No melting needed to make Palboard
WILBRAHAM, MASS. — Amer-Israel International Trade, a company started to facilitate a plastics network between the United States and Israel, is introducing Palboard to the U.S. marketplace.
Palboard is in the same family as plastic lumber. However, the plastic is not melted, it is combined using a computer-controlled sintering process. With this process, all types of plastic can be combined and do not need to be sorted.
Wilbraham-based Amer-Israel created the first plastics consortium in Israel and also helps Israeli companies attract U.S. companies for joint ventures. Amer- Israel started as a consulting firm to the plastics industry in 1993.
Palboard Ltd., located in Tel Aviv, has one machine producing Palboard. The 4-foot-by-8-foot product can be made with thicknesses of one-eighth inch to 11/2 inches. It has impact strength two times that of plywood and three times that of particle board, the company claims. The plastic concrete, as Amer-Israel calls it, has twice the density of wood.
The product's mosaic structure is a result of the mixture of small pieces of various plastics. Each piece of regrind is softened and bonded to neighboring pieces without mixing and without melting.
Palboard can be made into any combination of colors or materials, and can be laminated, made flame retardant or machined. Some applications include paneling, counter tops, pallets, ceiling panels, fences, decks, furniture, restaurant trays or clipboards.
100% recycled bags aimed at retailers
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIF. — Leisure Time Packaging Inc. said it now is distributing 100 percent post-consumer high density polyethylene bags for the retail industry.
Officials at the Huntington Beach company would not disclose the bag manufacturer. Milk and juice containers are ground and extruded into a bag that can be printed.
``These bags have the same look, feel and strength as virgin-content bags,'' said President Dave Bock.
Compaq laughed for environmental effort
HOUSTON — Compaq Computer Corp.'s efforts to make its products environmentally friendly recently garnered the Houston company several awards.
In December, Compaq announced it had been recognized for environmental excellence by the National Association of Environmental Management.
A key component of Compaq's environmental initiatives is its Design for Environment program, established to integrate environmental parameters into the development of its products. DFE includes elements such as energy use, recyclability of materials, use of recycled materials and ease of disassembly.
In September, Compaq won recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency for its innovative ways to reduce municipal solid waste and save the company money at the same time. The WasteWi$e award is presented to companies that have made substantial progress in this area. Compaq also was awarded EPA's Energy Star 1996 PC Partner of the Year award.
Briefly ...
Martin Color-Fi Inc., a Sumter, S.C., recycler, has received QS 9000 compliance. QS 9000 is the quality system established by Detroit's Big Three automakers. It is based on ISO 9000. Martin Color-Fi produces polyester fibers from recycled plastics such as bottles and film waste.