CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes American Atelier, Inc. (AAI) as a Founding Sponsor. AAI is committed to manufacturing furniture products with the most environmentally friendly technology in an efficient and responsible manner while maintaining high standards of excellence. Four generations of ownership at AAI have demonstrated the company’s commitment to excellence by continuously improving its manufacturing processes since its founding in 1920.
AAI sources raw materials through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Its manufacturing process uses water-based adhesives, finishing solvents and stains. The company also uses recycled materials as specified by its customers without compromising workmanship and durability, while promoting improved local air quality with lower chemical emissions.
Each piece of furniture is hand-wrapped using recycled paper and reusable blankets that are returned to AAI after each delivery. This eliminates cardboard and plastic waste, labor costs to unpack, and the cost of dumpsters. AAI’s suppliers are located within a 500-mile radius of its Allentown, Pa. manufacturing location. All manufacturing is done at this location. AAI is located within 500 miles of 38 percent of the North American population including all of New England, New York City, Philadelphia, the greater D.C. market, Montreal, etc. The company’s delivery process supports fuel conservation by scheduling back hauls for every new product delivery.
AAI heats its 160,000-square-foot factory and 40,000-square-foot warehouse by utilizing its own wood waste materials as an alternative to fossil fuels. It is currently working with Weyerhaeuser to source wood from a regenerated forest, and it uses water-based finishes as well as glue deemed appropriate for LEED products.
New York Show Presence
At the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS), held November 11 to 13 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, AAI will introduce an all green furniture concept that uses Lyptus hardwood veneers made from Eucalyptus trees in Brazil. The new green furniture features a vanity with both granite and mirrored tops, two glass sinks and drawers in a harlequin design showing off the versatility of the fast growing wood. It is said to grow 90 feet in just four years. Lyptus can be finished to mimic the look and grain of fine hardwoods including Mahogany, all at competitive prices according to Jim DeCamp, director of sales for AAI.
“Lyptus conforms to the control, color and quality of any other wood we use in our plant,” he said. “Lyptus is reportedly harder and denser than many other fine woods and is fast growing.”
The Lyptus veneer is laid up with water soluble ‘green’ moisture resistant glue without formaldehyde and is provided with recyclable packaging, retrieved from the site by AAI. The furniture also utilizes Lyptus particleboard.
AAI is registered with the NEWH Green Initiative and works to promote efficient operation and negative environmental impact. To learn more, go to American Atelier, Inc., call (610) 439-4040, or e-mail Jim DeCamp at jdecamppa@aol.com.
