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We thought you would like to know that we are trying to do our part to leave a little bit less of a carbon footprint on the world. And we are glad our manufacturers are also trying to leave less of a footprint. Together, if we all keep working on this, we can make a difference. So, although it is baby steps right now, here are some of the things we are doing:
1) Our 3 largest color companies - Mayco, Amaco and Duncan have gone non-toxic. They have been working on converting leaded glazes to non-toxic for a few years now - not an easy task! - and as of March 2009, will no longer produce any leaded products. They have been able to convert many, if not most, of their most popular lead glazes to non-toxic, but alas, there are some that defy being converted due to the very chemicals and minerals that make those colors. Those are simply being completely discontinued. Lead in ceramic glazes made the glaze ‘move out’ and made the process of glazing and firing with good results an easier job. Studios, shops, potters, finished ware producers will do well to begin testing NOW as they will have a learning curve with the new unleaded and non-toxic glazes. Don’t wait until the last minute to begin experimenting with the new glazes and then end up with impossible deadlines and unacceptable finished pieces. We are delighted that the color companies have taken this initiative. We also know we have quite a road ahead of us over the next year or two as we work to help our customers with the conversions and glazing and firing techniques for best results.
2) Our kiln manufacturers are also working diligently to improve their warehouses, offices and production capabilities - analyzing and assessing how they can make a difference - and have made great inroads. Paragon Kilns has converted their lighting in the their warehouses and offices to more energy efficient and green solutions. Read more on the Paragon web site.
3) Here in our offices, showroom, classrooms and warehouses, we too, have taken steps to help the environment and cut down on costs such as recycling glass, metal and plastic. We use fans to help cool rather than turning down the temperatures on the air conditioners. We shred papers and use for packing materials when we can or recycle the paper into notepads. As packing boxes come in, we reuse those to pack for our customers. When we have to buy new boxes, we buy only ones made from recycled paper. We use energy efficient light bulbs wherever possible in all areas of our business. We do not print annual catalogs that go out of date each year and end up in the trash. Instead we use our web sites, manufacturer’s web sites, CD’s, DVD’s and manufacturer’s catalogs whenever possible to reduce waste. Our delivery schedules are set up to minimize wasting gas.
We encourage our customers to look for ways they, too, can recycle and conserve energy whenever and wherever possible. Have some great ideas? E-mail us and let us know - we will post your ideas and suggestions and tips on our Ceramics Going Green part of our site.
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American Ceramic Supply Company has been servicing the ceramic industry for over 35 years. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, American Ceramic Supply Company services and supplies ceramic equipment and supplies to traditional ceramic shops, paint your own pottery studios, ceramic potters, art teachers and art educators, ceramic and pottery finished ware producers, ceramic and pottery home based hobbyists. American Ceramic Supply Company provides education, training and consulting services to traditional ceramic shops, paint your own pottery studios, potters, art teachers and art educators, ceramic and pottery finished ware producers and home based hobbyists. American Ceramic Supply also educates and assists the architects, contractors, builders and electricians for our customers as they create their ceramic shops, paint your own pottery studios, ceramic rooms in their new schools and buildings and in their homes.
American Ceramic Supply Company has been selling and servicing ceramic, pottery and glass kiln for over 35 years including Paragon Kilns, Skutt Kilns, Amaco/Excel Kilns, Shimpo Kilns, and Olympic Kilns. American has been selling and servicing potter’s wheels including Creative Industries Pottery Wheels, Shimpo Pottery Wheels, Amaco and Brent Pottery Wheels, Pacifica Pottery Wheels and has added Thomas Stuart Pottery Wheels as Skutt Kilns has taken over this in demand pottery wheel line. American Ceramics also offers pottery equipment and supplies from such major brands as Lehman Pouring Equipment, Northstar Pottery Equipment, Laguna Pottery Equipment and Supplies, Amaco and Brent Pottery Equipment and Supplies including pugmills, slab rollers, potter’s stools, banding wheels, ware carts, extruders, slip pouring tables and slip pouring mixers and slip pouring reclaimers.
American Ceramics is a master distributor and education center for Mayco Colors and Glazes and Mayco Bisque, Duncan Ceramic Colors, Glazes and Duncan 04 Bisque offering almost 1000 designs in properly fired ceramic bisque or pottery bisque to home based hobbyists, traditional ceramic shops, paint your own pottery studios and art teachers and educators. From functional bisque to kid’s bisque, home decor bisque and seasonal ceramic bisque, American Ceramics stands behind the exceptional quality of the Mayco Bisque and Duncan Bisque lines. Having properly fired, clean and durable ceramic bisque is critical to American Ceramics on-going customer satisfaction.
American Ceramic Supply Company is the parent company of American Glass Supply Company and The Pottery Consultant. American Glass Supply Company offers COE96 sheet glass, glass molds, glass fusing tools, glass fusing jewelry accessories, Dichroic glass, glass fusing classes and is a glass education center. American Glass Supply Co. also offers a vast array of glass kilns including Paragon Glass Kilns, Skutt Glass Kilns, Olympic Glass Kilns, Shimpo Glass Kilns and Amaco Glass Kilns. Glass kilns such as the Paragon Janus Glass Kilns, Paragon Ovation Glass Kilns, Paragon SC Series Glass kilns, Paragon Caldera and Coffin Glass Kilns, Skutt Glass Master Kilns - Skutt Hot Start Pro Kilns and Firebox Glass Kilns and Top Loading and Coffin Glass Kilns.
The Pottery Consultant has helped open almost 400 paint your own pottery studios - whether as a storefront or home-based - all over the world. From business plans, startup budgets, cash flow projections, leases and floor plans, education and training for ceramic equipment and supplies, ceramic bisque, glass fusing, resourcing for fixtures, marketing materials and web sites, marketing and advertising and on-going technical and marketing support, The Pottery Consultant aids paint your own pottery studios in their on-going success as ceramic and pottery businesses. The Pottery Consultant is an innovative trend setter and the number one consultant in the ceramic industry to paint your own pottery studios.
American Ceramic Supply Company continues to sell, service, educate and provide on-going marketing and technical support to the ceramic and pottery industry. Our goals are the best customer service we can possibly offer, generosity of information to our customers so that they can succeed and accomplish their ceramic dreams and desires and doing the right thing by God and Country.
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