Sustainability at athmer
athmer operates sustainably. With the development and production of high-quality and durable building products, athmer contributes significantly to the conservation of resources.
Responsibility for people and nature
Automatic drop seals from athmer make a concrete contribution to
optimizing a building's eco-balance and thus also reduce CO₂ emissions.
They also comply with the recommendations for barrier-free construction.
Since the 1990s, all new company buildings have been built as
low-energy houses. The new building for administration and production
Athmer Fingerschutz® built in 2011 is a zero-emission factory.
The 15 sheep of the Sophienhammer take care of the daily maintenance of the pasture area of the plant premises during the summer months. Conscientiously, the herd mows the grass and works completely ecologically. This is because the woolly organic lawnmowers climb even the steepest hills with ease, making a noisy motorized lawnmower completely unnecessary.
The buildings
Exemplary behavior is demonstrated by active action. Climate change and concerns about the finite nature of natural resources are forcing companies to operate sustainably. We produce in a way that conserves resources.
The zero emission factory
athmer has been constructing all new company buildings as low-energy
houses since the 1990s. This energy standard is awarded to new buildings
that are significantly below the required energy standards. The roof
and exterior walls are optimally insulated, and windows and exterior
doors are also insulated to save heating energy.
The new building for Athmer Fingerschutz®
administration and production, built in 2011, goes one step further.
This is a zero-emission factory. The production halls are supplied with
completely CO₂-free heat and electricity.
LED lighting
Conventional lighting with fluorescent tubes requires a lot of energy and causes high costs. Therefore, the lighting in the administrative buildings and the first assembly areas was equipped with energy-efficient LED lights. In this way, 4,000 kWh can be saved every year. Converted, this is 2,000 kg CO₂ that are actively avoided. Other areas will follow in 2020, so that in the long term all areas will be equipped only with LED luminaires.
Hydroelectric power and combined heat and power plant
In the beginning was water. One of the founding myths of the Cronenberg
family business is based on the use of water power. The prospect of
obtaining a sovereign water right led the Cronenbergs to relocate in the
18th century. This connection to the wet element runs through the
company's history to this day.
The company's own waterworks,
built in 1907, still generates electricity today and thus feeds the
entire company premises. Depending on the quantity and flow quality of
the water, a good 1,000,000 kWh of electricity is generated each year.
And if the water power is ever insufficient, a combined heat and power
plant produces electricity and heat for the six companies located on the
company premises.
Products
More than 50 years ago, the Kältefeind® automatic door seal was already an energy-saving seal whose use could save heating costs. But even today, our products are the result of many years of experience, technical expertise and high quality standards. This creates sustainability.
Long-lasting products with a clear conscience
By using pollutant-free materials, our customers can enjoy our products for a long time - and also have a clear conscience. Because our ecological claim begins with the construction of useful and durable products. A five-year warranty is a matter of course for us, as our door seals can be in daily use for far longer.
Certified quality
The fact that our products are an ecologically forward-looking
investment has been confirmed by external bodies. In the endurance test
of the Materialprüfungsamt NRW with 1,000,000 test cycles, the door
seals performed excellently. Likewise, our automatic door seals have the
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which shows a globally
recognized and verifiable life cycle assessment. Our products can be
used in certified Green Buildings.
Based on EN 16654, various
athmer products in the area of finger protection were extensively tested
by TÜV Rheinland and successfully certified with the GS mark. Among
other things, the protective effect of the products, durability and
safety of use in a child-friendly environment were tested.
In
addition, TÜV Rheinland also confirms the athmer finger protection
products' harmlessness to harmful polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH
substances) according to AfPS GS 2004. To reduce the unnecessary
consumption of plastic film, all our cardboard boxes are fully
recyclable. This is evidenced by Easypak certification.
The harmlessness of the chemical substances we use is proved by the
REACH certificate. The European Union regulation is intended to protect
human health and minimize environmental risks from the use of chemical
substances. Likewise, care is taken to reduce the use of animal testing.
Since
January 1, 2019, the new Packaging Act (VerpackG) has come into force.
This law is based on the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act,
which in turn is based on the European directives on the return and
recycling of packaging. The Packaging Act is relevant for manufacturers
and retailers who put sales packaging into circulation that is
ultimately disposed of by private households. In order to meet our
responsibilities, we have registered with the Central Packaging Register
Agency and participate in the Intersoh dual system. This enables us to
guarantee the reliable return, sorting and recycling of our packaging
materials such as cardboard or films. The new recycling rates that apply
in the dual system are 85 % for cardboard, paper, cartonboard and 58.5 %
for plastics.
Recyclable catalogs
Paper is a valuable raw material. When producing printed catalogs or brochures, we make sure to source paper from responsible sources (FSC). In addition, our new catalogs are produced in a climate-neutral manner and are fully biodegradable.
athmer group
The comprehensive range of professional sealing systems for doors and
gates is designed for demanding tasks in the construction sector and
offers sealing systems for sound, smoke, fire and radiation protection
doors.
The portfolio is supplemented by Athmer Finger Protection®,
which prevents fingers from becoming trapped in (automatic) doors.
These systems are particularly suitable for providing safety in
childcare facilities and schools.
To ensure both high product
quality and rapid delivery times, athmer is represented at a total of
six locations in Europe and Asia. Ecological agreements are the basis
for a good and responsible cooperation.
Purchasing
Purchasing determines both the quality of the products and long-term and responsible supplier relationships. We work strategically with our regional suppliers.
Suppliers
We have been working strategically and in a spirit of trust for many
years with responsible suppliers who conscientiously comply with our
sustainable guidelines. It is important to us that we remain
competitive, but not at the expense of the environment. That is why we
adhere to the following principles:
- In order to maintain the shortest possible delivery routes, we work with suppliers from Germany.
- We prefer regional suppliers and service providers.
- Our suppliers provide us with materials that are free of harmful substances.
- Deliveries are planned in advance so that unnecessary journeys are avoided
Recycling and disposal
Automatic drops seals and gaskets have different compositions of the raw
materials used, depending on the respective product family. For
example, aluminum, PVC, stainless steel, polyamide and silicone are
used, and their recycling potential varies greatly.
When doors
are replaced or the building is demolished, these raw materials enter a
recycling cycle if they have economic relevance or are present in a
certain minimum quantity. In 2018, we were able to recycle and reuse 780
kg of stainless steel, 65 t of cardboard and 64 t of aluminum. As an
ecological service, our customers can have obsolete products disposed of
through us.
Social
We integrate innovations into existing structures. True to the motto: build on what is tried and tested, develop what is already there. This attitude is also the basis for the loyalty of our employees, national and international customers, and suppliers.
Healthy employees
Sustainable personnel policy is not only prescribed by the management
with regard to employee satisfaction, it is lived. The health of our
employees is our top priority. A safe, clean and healthy workplace is
just one element of this. Since August 2018, we have not had an
occupational accident in the production of automatic door seals.
Joint
campaigns such as a running club, mineral water and fruit baskets,
e-bike leasing offers, carpooling or discounts at the gym are further
benefits from which our employees profit. Because we know: A healthy
work-life balance benefits the company in the long term. Our proof of
this is the low staff turnover and a low number of sick days.
Social commitment
As a market-leading company, athmer is always aware of its social responsibility. We invest in our location in Germany and expand our team in order to be able to react quickly to new market requirements in the future. We also support charitable projects conscientiously and gladly, but without putting our commitment in the foreground. With Sauerland down-to-earthness, we are happy to help those who can make good use of our support.
