Fresno’s own Electronic Recyclers, Inc. just got a bit more environmentally-friendly.
A fleet of 13 electric forklifts is now in operation at ER’s Fresno plant, replacing the previous propane forklifts.
John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers, got the idea for the switch in forklifts from his son, who works in the plant during summers. He said that by 4 p.m. the plant became stuffy and hot, and he had trouble breathing.
Shegerian already notices a difference the electric forklifts have made in the plant.
“The air quality, the soot, everything has improved drastically,” he said. “The forklifts affect the business because it makes a better work environment for my employees. A happier work environment means more production.”
Tim Carmichael, senior director of policy for the Coalition for Clean Air, said that there are different ways where businesses can reduce pollution and cut costs, while benefiting companies and their neighborhoods concurrently.
“I think a lot of the companies around the Valley should be taking a look at their own operations, looking at operations where they can reduce pollution,” Carmichael said.
Local businessman Sam Geil is getting rid of 25 propane buffers from one of his businesses. He says that he got the idea from Shegerian during lunch meetings.
“John would just challenge me in terms of my thinking outside the box,” Geil said.
The electric forklifts came from J.M. Equipment, which has a location in Fresno. According to Clint Hunter of J.M., the forklifts’ batteries have three cycles. Charging a single battery takes eight hours. It also takes eight hours for the battery to cool down, and eight hours of operating time. There are two batteries for every forklift, so that each one can operate 16 hours a day.
There are currently 100,000 forklifts in the Central Valley.
All of the lights in ER’s Fresno plant are energy efficient, and all of the furniture in the offices are recycled. The salespeople for ER all drive Toyota Camry Hybrids. Shegerian said that big corporations are more willing to push business to ER because the company has looked for different ways to run their operations with concern for the environment.
“We want to use our place as an example that every business and everybody can make a difference,” Shegerian said.