Brownwater Plastics LLC of Paducah, Ky. has won an order for barge covers made from mixed plastics waste, said Environmental Recycling Technologies plc, (ERT) whose powder impression molding process was used to produce the covers.
ERT, based in South Leigh, England, called it a “first milestone order” worth more than 1 million pounds ($1.7 million) for BWP's use of the process, which it licenses from ERT.
The barge covers, each measuring 20 feet by 10 feet, are combined into a suite of eight over a full length barge.
Brownwater calls the covers the first fully recyclable barge covers, with 30 percent of the content coming from recycled content. In addition, the company says, the PIM covers will float and can be recovered if they fall into the water, while more common fiberglass covers do not.
Following increased demand for new barges, barge covers and barge repairs, BWP is developing new products manufactured using the PIM technology which it is currently market testing.
ERT's managing director, Lee Clayton, said: “The barge covers are the largest single piece structure made using our PIM process and possibly one of the largest single piece plastic structures ever made. We are also delighted that BWP is evaluating a range of additional products manufactured using our novel PIM process.”