3B Partners with Reprocover to Recycle Production Waste into Innovative Composite Solution

3B-the fibreglass company has partnered with Reprocover, a local Belgian company, to develop very attractive sustainable solutions for sewage, drainage and water supply applications. Typically, the composite solutions are made of 90% of recycled materials and have proven their ability to replace efficiently commonly used cast iron for the production of sewage trapdoors, manholes, utility access holes, etc.

Replacing metal has long been the challenge of glass fibre reinforced composites in order to reduce cost, complexity and weight. Alongside these attributes, two key performance criteria -- superior impact performance and improved weatherability -- have been achieved. This resulted in Reprocover, together with 3B, developing a product range molded from a thermoset compound reinforced by 50 to 60% Advantex glass.


The Reprocover breakthrough lies in their specialized process of grinding and mixing of the recycled materials. Reprocover also worked on the geometry of the different components of each product in order to maximize the load resistance to weight ratio. All of the applications can be easily fixed to PVC pipes, connections and inspection pits. The Reprocover`s products have been approved by Belgian Water Authorities, which definitely opens many new opportunities in building and road construction.

"The concept created by Reprocover is a huge step forward! It really demonstrates how thanks to the replacement of metal by glass reinforced composite, new markets and applications can benefit from the advantages of lightweight, design flexibility, corrosion resistance and easy processing. In addition, the products display dimensional stability over a large temperature range (from -40°C to 70°C) as well as a chemical resistance to salts and detergents. They open new opportunities in sewage and utility supply markets," stated Dr Eric Martin, Thermoplastic Product Manager of 3B. "Within 3B, we are dedicated to developing sustainable and durable glass fibre reinforcement solutions. Recycling our glass fibre wastes is a key driver in our sustainability strategy and partnering together with Reprocover has enabled us to pursue the minimization of our environmental footprint," he concluded.

Ludo Debergh, Founder & Director, Reprocover added, "Glass fibre plays a key role in Reprocover products, bringing high rigidity and outstanding load resistance. As an example, our 315mm diameter manhole can easily withstand a heavy pressure load without damage. Working with 90% of recycled materials can reduce the cost of existing cast iron solutions by a factor of 5 while providing much superior adhesion to asphalt and concrete." Manhole and trapdoors are the first product ranges of Reprocover portfolio. "New opportunities are already idenfitied for utility supply housings (water & gas), which can be seen in pavement. Considering all the metal parts which can be replaced, the opportunity is undoubtedly huge and the benefits are equally significant."

About 3B-the fibreglass company

3B-the fibreglass company is a leading developer and supplier of fibreglass products and technologies for the reinforcement of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. This dynamic and entrepreneurial company has two state-of-the-art fibreglass manufacturing facilities in Battice, Belgium and Birkeland, Norway as well as a dedicated R&D Centre located in the heart of Europe. The company operates two unique eco-responsible and high performance glass technologies, Advantex and HiPer-tex. These two well established brands combine durability with eco-responsibility and versatility, making them the materials of choice for a wide range of industries. With a sound foundation of unique assets, 3B is committed to design reliable and durable fibreglass solutions available globally.

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SIPA releases new rotary PET blow molder with compact design

SIPA, a manufacturer of stretch blow molding machines for the production of PET, PLA, OPP and multilayer bottles, has released a new rotary blow molder to their existing range.

The SFR 6 EVO, which can produce up to 13,800 bottles/hour, is the smallest version in its rotary range, with six blowing cavities.

he new compact model features a preform alignment system inside the machine and a vertical mold opening that ensures maximum simplicity of preform/bottle transfer wheels and the lowest peripheral speed in the market.

Handling of the preforms is performed by a technopolymer transport chain, with the neck up heating and with very simple and low speed movements.

The heating oven features great process flexibility and can be used to produce high quality containers as well as hot fill containers of various shapes.

The company said that the SFR 6 EVO can produce extremely lightweight and complex containers such as a 1-litre container, weighing only 16g utilizing preforms which determine a total stretch ratio of 18, producing a speed of 2,200bph per cavity.

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Ticona develops thermoformable Vectra LCP

Ticona Engineering Polymers has added a new member to its series of flame-resistant liquid crystal polymers. The company said the material is the first LCP tailored for thermoforming.


“With high melt viscosity and melt strength, this new LCP is ideally suited for extrusion and thermoforming processes,” said Edward Hallahan, marketing manager, high-performance polymers. “Initially, Ticona is offering a 40 percent mineral filled grade, Vectra Trex 541, which provides impact and notched impact strengths significantly higher than those of other mineral-filled grades.”

Vectra Trex 541 provides the following performance attributes, according to Ticona:

* High heat deflection temperature of 245°C;
* 20 percent improvement in impact performance versus standard 40 percent mineral-filled LCP;
* Higher melt viscosity – up to three times greater than standard 40 percent mineral-filled LCP.

Ticona developed Vectra Trex 541 for use by customers who extrude sheets and films that can be thermoformed to finished components. Suggested applications include:

* Medical – for use in sterilizable trays and equipment;
* Aerospace – meeting flame, smoke and toxicity requirements for use in aircraft interior applications;
* Semiconductor – providing high stiffness and a low coefficient of thermal expansion for use in chip carriers.

Vectra Trex 541 extends application possibilities for LCPs in the kitchenware and food industries, says Ticona. It can be vacuum-formed into large-format sheets or cooking pans capable of heating up and cooling down rapidly.

 According to the company, cookware made of LCP is an excellent alternative to baking pans and casseroles made of metal, “which are harder to clean, noisy and heavy.”

Ticona is a unit of Dallas-based Celanese Corp.