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Benchmade Awarded Prestigious LEED-EB: O&M Gold Certification Green Award
First Manufacturing Company in Oregon to Achieve This Level.

Benchmade Knives

OREGON CITY, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)-The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Benchmade Knife Company with Gold Certification LEED EB: O&M for their facility in Oregon City, Oregon.

This award represents an extensive effort by Benchmade to adhere to a number of environmentally rigorous standards. Benchmade is the first Oregon manufacturing company to achieve this highly esteemed Gold Certification.

“Our entire workforce played a role in helping us get LEED Gold,” says Les de Asis, Founder and CEO of Benchmade. “These efforts will payoff in terms of both reducing our environmental impact as well as improving our bottom line.”

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system. The system identifies best practices for buildings in the areas of energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable grounds, healthy indoor air quality, and environmentally friendly materials. LEED EB: O&M certification, otherwise known as LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, identifies and rewards current best practices and provides an outline for buildings to use less energy, water, and natural resources, improve indoor environment, and uncover operating inefficiencies.

“LEED certification identifies Benchmade Knife Company as a pioneering example of sustainable design and demonstrates their leadership in transforming the building industry” commented S. Richard Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chairman, US Green Building Council.

To attain LEED EB: O&M, a building must address five broad categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, and indoor environmental quality. Benchmade discovered innovative ways to improve the efficiency of their building, including:

• installed economizer on all HVAC units controlling and reducing emissions for office environments
• installed ENERGY STAR™, White PVC Versiflex roof
• installed T5HO4 Lamp fixtures for operation general lighting, resulting in annually saving of 51,073 kWh, 88% Return on Investment (ROI), estimated by Energy Trust of Oregon
  installed ultra water saver faucet aerator (0.5 gpm @ 60psi)
  monitoring and controlling industrial water
  reduce, reuse, recycle materials

“Taking the necessary steps to achieve LEED Gold Certification was not easy, but it’s wonderful to be acknowledged for our efforts” said John Ciorba, Benchmade’s Facilities and Maintenance Manager.

Benchmade was assisted on the project by Green Building Services, a comprehensive sustainable development consulting firm. To date, Green Building Services has managed the certification of more than 350 LEED projects worldwide.

The Gold certified 50,400 square-foot manufacturing facility is located at the Benchmade headquarters in Oregon City, Oregon. Benchmade expects a financial return on their investment in attaining LEED Gold within two years, perhaps sooner.

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Benchmade Knife Company Wins 2011 Knife of the Year
Model 915 Triage Captures Third Straight Knife of the Year Award

Benchmade Knives

OREGON CITY, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)- The Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence presented its 2011 Knife of the Year Award to Benchmade Knife Company for the model 915 Triage™. The awards were presented during the Shooting Industry Masters event on July 22 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This was the 20 anniversary of the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.

“The Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Knife of the Year award is extremely meaningful to Benchmade,” says Les de Asis, CEO and Founder of Benchmade Knife Company.

“We are very honored to receive this award because it not only recognizes our high-quality American-made products, but also the dedication and hard work of our employees.”

Benchmade Knife Company Model 915 Triage Knife

The 915 Triage is an excellent utility tool, featuring a folding knife, a safety hook and a carbide tip glass breaker. Built with Benchmade’s patented AXIS locking mechanism, this knife uses N680 corrosion resistant blade steel and has textured G10 handle scales available in orange or black. It’s the first time ever that Benchmade has manufactured a multi-functional tool. Unlike any other product in the Benchmade line, this tool offers multiple uses and variations. For more information on the 915 Triage, please visit: www.benchmade.com/915

Benchmade has won Knife of the Year for three consecutive years and eleven times since 1998 when the category was introduced. Previous Benchmade Knife of the Year winners include 741 Onslaught (2010), 585 Mini-Barrage (2009), 610 Rukus (2006), 425 Gravitator (2005), 921 Switchback (2003), 556 Mini-Griptilian (2002), 690 Elishewitz (2001), 720 Mel Pardue (2000), 710 McHenry & Williams (1999), and the 910 Stryker (1998). For more information on previous winners, please visit: www.benchmade.com/shooting_industry

For a recap of all winners at the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence, please visit: www.shootingindustry.com

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