| Profile: Kelly-Springfield Tire Freeport Plant |
The Kelly-Springfield Tire Company's Freeport plant will build an on-site electrical cogeneration system to produce its own electricity. The project will cost over $10 million and will be completed in late 1996.
"This project requires the addition of approximately 4,800 square-feet of floor space, which will be adjacent to the existing power house on the north side of the plant," Freeport Plant Manager Don Tusher said. The new structure will house three gas fired turbines capable of producing enough electricity to furnish up to 90 percent of the plant's requirements on a seven-day basis.
"In the competitive world market we find ourselves in today, every cost-savings move must be taken. Since gas prices are more competitive and since we can lock in prices for a much longer period of time, this makes economic sense," Tusher said.
Steam produced by the cogeneration system will be used by the plant in the tire manufacturing process. The combined production of steam and electricity will be achieved at a higher efficiency rate than present systems. The system will be installed by Solar Turbines Company, a San Diego based subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc.
Jim Shumaker, Freeport Plant Engineering Manager, has been involved with the cogeneration plans from the beginning. Shumaker's division is responsible for the project and will operate the system when it is completed.