Product category:
Cleaning media and cleaning systems
News Release from: SAFECHEM Europe | Subject: Trichloroethylene safety for metals cleaning
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 December 2007
Using trichloroethylene safely for
metals
Three European Trichloroethylene producers have signed a product stewardship charter aimed at ensuring the safe and sustainable use of trichloroethylene in metal cleaning.
Three European Trichloroethylene producers, Dow Europe, INEOS Chlor and Chimcomplex Borzesti, have signed a product stewardship charter aimed at ensuring the safe and sustainable use of trichloroethylene in metal cleaning applications The Charter commits the signatories to limit the selling of 'tric' (or 'trike' - Ed) to end users with enclosed equipment, so as to effectively minimise workplace exposure
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 19 Mar 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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* Trichloroethylene not banned - the Charter reconfirms that tric has not been banned.
In fact for some cleaning applications it can be the only effective solution.
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Updating the use of trichloroethylene in factories
On the regulated use of trichloroethylene in European industry, Derek Carpenter writes that he had never seen more confusion resulting from the guidance given to users.
Both the market need and the unique benefits of tric, which are proven and well documented, make it important to sustain its use.
The industry is committed to do so.
About 25,500 tonnes per year of trichloroethylene are sold in Europe for metal cleaning even though it is classified as a Category 2 carcinogen.
All products containing the solvent must carry the R45 hazard-warning label 'may cause cancer'.
It is therefore imperative that the users are aware of the risks and, at the same time are confident that these can be overcome by the use of enclosed equipment.
The industry Charter aims at exactly that: ensuring that TRIC is used in a safe manner and that the appropriate risk management measures are in place, in order to sustain its long-term use and avoid the need for further regulatory action.
* Using tric in closed-loop systems is safe and responsible - long-standing market leader in offering effective risk management solutions for the safe use of solvents is Dow Chemical's subsidiary SAFECHEM.
Endorsing the Charter for the safe use of tric continues that commitment.
Therefore, SAFECHEM and its distributors have informed customers that they will not supply tric to end users who do not adopt enclosed technology after 2010.
This is aimed at companies who currently use less than 1 tonne per annum in open top technology.
The companies above this threshold obviously had to meet the Solvent Emissions Regulations (SER) by 31 October, 2007.
At a recent 'Mission Sustainability' strategy meeting in Birmingham, UK, where SAFECHEM brought together distributors, machine manufacturers and local authorities to discuss the sustainable and safe use of chlorinated solvents in metal cleaning, Dr Markus Frank, Technology Leader, Dow Europe, made a presentation regarding the current and future regulation challenges facing the industry and especially with regard to SER and REACH.
The proposal for an industry self commitment to achieve appropriate risk reduction in metal cleaning using trichloroethylene was entirely in keeping with the aims set out already.
SER does not include installations using below 1 tonne of TRIC per year.
With a high number of users in this bracket, it is therefore essential to persuade them to use a closed loop system instead.
To ensure that open systems are not being used anymore and that the risk to humans is minimized it is necessary to avoid a ban of the chemical by the EU Commission in future.
Meeting participants also discussed that it is no longer considered responsible to supply tric to the surface cleaning industry in drums.
Closing the loop is the only sustainable way forward.
Therefore, SAFECHEM and its distributors will also implement a joint communication and implementation scheme to phase-out the supply of tric in drums in keeping with their commitment to the safe and, therefore, sustainable use of chlorinated solvents.
SAFECHEM is showing its commitment to the continuing use of tric by offering the 'Safe-Tainer' system which guarantees not only safe supply but also safe storage and safe disposal of used chemicals.
The 18,000 units currently installed in the market are proof of the effectiveness of the system.
At the same time, users also enjoy greater cost-efficiency thanks to related SAFECHEM Service Elements that promote long solvent life, protect cleaning equipment from corrosion and reduce overall solvent consumption.
SAFECHEM Service Elements include the following.
* Maxicheck solvent stabilisation testing for maximum performance.
* Maxistab concentrates for solvent stabilisation.
* Solvent training.
* Laboratory solvent analysis.
SAFECHEM works through its Service Alliance bringing together qualified distributors, certified waste management companies, leading manufacturers of cleaning equipment and The Dow Chemical Company to jointly bring the best solvent cleaning solutions to the marketplace.
For its part, the European Chlorinated Solvent Association (ECSA) aims to ensure the application of the best possible product stewardship principles throughout the entire supply chain.
Through the new Charter, they believe that they can force home the message that tric is most efficiently and safely used for metal cleaning in closed systems.
SAFECHEM is ensuring that this mission statement is acknowledged and acted upon and that a product such as tric that has been used for many years can be continued in a safe working environment, thus benefiting the end user from the ever increasing cleaning specifications.
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