Your window
into the weird
words of our world.
ECOLAB’S GLOBAL ASSOCIATE MAGAZINE • ISSUE 2
ti·tra·tion
[tī-ˈtrā-shən]
(noun)
How do you know if there’s enough
detergent in the water to clean your
dishes or clothes? Through titration —
a test performed at nearly every customer
visit by Institutional and Textile Care
territory managers.
“Titration helps us determine if we are
using the right level of detergent for
the job,” said John Elder, Institutional
distributor sales development manager.
John is a titration expert, having performed
more than 32,000 titration tests during his
28 years at Ecolab.
So how does titration work? It begins with
taking a sample of wash water from a
dishmachine or washing machine, adding
ethyl alcohol to turn the sample pink and
finally, adding hydrochloric acid drop by
drop until the sample turns clear. The
number of drops added measures the
concentration of detergent in the water.
If there isn’t enough detergent, the dishes
and laundry won’t be cleaned properly. If
there’s too much, residual detergent will be
left on the items.
“Titration tests are critical,” explained
John. “They help ensure we’re providing
our customers the best possible result at
the lowest possible cost.”
MEET THE
FIGHTERS
BUGS
BUG BUSTERS
VS
5
Institutional and Textile Care territory managers
use a test known as titration to determine if the
water in washing machines, like the one pictured
here, contains the right amount of detergent.
TREMENDOUS
TA L E S
A LS O
F E AT U R I N G
THIRSTY WORLD
WATER RISK MONETIZER
GLOBAL MEETS LOCAL
JURONG ISLAND, SINGAPORE
THE BIG PICTURE
TOTA L PLA NT A S SE S SMENT
A MESSAGE FROM DOUG
OUR GLOBAL ASSOCIATES
My Work Matters
2
SPOTLIGHT Five Bugs
Taking the Fight
to Bad Bugs
4
INNOVATION Water Risk Monetizer
Thirsty World
8
FACILITY FEATURE Jurong Island
Global Meets Local
12
PROBLEM-SOLVING Total Plant Assessment
The Big Picture
14
PICTURE YOUR IMPACT Photo Contest
See the Winners
16
At Ecolab, we are in a
constant battle to make
the world cleaner, safer
and healthier. We help
protect people from some
of the world’s worst microbes and pests
— the ones that can damage equipment,
disrupt production, make us sick and
even cause death. In this issue of Impact,
you’ll get a ringside seat, seeing how
Ecolab associates fight the toughest
bugs — and win.
You’ll also hear from a team of experts
who bring massive water and energy
savings to our customers, learn more
about the Water Risk Monetizer and take
a look at our new facility in Singapore.
Through this magazine, we are sharing
stories about our company’s impact on
the world. Help us tell the stories that
are most important to you by contacting
[email protected].
ON THE COVER
Ruth Petran is our
very own food
safety warrior. Read
about her fight
against norovirus at
impact.ecolab.com.
Meet more of our bug
busters on page 4.
I hope you enjoy this issue of Impact
and share it with your family and friends.
They can rest easier knowing Ecolab
associates are out there protecting
them, each and every day.
Best,
Douglas M. Baker, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
FROM
THE LAB
TO THE
FACTORY
FLOOR,
OUR BUG
BUSTERS
ARE READY
TO FIGHT
4
PAGE
ABOUT IMPACT
Every day, Ecolab helps make the world cleaner, safer and healthier — protecting people and vital resources. As the global
leader in water, hygiene and energy technology and services, our vision is to provide solutions that help deliver clean water,
safe food, abundant energy and healthy environments.
Impact is about the people behind our technology and services — 45,000 associates across the globe who make a positive
difference for our customers, communities and society at large. We hope you will find inspiration and energy in the stories told
here of growing, learning and serving together for the greater good.
To offer feedback or submit story ideas, contact [email protected].
© 2015 Ecolab USA Inc. All rights reserved.
Principal Microbiologist TJ Tidwell
develops tests that ensure our
antimicrobial treatments can deliver
a knockout punch to oilfield bacteria.
Our broad arsenal of expertise and
technology helps us fight bugs in
restaurants, hotels, hospitals — and even
cooling towers and oil pipelines.
1
“I am proud that Ecolab can provide
our dairy customers with solutions
to reduce bacterial contaminants in
their milk powder production process,
helping them meet more stringent global
quality standards. For example, the
Asian infant formula market demands
a powder with a very low bacteria spore
content, which many of our customers
were unable to deliver consistently until
working with Ecolab. With our help, one
of our customers has garnered millions
of dollars in additional revenue for
delivering premium, high-quality, non-fat
powdered milk.”
OUR GLOBAL ASSOCIATES
Peter Fernholz
Ecolab Fellow, Global Research,
Development & Engineering, Food & Beverage
United States
“I deliver water treatment products that
help customers contribute to a better
world. But beyond this, my work matters
because I help keep the team at our
Suzano plant safe. I work hard to create
a culture of safety and demonstrate that
being safe is important — both at work
and at home.”
My Work Matters
“I’m proud that I help customers better understand their
problems and how our solutions can make a difference. I recently
helped improve the sanitation in gas station bathrooms. The
customer didn’t understand why Ecolab had so many products —
why we couldn’t have one product for all situations. I helped him
realize that each product has a unique purpose — like how we
use different products to brush our teeth, wash our hair and
clean our clothes. We made an agreement that day, and I was
able to provide the products and training the customer needed
in order to ensure a cleaner and healthier experience for the
customer’s customers.”
Eric Qiu
Field Service Manager, Quick Service Restaurants
China
2
“People trust Ecolab. One of the largest global hotel chains in the
region was facing an issue with corrosion in its hot water system,
which was placing its brand reputation at stake. With our product
chemistries and expertise, we solved the problem.”
Upinder Veer
District Representative, Water & Process Services
India
Francisco “Chicão” Albuquerque Filho
Operations Manager, Supply Chain
Brazil
“With our broad portfolio, we are able to engage healthcare
professionals to make a difference at every step to reduce
healthcare-associated infections. Knowing that our partnership
with customers will directly affect patient care is why we in
Infection Prevention know that our work matters.”
Nicola Richmond
Infection Prevention Regional Divisional Manager, Healthcare
United Kingdom
“I’m proud
that we impact
the world by
controlling
the chemical
hazards in the
environment,
helping with
water clarification
and decreasing
production and
energy costs.”
Emad Hammouda
Chemical Engineer,
Energy Services
Libya
3
SPOTLIGHT Five Bugs
TAKING THE FIGHT TO
Most bugs, from tiny bacteria to flying insects, are harmless or even
beneficial. That’s lucky for us: Bugs surround — and vastly outnumber — us.
As part of our mission to help make the world cleaner, safer and healthier,
Ecolab takes on the trouble-making bugs. “There is no magic bullet,” said Tom Arata
from the global Antimicrobial Anchor team. “Controlling bugs means bringing
all of our knowledge and service expertise to our customers.”
Fortunately, we have assembled a broad arsenal of expertise and technology for fighting bugs
in restaurants, delis, hotels, hospitals and food and beverage plants — and even cooling towers and
oil pipelines. And the more we do battle, the more we learn.
Our fight with bad bugs will never end. But our determination to help our customers win will be
forever strong. Meet some of our fearless fighters and learn about the critical battles they’re waging.
“THE GREATEST FIGHTS OF ALL TIME”
4
ANDREW “THE DIFF-ERENCE”
MURPHY C. DIFF
VS
HEALTHCARE MARKETING MANAGER
•••
UPSTART: JUST A YEAR IN THE RING
•••
CREDITS ENTIRE TEAM WITH SUCCESS
THE BACKSTORY
But there are a few that pack a mean punch. They can make us sick and may even
cause death. They damage equipment and disrupt production. And indirectly,
they take a toll on businesses, causing foodborne illness, product recalls and
plant shutdowns — wrecking reputations in the process.
Photo Credit: Melissa Brower, CDC
BAD BUGS
ALSO GOES BY CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE OR C. DIFFICILE
•••
STRIKES IN HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
•••
TARGETS OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE ON ANTIBIOTICS
•••
PACKS A LOW BLOW: SEVERE DIARRHEA, DIFFICULT RECOVERY, DEATH
THE MATCHUP: A clever fighter, C. diff
TH E K N O CKO UT PU N CH : Ecolab’s
RINGSIDE REPORT: “We spent a week
hides inside a hard shell, known as a
spore, which can survive on surfaces for
more than six months. Travels on human
hands; attacks once ingested. Andrew’s
fight plan: Break through the spore
quickly, then disarm the microbe with
disinfectant — without damaging nearby
surfaces and fabrics.
OxyCide ™ Daily Disinfectant Cleaner.
Kills C. diff spores in only three minutes.
A non-bleach, spore-killing product
registered by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for hospital use. Can
be used as a daily cleaner. Based on
our peracid chemistry — the same used
to fight bad bugs in food and beverage
plants and in water returned to the
surface during oil drilling.
trialing OxyCide at a hospital. Then I got
a call from a close friend, telling me he
had gone into the hospital — the same
one where we had just installed OxyCide.
His call hit home. What we do really
helps keep patients safer and improves
their lives.”
5
BARCAY
THOMPSON
VICKI “THE VICTOR”
VS
Photo Credit: Balasubr Swaminathan and Peggy Hayes, CDC
Photo Credit: Janice Haney Carr, CDC
JOHN “THE JUDGE”
LARGE FLIES
LISTERIA
CAUSES LEGIONNAIRES’ DISEASE,
A POTENTIALLY DEADLY PNEUMONIA
•••
CAN KNOCK OUT BUSINESSES
IDENTIFIED AS SOURCE
•••
STRIKES MOST OFTEN IN HOTELS,
HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM
CARE FACILITIES
SENIOR TECHNICAL CONSULTANT,
WATER & PROCESS SERVICES
•••
VETERAN FIGHTER:
12 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE
•••
GOES THE DISTANCE
TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALISTS,
FOOD & BEVERAGE
•••
TAG TEAM WITH 30 YEARS
IN THE ECOLAB CORNER
•••
SPECIALTY: CONTROLLING
FOODBORNE PATHOGENS
•••
KNOWN FOR KEEPING
OPPONENTS ON THE ROPES
TECHNICALLY, LISTERIA
MONOCYTOGENES
•••
CAUSES LISTERIOSIS, A SERIOUS,
SOMETIMES DEADLY, INFECTION
•••
TARGETS THOSE
WITH WEAK IMMUNITY
•••
HITS FOOD PROCESSORS AND
RETAILERS HARD: RECALLS,
SHUTDOWNS, REPUTATION DAMAGE
(MICROBIAL INFLUENCED CORROSION) IN OILFIELDS
PRINCIPAL MICROBIOLOGIST,
ENERGY SERVICES
•••
THREE YEARS’ EXPERIENCE
•••
SPECIALTIES:
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT;
VERIFYING THE FIGHT PLAN
•••
REFUSES TO THROW IN THE TOWEL
AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC BACTERIA
•••
SMALL BUT MIGHTY: ABLE TO
PUNCH HOLES IN METAL
•••
DAMAGE PIPELINES AND
OTHER EQUIPMENT
•••
CAN SHUT DOWN OIL PRODUCERS
AND COST THEM PLENTY
THE MATCHUP: Legionella grows everywhere, especially in
THE MATCHUP: As large flies breed and feed in garbage and
THE MATCHUP: Listeria lives virtually everywhere, especially
THE MATCHUP: Oilfield bacteria corrode pipes and other
warm water. Travels on tiny water droplets from air conditioning
and plumbing systems, hot tubs and decorative fountains.
Begins attack in humans when inhaled. Eric’s strategy: Control
Legionella’s growth in water and cooling systems to lower the
likelihood it will be inhaled.
manure, they collect pathogens on their bodies, then give these
pathogens a free ride to all the places they land, including on
food. Once ingested with the food, the pathogens can cause
illness. John and Vicki counter with a two-pronged strategy:
Reduce fly populations outside of food establishments, and if
flies get inside, keep them away from food.
in cool, wet places. Even survives freezing. Infects people
when ingested with food. LouAnn and Kirsten know they can’t
knock Listeria out of the ring completely, so they work to keep
it cornered.
equipment, slow oil flow by plugging filters and pores in
oil reserves, and create lethal hydrogen sulfide gas that
also damages equipment and degrades oil quality. TJ’s
counterattack: Make sure the antimicrobial treatments
recommended will effectively control the bacteria under the
specific conditions where they will be used.
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH: The AQUAPath™ Water Safety Program
that treats water systems. Plus, ongoing monitoring, testing
and treatment.
RINGSIDE REPORT: “I heard that a hotel customer was a
suspected source of Legionella, so I immediately went to the
hotel. I collected water samples and walked through the building
to understand where the problems might be. To limit any further
risk, we shut down the water systems. Then we developed a
proactive water safety protocol, including flushing showers and
faucets and applying ‘shock chlorination’ to the pool and spa.
Through it all, the hotel’s only thought was about the health
of its guests and employees. We knew we were in the middle
of a potential public health threat. And we were able to make
a difference.”
D I S C O V E R E D
6
JOHN: SENIOR SCIENTIST, 24 YEARS
•••
VICKI: PEST ELIMINATION SENIOR
SERVICE SPECIALIST, 12 YEARS
•••
KEEP OPPONENTS DOWN AND OUT
ALSO KNOWN AS HOUSEFLIES
OR “FILTH” FLIES
•••
PUT PEOPLE AT RISK OF STOMACH
ACHES FROM FOODBORNE ILLNESS
•••
DELIVER POWERFUL BLOWS TO
BUSINESS: ILLNESS, LOST REVENUE,
REPUTATION DAMAGE
THE BACKSTORY
LEGIONELLA
THE BACKSTORY
MYERS
MARSHMAN VS
HOWE
THE BACKSTORY
VS
ERIC “DON’T MESS WITH ME”
VS
THE BACKSTORY
KIRSTEN “THE CONSULTANT”
LOUANN “MY WAY”
TIDWELL MIC
TJ “TOUGH GUY”
I N
1976
N A ME D A F T E R A N OU T BR E A K AT A N
AMERICAN LEGION CONVENTION
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH: Technology combined with on‑site
service. Ecolab innovations bring unstoppable power to the
punch: A pesticide that is safe for contact with food called
Finito™, the STEALTH ™ Fly Light, which attracts and reduces
flies indoors, and the STEALTH™ Fly Station, placed outdoors
to eliminate flies before they get inside. Delivering another
decisive blow: Customer site visits that allow service specialists
to identify and address potential places where pests may enter,
and train customers in pest control practices.
RINGSIDE REPORT: “The food plants I serve are audited
frequently for quality. When the auditors don’t find flies or
other pests, it helps me know that I’m doing a good job for the
customer. That’s satisfaction for me,” said Vicki.
“For customers, our fly program means fewer flies in their
facilities, and this allows them to enjoy peace of mind and
protection for their brand,” John said. “When we solve the
problem, our customers realize the value of partnering with
Ecolab Pest Elimination.”
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH: Training for customers in proper
chemical treatments and best practices: Cleaning and sanitizing,
personal and hand hygiene, and keeping ready-to-eat foods
away from places Listeria may lurk. Regular auditing of Listeria
control at customer sites to guide continuous improvement.
Coaching to keep field teams at least one step ahead.
RINGSIDE REPORT: “We observe our customers’ practices,
from hand-scrubbing and applying chemicals to pre-production
inspection,” Kirsten said. “We’re always looking for things they
could improve.”
“We’re very passionate about what we do,” said LouAnn.
“I have grandchildren from 20 months to 20 years old. I don’t
want to worry that the food they eat might make them sick.”
TIMES
WOMEN ARE 10
PREGNANT
MORE LIKELY TO GET LISTERIOSIS
THE KNOCKOUT PUNCH: Develop effective testing methods to
demonstrate that the recommended chemicals can stand up
and deliver an effective punch, given the conditions.
RINGSIDE REPORT: “It’s rewarding to be involved in helping to
protect platforms, pipelines and other assets, especially when
you understand the magnitude of the investment oil producers
put into projects, the potential for environmental
disaster and the billions in revenue that are at
stake. But even more rewarding is to help
implement best practices from the
beginning of a project, then see
the oilfield come on line
S!
with fewer issues
RIE
O
T
S
as a result.”
RE
M
N
MO
RA
D
PE T
CO
EA
.
R
TH USE T
U
!
B
S” R ER” H
ERS
LA
LES
M
HT
O
UTH E HAM
G
R
I
C
“
TH
E
EF
.
D“
R
A
T
CH
MO
AC
ET
M E IMP
7
INNOVATION Water Risk Monetizer
What is Water Worth?
THIRSTY
WORLD
With fresh water, we all draw from the same cup. The problem is, that cup is
not bottomless. Of all the water on Earth, only about 2.5 percent is fresh, not
salty. And nearly 99 percent of that is frozen and not available. What’s more,
the Earth’s supply of fresh water remains generally constant, while demand for
clean, drinkable water keeps growing.
More people, more farming, more industry — all are asking for more water. In some parts
of the world, water scarcity is already affecting families, food production and businesses.
By 2030, half the world’s population will live in water-scarce areas, according to the
United Nations.
The challenge before us is urgent: How to be smarter about using and conserving water
so that our common cup can supply everyone’s needs, now and in the future.
“It’s a mega-challenge that directly aligns with our mission at Ecolab,” said Sustainability
Vice President Emilio Tenuta. “We’re committed to protecting and preserving vital
resources, including clean water, and we’re already helping business and industry better
manage the water they use in their operations.”
INSPIRING WISER WATER CHOICES
Now, with a recent innovation called the
Water Risk Monetizer, Ecolab is looking to
make a broader impact, one that will foster
a new mindset about the value of water
and create greater demand for watersaving innovation.
“With the Water Risk Monetizer, an online
tool we’ve made available to the public
at no cost, we want to inspire industry
and agriculture to better understand and
appreciate water’s real value and begin to
view it as the scarce asset that it is,” Emilio
said. Industry gulps about 20 percent
of the total fresh water used globally.
Agriculture accounts for 70 percent.
8
Historically, water has been priced low, even
in areas where it is scarce. For example,
the cost of water in Copenhagen, Denmark,
where water is plentiful, is $3.38 per cubic
meter. In Shanghai, China, an area with
increasing water scarcity, businesses pay
a mere $0.31 per cubic meter. According
to research conducted by Trucost, our
partner in developing the Water Risk
Monetizer and a leader in valuing nature’s
assets, the full value of water to a business
is comparable to 25 percent of its profits.
Yet in most parts of the world, businesses
pay very little for it.
“Unless companies have confronted
real shortages, they probably haven’t
considered water’s real value,” said
Sustainability Technical Lead Raj Rajan.
“BY PUTTING A
REAL PRICE ON
WATER, WE CAN
HELP SHAPE
STRATEGIES
THAT ARE
ENVIRONMENTALLY
SUSTAINABLE,
SOCIALLY
EQUITABLE AND
THAT MAKE GOOD
BUSINESS SENSE.”
Christophe Beck
Executive Vice
President and
President,
International
Regions
Learn more at waterriskmonetizer.com.
»
9
Moscow
$0.83
A closer look at the world’s water supply
97.500%
2.475%
.025%
Amsterdam
$3.42
SALT WATER
FRESH BUT FROZEN
Istanbul
$2.04
Minneapolis
$1.43
New York City
$1.31
Los Angeles
$1.85
Houston
$1.46
Beijing
$0.59
Casablanca
$0.90
Tokyo
$1.13
FRESH AND AVAILABLE
Phnom Penh
$0.16
Jeddah
$0.03
CALCULATING WATER RISKS
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
Because water supplies vary from place
to place, the Water Risk Monetizer helps
companies understand their risks locally.
Once they enter information into the
Water Risk Monetizer about current or
anticipated water use at a site, the online
calculator combines it with data on the
availability of water and other demands
for water in the local watershed.
ig
h
sk
h
ig
-h
m
ri
iu
36
H
35.7
ed
13
M
m
iu
ed
We all use water —
for drinking, cooking,
bathing and cleaning —
but that’s just a fraction
of our total water
footprint. Consider
these everyday items:
m
iu
ed
M
The Water Risk Monetizer helps make the
case for using, recycling and conserving
water in every way possible. And it is
one way Ecolab is helping ensure the
common cup — from which we and all living
things drink — never runs dry. Sydney
$2.76
sk
“The low price of water has made it difficult
for plant operators to make the case for
buying into water-efficient programs,”
said Corporate Account Manager Jeff
Wilkins. “With the Water Risk Monetizer’s
calculation, they will have data to help
justify the investment.”
Johannesburg
$0.54
Santiago
$0.67
-m
w
Lo
What kinds of decisions will the Water
Risk Monetizer help inform? Primarily
investment decisions: Where to build
a new plant or expand an existing one,
which locations would benefit most from
investments in water-reduction programs,
and what is the likely return on investment
in water-saving technologies?
Rio de Janeiro
$1.10
ri
An illustration: A hotel in a dry region of
India must cut its water use. To stay within
its limit, the hotel reduces the rooms it
offers to guests — and revenue suffers. Yet
justifying an investment in water-saving
technology is difficult because water in the
area continues to be priced low. In fact, at
current water prices, it would take three
years to pay back the investment. But the
calculation changes if the hotel uses the
“risk-adjusted” water price provided by the
Water Risk Monetizer, a price that reflects
water availability and local demand. In fact,
the hotel finds its investment would pay
off in less than a year. Plus, investing in
“The strength of the Water Risk Monetizer
is the data,” said Brad Colton, procurement
team member at global hospitality
leader Marriott International, an Ecolab
customer. “Anytime you can measure
and produce data, you can make better
informed decisions.”
As the map shows,
water is priced low
almost everywhere,
even in places like
Mumbai where there’s
a severe shortage. But
today’s low pricing
does not reflect the
real value water
provides to businesses —
in sustaining current
operations or enabling
future growth. The
Water Risk Monetizer
helps companies look
beyond their current
water bills to better
understand the possible
financial impact of
water scarcity on their
business.
w
Lo
Using software designed by Trucost,
the tool quantifies the real and potential
risks in financial terms commonly used by
businesses in their analyses, planning and
decision-making.
water-saving technology would help the
hotel — and the community — save water.
Mumbai
$0.28
468 1,008 1,320 2,900
GALLONS OF WATER ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE
1 gallon of gasoline
1 egg
1 cup of coffee
1 pound of chicken
1 gallon of wine
500 sheets of paper
1 pair of jeans
Sources: Global Water Intelligence, National Geographic, University of Michigan, World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas
10
10
11
FACILITY FEATURE Jurong Island
A
Global Meets Local
B
C
Jurong Island, Singapore
In China, India and other parts of the
Eastern Hemisphere, a rising middle
class is buying cars, homes and modern
appliances at a furious pace, and the
wheels of industry are flying fast to supply
them. The demand for energy — a nd the
need to develop new oil and gas energy
sources, whether underground
or under sea — is soaring.
These developments are
happening far from
To build the plant:
Texas — the longtime
home of Ecolab’s
major produc tion
sites fo r o ilf i e l d
and downstream
chemicals, the kind
multinational workers
that energy producers
need to keep their oil
and gas flowing, processes
op eratin g ef ficiently an d
equipment safe from damage.
Shipping the products 10,000 miles
or more to the other side of the
world can take three months under
normal conditions — and longer during
hurricane season. Not only does the
work hours
distance add cost, it also adds risk.
1,400
3.4
The Eastern
Hemisphere
Core Plant is
impressive for
many reasons,
among them the
zero-accident safety
record that workers
achieved during its
20‑month construction.
“The fact that all of
our employees went
home in the same good
condition in which they
came to work meant
everything to us,”
said Project Manager
Duc Le.
12
million
0
recordable
accidents
These are among the reasons
why Ecolab’s new chemical
plant on Singapore’s Jurong
Island, which opened last
October, is an important
addition. With production
underway at the new 22‑acre Eastern
Hemisphere Core Plant, customers in
the Eastern half of the world can expect
deliveries in just four to six weeks. And our
production capacity, which was nearing its
maximum at our Texas plants, is no longer
a concern.
D
“The Jurong Island plant puts us closer to
our customers,” said Bob Smith, Energy
Services vice president of Supply Chain,
Asia Pacific. “With proximity comes less
risk and greater assurance that orders will
be delivered on time.”
The Jurong Island location is equally
important for other reasons too. “The
energy markets in the Middle East, China,
Australasia and Southeast Asia are among
the fastest growing anywhere,” said
Eric Seip, senior vice president of Global
Supply Chain for Energy Services. “And
with our investment in new, sustainable
infrastructure, we’re leading the other
energy and chemical companies that also
are expanding in this area.”
“Singapore is the perfect place from which
to service our customers in China, the rest
of Asia and the Middle East, areas where
we expect extensive future growth,” said
Alex Blanco, chief supply chain officer.
“In Jurong Island, we’re just where we
need to be.”
E
A Executive Vice President and President of
Global Energy Steve Taylor, Plant Manager
Senthil Kumar, Project Manager Duc Le and
Chief Supply Chain Officer Alex Blanco
B
Maintenance Technician Palaniappan
Selvarajan and Utility Operator Subash
Chandra Bose
C
Control Room Board Operators Vincent
Joseph and Selvakumar Natarajan
D Process Engineer Marisa Wei and Quality
Assurance Lab Technician Tan Wei Xian
E
Project Engineer Gunalan Susendren
F
Quality Assurance Analyst Tan Qui Chen
See more of Jurong Island in our behindthe-scenes video at impact.ecolab.com. F
13
GLIMPSE
INTO A PLANT:
HOW THE PROS
APPROACH
A PLANT
ASSESSMENT
PROBLEM-SOLVING Total Plant Assessment
While each assessment
is unique, there are
typical tasks the team
performs in most plants,
including this potato
chip production facility.
The Big Picture
Saving customers water, energy and money
with Total Plant Assessments
You might think of them as gold miners,
carefully combing through the intricacies
of food and beverage operations. Their
mission is to find treasures for our
customers: opportunities to help save
water and energy and boost plant hygiene,
productivity and product quality.
14
“Our team paves the way for other Ecolab
associates to help customers make the
most of the water, energy and cost-saving
opportunities we identify,” said Blake.
“We’re also in the process of expanding
our tools and platform for a larger Ecolab
audience, so that the learnings from our
TPAs can become institutionalized. This
will result in more savings opportunities
for customers and greater impact for
Ecolab.” These opportunities truly are
worth their weight in gold. “I help the plant manager
understand the Total
Plant Assessment
process. I also make
connections, bringing
multiple divisions
together in one plant
to show the value
that is possible only
through Ecolab.”
Jeff McClary
Cleaning & Sanitation
Senior Area Technical
Support Coordinator
“The first thing we
look for is whether a
customer’s pest program
is preventing food
safety issues. Our team
focuses on creating
a partnership with
the customer to drive
a program that can
dramatically reduce the
presence of pests.”
“I look everywhere
in the plant, from
the production floor
to chemical rooms,
examining how the
types of systems and
equipment are being
used. For example, what
type of hose nozzle is
used in production?
We help customers by
offering our technical
support, providing
engineering expertise
and suggesting
programming changes.”
Bill McCormick
Industry Technical
Consultant
Bob White
Total Plant Assessment
Coordinator
“I bring my experience
as an industrial engineer
into a plant, try to
understand the entire
production process and
gain a cohesive image of
what’s going on before
examining the waste
treatment area. The key
to success in wastewater
treatment is consistency.
We help customers
understand their water
flow so they can achieve
that consistency.”
“I may be the first
person on the team to
visit the plant. I try to
learn more about the
plant’s local needs,
validate and request
extra information,
and broadcast that
information to the team
prior to them arriving
on‑site. This effort helps
ensure proper resource
alignment and an
efficient process.”
Clarifier
Ingredient Receiving
Ingredient Storage
Odor Control
Biological Treatment
Liquid-Solid Separation
pH Adjustment
& Equalization
Pest
Elimination
Hopper
Flume
Cleaning &
Sanitation
Softeners & Filtration
Boilers
Cleaning &
Peeling
Water Treatment
Conducting a TPA is no simple task. First,
a “scout” visits to assess the general lay
of the land and identify the resources
needed to perform the assessment. Then,
other members of the team hit the ground
to conduct a meticulous inspection to
identify possible areas of improvement.
They may uncover anything from a leaky
hose to a complex reconfiguration of
plant machinery that allows water from a
production line to be recycled for use in a
cooling tower.
Just as important, a TPA provides a
launching point for an ongoing customer
relationship. “With each TPA, we emphasize
that it is the beginning of a journey that
we would like to take with our customers,”
said Tim Barnhouse, TPA team leader.
“The first thing I do is
examine where the plant
is located and what type
of business it’s in. If it’s
in California and the area
is in a drought, we would
take environmental
pressures affecting the
plant into account. I also
direct the team while
clearly communicating
opportunities to our
customers.”
Bob Lowe
Pest Elimination
Customer Technical
Manager
Waste Solutions
As its name suggests, TPA is an investigation
of a plant from top to bottom. The focus
is the plant’s processes and operations
(cleaning, production and utilities) and
the flow of water and energy within and
among them. Typically done in less than
two weeks’ time, the TPA provides a map to
hidden savings — golden nuggets that plant
operators may well choose to turn into
real money. Because these assessments
are time intensive and require special
expertise, they are offered exclusively to
our largest, most complex customers.
“In just a week or two in a plant, the TPA
demonstrates the value of working with our
company,” said Program Manager Blake
Schomas. “It is the primary tool we use
to showcase the benefits of collaboration
between Water & Process Services, Food
& Beverage and Pest Elimination, and the
value delivered through our integrated
solutions. In this way, our customers realize
the differentiation from this combined
effort that only Ecolab can provide.”
Tim Christopher
Total Plant Assessment
Team Leader
Sludge Management
Food Production
These intrepid Ecolab associates — experts
in cleaning and sanitation, water and
wastewater treatment and pest elimination
— are the force behind a special offering
for select customers called Total Plant
Assessment (TPA).
These golden nuggets can add up:
An assessment can uncover up to
$1 million in repeatable annual savings
— a nd opportunities to cut water use by
30 percent and energy costs by 25 percent.
Since the program’s inception in 2007,
the TPA team estimates it has identified
10 billion gallons of potential water savings
each year.
Tim Barnhouse
Total Plant Assessment
Team Leader
Slicer
Belts
Chiller
Fryer
Cooling Towers
Seasoning
Packaging
Shipping
15
PICTURE YOUR IMPACT Photo Contest Winners
SEE THE WINNERS
More than 400 associates
from around the world
entered the Impact
photo contest, showing
where we work, live and
have fun and how we
make the world cleaner,
safer and healthier.
Here are the winners, as
selected by our fellow
associates.
See all of the top
submissions at
impact.ecolab.com.
16
Family holiday
in the Philippines
Ivana Ohajdova
Business Operations,
The Netherlands
Chairs for a school
devastated by a typhoon
Albert Samuela
Enterprise Excellence,
Philippines
Night’s lights in Tokyo
Kimio Wadayama
Water & Process
Services, Japan
View on the way
to work in Rome
Claudia Del Gaudio
Facilities, Italy
17