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PRE-TREATMENT , SURFACE PREPARATION , DEGREASING & CLEANING
MC ( Perchloroethylene ). The fact they are still using TRIC beginning of October 2020 makes me smile , but even more so , highlights how important the product has been and what a benchmark it has set for surface cleanliness .
So here we are : The era of TRIC has finally come to an end . And yet , the future for solvents remains bright as I witness on a daily basis how clients are benefitting from the unique properties of solvents to achieve exacting cleaning requirements . The use of solvent – whether it is Perchloroethylene or modified alcohol – in modern , closed-circuit systems ensures the highest standard of safety and a virtually emission-free cleaning process . I have experienced time and again how clients who were once sceptical of solvents become ardent supporters once they have seen for themselves how solvents outperform some other alternatives in terms of energy consumption , solvent lifespan , wastage , all while offering a high-quality , safe and fully compliant process .
As the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca said , “ Every new beginning comes from some other beginning ’ s end .” TRIC , thank you and so long !
SAFECHEM was initially a subsidiary set up by The Dow Chemical Company , the world ’ s largest producer of chlorinated solvents at the time . Dow already recognised in the early 90s how the changing legislation in Europe on chlorinated solvents was having a great impact on end users who relied on them for high-precision metal cleaning . It took a decision in 1991 to establish SAFECHEM whose mission was , and still is , to help companies manage solvent risks .
So , for a stretch of almost two decades , I have been advocating , consulting and educating clients on proper solvent risk management , especially for TRIC . At its core is the use of modern closed cleaning technology in combination with the SAFE- TAINER™ System , a closed-loop system which minimizes exposure to solvents during storage , use , and transfer in and out of the cleaning machine .
The legislative landscape has continued to evolve over the years . 2007 saw the passing of the Solvent Emissions Directive ( now the IED ), which made it virtually impossible for open top degreasers to legally operate due to the high emissions and unaccountable solvent losses . It was recognised in 2010 that a voluntary industry commitment was needed to overcome a loophole found with the use of open top technology . At the time this was signed by all European producers proclaiming to only supply TRIC into closed technology – without realising that this act would become an extremely important component of future legislation , as REACH was being discussed in the EU parliament .
TRIC has gone through the entire REACH process from its inclusion into the authorisation list in 2013 to its sunset date in 2016 . Based on various discussions with TRIC users in the industry , SAFECHEM led Dow ’ s decision to apply for authorisation so it could continue to support downstream users and customers concerning the use of the solvent ( subject to stringent conditions ). As I am writing this , I know of companies that are currently in the process of switching from NEU-TRI™ ° E to DOWPER™ *
An effective parts cleaning process begins with the right choice of the cleaning medium . Download our free whitepaper “ 10 key questions to consider when selecting the right cleaning agent ” to make the optimal cleaning decision that balances technical , economic and environmental requirements .
https :// insights . safechem . com / 10 _ key _ questions _ cleaning _ media
Telephone : + 44 ( 0 ) 1384 296613 Mobile : + 44 ( 0 ) 7976 531695 Email : r . starkey @ safechem . com Visit : www . safechem . com read online : www . surfaceworld . com OCTOBER 2020
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