Direct Waterjet Inc

Direct Waterjet Inc. Harnesses Renewable Energy to Run their OMAX Model 5555

A small precision cutting shop in Union, Illinois will install a 50-kilowatt wind turbine to power their recently acquired OMAX JetMachining^® Center Model 5555. Direct Waterjet Inc. owners Trudianne Temple and Bill Wawak discovered that running a future green precision cutting shop attracts local clients from a variety of industries.

Temple originally looked into abrasive waterjet technology for her shop to cut intricate glass designs. Whenever she and Wawak mentioned their green business strategy to potential customers, they realized their unique services fit into their customers' business plans as well.

"People are excited that we are doing a manufacturing process with renewable energy," Temple said. "That by itself is helping us get new customers."

Two of their current customers are actually local, independent wind turbine designers. Temple and Wawak cut aluminum blades, aluminum base plates, mounting devices, and pivot components with their OMAX for them. They also received a special prototype request to cut a gap into donut-shaped metal transformer pieces. The designer planned to construct a magnet-style wind generator and the gaps would house the permanent magnets.

Illinois experiences medium-to-low wind year round. Direct Waterjet Inc. just needs six mile per hour winds to generate enough electricity to run their Model 5555. A 120-foot wind generator, an Entegrity EW50, will be connected to part of a 3-phase electrical system supplying 480 VAC power into their shop.

Their shop's electrical system will still be tied to the grid system. So if there isn't enough wind to generate electricity, they can still get power from the state utility company. However, if Direct Waterjet Inc. does not use as much electricity, they feed their electricity back into the grid - and the utility company pays them.

Temple and Wawak are currently harnessing solar energy to run the shop lights, heating, air conditioning, air compressors, hand power tools, and other equipment. However, solar cells will not conduct enough power to run larger equipment, such as a JetMachining Center. Fortunately, a solution is on the way. Although their wind turbine installation has been delayed for six months, they said the wind energy application process has been worth the good fight. By summer 2009, they will have a fully operational wind generator to run their OMAX.

"We have new opportunities every week," Temple said about future precision cutting projects. "When you provide a good product, and you provide good service, and you’re reasonably priced, people are coming out of the woodwork. The companies and job shops that came before us definitely laid the ground work and helped educate the public on what abrasive waterjet machining is and what it can do."

Location: Union, Illinois
Specializes in: Supporting the manufacturing and creative communities through green precision cutting
Founded: 2008
Website: www.directwaterjet.com