Da-Lite In Compliance After Brush With IDEM
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
An unscheduled Indiana Department of Environmental Management inspection at Da-Lite Screen Co. in Warsaw last year resulted in fines of $67,000.
Da-Lite Screen has corrected the problems, according to Al Khatibi, vice president of engineering, and is paying the fine in installments.
Despite published reports the company is not experiencing financial difficulties and Khatibi wanted to clear up a number of things in a telephone interview Tuesday.
"Paying in installments is an option that is available and we tried to take advantage of it," he said of a recent $14,000 payment.
"The other issue is about a payment being past due and our records show everything has been paid properly and on time. We have a call to IDEM to clarify those two issues."
Calls made to IDEM enforcement case manager Deirdre Wyatt were not returned. Wyatt reportedly commented on the company's financial status.
"This statement was most unfortunate. The payment was made on time and Da-Lite is in a very healthy situation," Khatibi said. "We're proud of our financial standing and really don't see why that was ever said."
He added that the company has corrected all violations and has resolved all the labeling and handling of hazardous materials to IDEM's satisfaction.
"We agreed to do things exactly as they like, settle the issue and move on," he said.
IDEM found violations in the labeling, handling and disposal of chemicals and regulated material at the Warsaw plant.
Another violation regarded an additive that had slightly higher levels of hazardous chemicals than new recommendations allow. It has been replaced with another solution.
There were no dangers to employees or the community cited in the IDEM report.
According to Tim Coulom, an IDEM spokesman with the Office of Media Communications, IDEM has no access to financial records.
"Their financial situation has no bearing on enforcement," Coulom said. "Their finances were never a consideration because we don't know what they are."
Paying fines in installments is a common practice, he said.
"It was an enforcement action against them," he said. "They (Da-Lite) did what needed to be done to be brought into compliance. A payment plan was established and they have met all requirements."
Wyatt has reportedly contacted Da-Lite CEO, Rich Lundin, to explain her statements. IDEM has not issued an apology.
Da-Lite, established in 1909 in Chicago, employs more than 300 people in Warsaw, where it relocated its headquarters in 1957. The company is the world's largest presentation product manufacturer, which includes overhead projection screens, lecterns, home theaters and conference room screens. [[In-content Ad]]
An unscheduled Indiana Department of Environmental Management inspection at Da-Lite Screen Co. in Warsaw last year resulted in fines of $67,000.
Da-Lite Screen has corrected the problems, according to Al Khatibi, vice president of engineering, and is paying the fine in installments.
Despite published reports the company is not experiencing financial difficulties and Khatibi wanted to clear up a number of things in a telephone interview Tuesday.
"Paying in installments is an option that is available and we tried to take advantage of it," he said of a recent $14,000 payment.
"The other issue is about a payment being past due and our records show everything has been paid properly and on time. We have a call to IDEM to clarify those two issues."
Calls made to IDEM enforcement case manager Deirdre Wyatt were not returned. Wyatt reportedly commented on the company's financial status.
"This statement was most unfortunate. The payment was made on time and Da-Lite is in a very healthy situation," Khatibi said. "We're proud of our financial standing and really don't see why that was ever said."
He added that the company has corrected all violations and has resolved all the labeling and handling of hazardous materials to IDEM's satisfaction.
"We agreed to do things exactly as they like, settle the issue and move on," he said.
IDEM found violations in the labeling, handling and disposal of chemicals and regulated material at the Warsaw plant.
Another violation regarded an additive that had slightly higher levels of hazardous chemicals than new recommendations allow. It has been replaced with another solution.
There were no dangers to employees or the community cited in the IDEM report.
According to Tim Coulom, an IDEM spokesman with the Office of Media Communications, IDEM has no access to financial records.
"Their financial situation has no bearing on enforcement," Coulom said. "Their finances were never a consideration because we don't know what they are."
Paying fines in installments is a common practice, he said.
"It was an enforcement action against them," he said. "They (Da-Lite) did what needed to be done to be brought into compliance. A payment plan was established and they have met all requirements."
Wyatt has reportedly contacted Da-Lite CEO, Rich Lundin, to explain her statements. IDEM has not issued an apology.
Da-Lite, established in 1909 in Chicago, employs more than 300 people in Warsaw, where it relocated its headquarters in 1957. The company is the world's largest presentation product manufacturer, which includes overhead projection screens, lecterns, home theaters and conference room screens. [[In-content Ad]]