Fisher Barton Celebrates Earth Day with Water Conservation Initiatives and Receives 2025 John Deere Sustainability Award
Watertown, WI — Earth Day, April 22, 2025 — In recognition of Earth Day and its ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, Fisher Barton is proud to announce it has received the 2025 John Deere Sustainability Award for its innovative water reclamation initiative that saved 6,754,900 gallons of water saved annually at its Blades and Specialty Products manufacturing plants.
At Fisher Barton, sustainability is more than a value—it is a driver of continuous improvement across operations. “At Fisher Barton, our commitment to sustainability drives us to innovate and implement projects that significantly reduce our environmental footprint,” said Scott Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer. “Receiving the 2025 John Deere Sustainability Award highlights how responsible manufacturing and operational innovation can create lasting environmental and business benefits.”
Water Reclamation Project Overview
Prior to implementation of the project, Fisher Barton’s heat treat operations required a continuous supply of fresh water to maintain rinse tanks at both facilities. To significantly reduce water consumption, Fisher Barton engineered a closed‑loop water recycling solution designed to reclaim and reuse process water rather than rely on continuous fresh‑water input.
Key elements of the system include:
- Cooling process water in a dedicated holding tank to return temperatures to a usable range
- Re‑injecting cooled water into the quench system, minimizing the need for fresh water
- Recycling remaining water back into the rinse tanks to maximize reuse
- Installing flow‑restricting orifices on the input side to stabilize temperatures and prevent unintended increases in flow
“This project challenged us to rethink how water moves through a critical manufacturing process,” said Len Anhold, Director of Operations Excellence, Automation, EHS & Sustainability, Fisher Barton. “The result was a solution that dramatically reduced water usage while maintaining performance and reliability across our heat treat operations.”
Measured Impact & Results
The water reclamation project delivered exceptional, measurable results:
- 98% reduction in rinse water consumption
- 6,754,900 gallons of water saved annually
- $79,480 in annual cost savings
These outcomes reflect Fisher Barton’s ability to identify high‑impact sustainability opportunities and implement practical solutions that deliver long‑term value.
Sustainability in Action—Today and Tomorrow
By dramatically reducing water usage, this initiative demonstrates Fisher Barton’s commitment to protecting natural resources, supporting the communities in which it operates, and continuously improving its environmental performance.
“Earth Day is an important reminder that sustainability is an ongoing responsibility,” Hoffman added. “We remain committed to investing in solutions that protect the environment while strengthening our operations and delivering value to customers like John Deere.”
Fisher Barton will continue exploring and implementing sustainable practices that benefit both its business and the environment. For more information about Fisher Barton visit www.fisherbarton.com.
