Scott Bader UK wins 2023 Chemicals Northwest Awards for Sustainability and Health & Safety

Historically, adhesives and bonding pastes are very difficult to clean, often requiring acetone, a highly flammable chemical, and complex safety processes to ensure employee wellbeing. These cleaning processes can be extremely wasteful and inherently hazardous due to the extreme flammability of acetone.

Looking for a safer and more sustainable approach, Scott Bader implemented Ambimization®, a water-based cleaning solution from Terrafend, to clean the mixing heads and moveable vessels used to manufacture their leading range of structural adhesives and composite materials. Following the implementation of Ambimization®, Scott Bader UK has reduced the use of acetone by 50% in their paste plant, cutting its VOC usage by 99%. In addition, the innovative cleaning solution can be reused up to 20 times, reducing the paste plant’s waste by 75% and its overall water consumption.

Terrafend’s patented Ambimization® technology combines chemical and mechanical engineering to provide a revolutionary approach to cleaning. Ambimization® water-based fluids are non-flammable, non-carcinogenic and non-toxic. They work at ambient temperature and can be used repeatedly before reaching end of life, thus reducing workplace risk, energy consumption, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

The possibility of ceasing or reducing the use of acetone as a cleaning material is also a significant step forward in terms of health and safety improvements on chemical production sites.