Michigan Manufacturer Cuts PPE Costs With Reusable Gear Program
An automotive supplier saved $700,000 and slashed landfill waste by partnering with Libra Industries to wash and reuse protective equipment.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Sep 03, 2026
Managing personal protective equipment presents an ongoing operational expense for industrial manufacturers, but a new approach to gear management is helping one Michigan facility curb both overhead and landfill waste.
Thai Summit America, an automotive stamping and assembly manufacturer employing nearly 900 workers across three shifts, partnered with Libra Industries to launch a targeted PPE cleaning and recycling initiative. By professionally cleaning, inspecting and reissuing items such as safety gloves rather than discarding them after a single use, the facility extended the operational lifespan of its protective gear four to five times.
The operational shift yielded approximately $707,000 in documented cost savings for Thai Summit America in 2025 alone.
The process relies on a standardized system where dirty gear is processed, evaluated for safety compliance and returned to active service. Facilities participating in the program receive tracking metrics to monitor direct financial savings and environmental impacts, offering clear data to support broader sustainability efforts.
Nearly 200 companies nationwide have adopted similar gear-restoration programs to mitigate rising material expenses. As industrial facilities balance strict worker safety mandates with heightened environmental expectations, commercial recycling and cleaning models offer a scalable strategy to lower the total cost of equipment ownership without increasing risk.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is Assistant Editor of EPOnline.com.