Cause and Effect: Increased Efficiency in the Plating Industry Benefits the Automobile Industry

The motor vehicle industry in the U.S. spends approximately $3.6 billion on energy annually (Galitsky and Worrell, 2003). The rising cost of electricity and natural gas will continue to contribute to the rising costs of manufacturing automobiles. This energy cost increase, which also affects the plating industry, is passed on to the automobile industry and subsequently the customer-the auto buyer. Energy efficiency and waste minimization improvements targeted at the plating industry will dampen this effect and increase the competitiveness of domestic auto manufacturers.