Murata Electronics Certified to ISO 14001
31 January 2000
Murata Electronics Certified to ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard
STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--Jan. 31, 2000--Commitment By Meeting Voluntary Requirements
Murata Electronics North America ( http://www.murata.com ), a world-leading innovator in electronics, today announced that its State College, Pennsylvania manufacturing facility is certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard.
Murata was audited by a third party registrar, Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), and was found to meet the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard. Murata produces ceramic capacitors and other electronic components at its State College plant, which employs about 1000 people.
ISO 14001 is a voluntary international standard that establishes basic requirements for an environmental management system. By implementing this system, Murata has demonstrated its commitment to the environment by:
-- Eliminating the use of ozone depleting chemicals and chlorinated solvents from our manufacturing processes and replaced them with more environmentally friendly chemicals.
-- Implementing a number of measures to reduce the amount of wastewater generated from manufacturing processes.
-- Installing emission control devices on kilns and plating lines to minimize emissions to air outside of our plant.
-- Recycling over 200,000 pounds of cardboard, 35,000 pounds of office paper and 2000 pounds of aluminum cans, each year.
-- Recycling wood waste (>100,000 pounds/year) through a company that grinds up wood and turns it into mulch.
-- Recycling ceramic material back into manufacturing process.
"Achieving ISO 14001 registration is evidence that Murata's priority is protecting the environment as well as the health and safety of our employees and surrounding community," said Takeshi Egawa, Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing for Murata Electronics North America. "Murata will continue to strive for excellence as a manufacturer and a corporate citizen."
Worldwide, 27 Murata facilities are registered to the ISO 14001 standard. In addition to ISO 14001, Murata's State College facility has been previously registered to the ISO 9001 international quality standard and the QS 9000 quality standard for suppliers to the automotive industry.
About Murata Electronics North America
Murata Electronics North America, Inc. (www.murata.com) is one of 47 wholly-owned subsidiaries of the worldwide organization of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. of Japan (NIKKEI:6981). Established in 1965, U.S operations are headquartered in Smyrna, Georgia, with a manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. Murata is a leading patent holder and global manufacturer of ceramic electronic components for the telecommunications, computer/peripheral, automotive, communications and EDP markets.