Optimus Energy Solutions, SS Designs Power New Solar Array

The floor of SS Designs’ 100,000-square-foot warehouse is filled with high-tech machinery, pushing out thousands of pieces of apparel a day for some of the world’s biggest-known brands.

However, with the company’s offshore competition using much cheaper labor, Cindy Zimmerman, the company’s president & CEO, constantly looks for unique ways to lower the expenses of the 45-year-old family business in Winter Haven.

This week, she turned to Optimus Energy Solutions to launch a significant solar array on the facility’s roof. The system will produce 100 percent of the energy used by the manufacturer each year.

“This opportunity was truly unexpected when we started this journey, but now that we are powered by this system, we are glad we invested in solar,” Zimmerman says. “Anything we can do to remain competitive and sustain our company for the next 45 years is a tremendously positive advancement.”

The system covers nearly the entire roof of the facility with nearly 1,200 solar panels. It’s tied into the energy grid, so it electrifies the facility during the daytime and feeds energy into the overall grid during the weekends when SS Designs is closed.

SS Designs utilized a Rural Energy for America Program grant, along with additional tax credits to help offset its investment. At nearly $1 million, the REAP grant used for this project is believed to be one of the largest in Florida. The total cost of the system is undisclosed.

“Throughout the country, businesses are finding very unique ways to find the resources to match and exceed their investments in energy infrastructure,” says Ben Pauluhn, president & founder, Optimus Energy Solutions. “In addition, these projects are an investment in our communities and Florida, as these dollars stay in our state for the long-term versus being paid out of state for other types of power that we need to import.”

Another important aspect of this installation is that it helps SS Designs’ customers reach their sustainability goals, a key metric for multinational corporations competing on a worldwide scale.

“Frankly, our customers look for supplier partners like us to find ways to become more sustainable in our operations,” Zimmerman says. “While this cuts expenses, it also pairs with other programs that can be simple for many businesses, like switching to energy-efficient light bulbs.”

In addition to the solar array, SS Designs looked throughout their operations and have:

• Introduced a cardboard baler to recycle and monetize cardboard waste.
• Deployed a custom ERP system to streamline and manage workflows efficiently.
• Utilized screen cleaner machines for environmentally friendly cleaning.
• Upgraded to higher-efficiency dryers.