how meaningful progress can be achieved when environmental responsibility and operational efficiency come together. These changes are more than upgrades; they are long-term investments in people, the planet, and the future of commercial vehicle manufacturing.
