Feb. 1, 2013—Nissan Motor Co. this week initiated production at a new advanced paint plant in Smyrna, Tenn., which the company said includes new technology that will reduce production costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Nissan said the new plant is its most advanced paint plant in the world. The facility debuted a new three-wet paint process that applies all three paint layers in succession before vehicles go in the oven. Previous processes required vehicles to bake between the primer application and the topcoat layers.
The facility sets new standards for quality, efficiency and environmental impacts, Nissan said. Implementation of the new paint technology is expected to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent, carbon emissions by 30 percent, and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by 70 percent. The company said the technology will also increase production efficiency while reducing costs.
The 250,000-square-foot plant is located adjacent to Nissan's existing vehicle assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn., and replaces the company’s previous paint system that has been in service for nearly 30 years.
"Nissan is committed to increase energy efficiency as we reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing the highest quality vehicles sold in North America," said Susan Brennan, vice president of manufacturing for Nissan. "These efforts align with our global strategies of zero-emission leadership and corporate social responsibility to employees, stakeholders and customers."
Nissan said the plant is its "Showcase Project" as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Better Plants Challenge, through which Nissan has committed to reduce energy intensity in its three U.S. plants by 25 percent by 2020.
Development of the plant was also part of Nissan's global environmental initiative, the Nissan Green Program 2016. The effort focuses on reducing environmental impacts of corporate activities by promoting the application of innovative green technologies, energy management and fuel-efficient vehicles.
