The new facility is well organized on a tight footprint. Watts Water is a global company
with headquarters in North Andover, Mass. It employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide serving wholesale and retail buyers as well as original equipment manufacturers. Te Frank- lin, N.H., campus is its largest North American manufacturing plant. “Tis is a site we believe in and
have invested a lot of money in,” said David Coghlan, CEO. “It’s a major transition for our industry and our company.”
Built to be Contaminant Free On January 4, 2014, the federal
“Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act” will go into effect. It updates earlier U.S. legislation regu- lating the amount of lead in pipes, fittings and fixtures that are used to convey water for human consump- tion. Te act redefines “lead-free” to products not containing more than 0.2% lead in solder and flux, and not more than a weighted average of 0.25% lead in wetted surfaces of pipes, fittings and fixtures. Products for non-potable uses are exempt, as
are existing installed plumbing com- ponents for potable water. “Many of our products already met the new standard, but more than half of all the products we make had to be transitioned to lead-free for this year,” said Coghlan. “Tis is a huge change that affects the way we pour, cast, machine and identify thousands of our U.S. products.” By constructing a brand new
facility, Watts Water eliminated the possibility of cross-contamination of materials. Te original plant will continue to produce parts that are not required to meet the new lead-free regulation. It currently supplies cast- ings made from copper-based alloys.
Te plant manufactures and assembles commercial temperature and pres- sure relief valves, backflow prevention devices, water pressure reducing valves and tempering valves for the Watts, Powers and FEBCO brands within the Watts Water family of companies. ISO certified since 1994, it is implementing continuous improvement operating systems based on Lean, Six Sigma and Kaizen principles. Te Franklin campus also houses a 43,000-sq.-ft. regional distribution center. A major driver in the move to build
the new plant in New Hampshire was the company’s decision to better control costs, quality and inventory by bringing lead-free manufacturing
By constructing a brand new facility, Watts eliminated the possibility of
cross-contamination of materials. October 2013 MODERN CASTING | 21
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