Behr Iron and Steel has won the 2010 John Deere Supplier of the Year award, according to Recyclingtoday.com.

The company was given the honor after partnering with Deere's Construction and Forestry Division to develop and put into action new management processes to enhance the efficiency of their operation. They won the award over 1,000 other indirect material suppliers that were eligible.

“John Deere challenges its suppliers to continuously improve, meet challenges on the fly and add value,” William Bremner, Behr's president, said in a statement. “It’s also keen on reducing its costs and environmental footprint. This very prestigious award is proof that our partnership with Deere is producing significant results in all of these categories.”

In addition to the plan with the construction and forestry department, Behr also dedicated significant resources to help meet stringent environmental guidelines at Deere plants in Dubuque and Davenport, Iowa, according to the news source.

Deere also noted that the company's help in the John Deere Cost Reduction Opportunities Process resulted in a yearly savings of $150,000 in 2010.