CASE STUDY – Engineering VOC Control and Unlocking $350,000+ in Incentives

A flexographic packaging manufacturer serving the food and candy markets was preparing for production expansion. Higher production rates meant increased process exhaust and VOC emissions.

The facility needed to meet permitting requirements without an oversized, energy-intensive system. VOC capture, plant air quality, operating costs, and future growth were critical.

The goal was to operate efficiently as production changed.

The Engineering Approach

Ship & Shore Environmental started with the process not a standard equipment size.

Our engineering team evaluated equipment, airflow, operating conditions, production requirements, and VOC sources to establish collection and abatement requirements.

The result was a custom engineered Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) and VOC collection system designed around the facility’s operation.

Key engineering elements included:

• Custom RTO capacity for planned expansion.
• Optimized collection and ductwork for improved VOC capture.
• Variable airflow operation to match production demand.
• Regenerative heat recovery to reduce natural-gas consumption.
• Automated controls for changing process conditions.
• Integration with existing plant infrastructure.

The RTO was engineered as part of the facility’s overall exhaust strategy, not simply as a stand-alone compliance device.

The Results

The project delivered expansion capacity while addressing energy, operational, and financial goals.

Compliance: Designed to meet applicable permit and emissions control requirements.

VOC Capture: Process specific collection helped minimize fugitive VOC releases within the facility.

Energy Efficiency: Regenerative heat recovery and airflow optimization helped reduce unnecessary natural gas and fan-energy consumption.

Production Flexibility: The system was designed to respond to changing production conditions rather than operate continuously at maximum capacity.

$350,000+ Utility Incentives: The project qualified for more than $350,000 in utility incentives, helping offset the customer’s capital investment.

More Than Emissions Control

For this manufacturer, expansion was an opportunity to make VOC abatement part of the production strategy not simply another compliance requirement.

By integrating capture, airflow, thermal oxidation, controls, energy use, and future capacity, Ship & Shore designed a system for today’s operation and future growth.

When production grows, your emissions strategy should be ready to grow with it.