Hacha Products Corp. (Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise)
Hacha Products Corp. attended a Supplier Diversity event in 2016. After meeting with Nicor Gas’ environmental group, the eco-friendly industrial products distributor developed a customized plan to remediate groundwater on-site at Nicor Gas’ storage facilities.
Previously, groundwater removed during the natural gas withdrawal from the aquifers was being shipped to a separate treatment location. But Hacha listened to the problem, saw an opportunity and created a solution, remediating 25,000 gallons of water on-site in 2017 in a pilot project. Now in 2018, Hacha is making a proposal to increase the on-site water remediation at all of Nicor Gas’ storage facilities.
After further discussions with Nicor Gas’ environmental group, minority- and women-owned business enterprise Hacha developed another creative solution for pipeline construction crews, who were experiencing problems with overheating equipment during small-bore directional drilling.
Dubbed Hacha Verde MUD SNOT, Hacha developed a dry polymer that mixes with water to create a “green” lubricant for drills that reduces rotational torque, which in turn reduces wear and tear on equipment, shortens maintenance downtime and lowers repair and replacement costs. And because it has been tested as a drinking water safe additive there is no environmental impact. Nicor Gas’ Prime Partner, NPL, tested the drilling fluid additive with great success and the product is now widely used by Nicor Gas’ crews.
“When there is a problem, the Supplier Diversity team takes an active role in making sure the right questions are asked and the right connections are made to move forward, if possible, and where it makes sense,” said Kimberly Meek, Hacha Products Corp.’s founder and owner. “That’s a big difference between Nicor Gas and other companies with Supplier Diversity goals.
“Without the significant efforts of the Supplier Diversity team, those conversations would have gotten lost in the shuffle because we’re a small company,” she said. “These are significant opportunities for us, for our business and for our employees.”
Hacha Products Corp.’s water remediation trailer on-site at a Nicor Gas storage facility; and progressive samples of groundwater during the remediation process.