Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. has honored two companies in the region for completing plant improvements that increase energy efficiency, reduce air emissions and enable the companies to produce more.

Victaulic Company of America installed larger, more efficient electric furnaces for melting metal at its Alburtis plant in Lehigh County. The new furnaces more than double the capacity of the Alburtis plant and enable Victaulic to meet the rapidly increasing demand for its threadless couplings, which are used in fire-protection systems.

Benton Foundry in Columbia County replaced a coke-fired furnace with two cleaner, more efficient electric induction furnaces for melting metal as part of a major plant expansion. The foundry has more than doubled its metal production and is able to add jobs as a result.

PP&L's Raymond F. Suhocki, vice president-Delivery Services & Economic Development, presented certificates to officials of both companies.

"Electric furnaces are more energy-efficient than older, fossil-fuel furnaces and enable foundries to reduce their environmental impact," Suhocki said. "PP&L is working with the metals industry to provide services and solutions that help foundries grow and compete in the world market."