The new chemicals legislation has been on top of the agenda in the metal working industry this year, according to five of our experts. We have gathered the most significant trends of 2016.
Caroline Sterneryd, Application Specialist:
– Last fall, all applications for existing chemical substances had to be submitted, while the evaluation process is going on. The new legislation will lead to increased costs for chemicals and a limitation of which substances and products that may be used. In 2016, for example, three formaldehydes was classified as carcinogenic, which means major consequences for the end users. Another hot subject is all the work that the fluid suppliers will have to do to catch the deadline May 31, 2018 for the registration of substances to REACH. This will also affect end users since substances not registered will be removed from the market.
Hans Ahlgren, Strategic Partner Manager:
– More and more people in the industry have begun to talk about sustainability. Partly because they are forced to do so because of stricter legislation, but they are also genuinely interested. On November 16, we participated in the Sustainability Conference SMART in Sheffield, England, which was organized by Houghton PLC. There was a great curiosity among the visitors about purifying process fluids with alternative technologies that are better for both employees and the environment.
Jan Östlund, Area Sales Manager Nordics:
– In the beginning of 2016, I predicted that products with more environmentally compatible content would increase rapidly during the year. I was right... almost. Today I dare say that the serious fluid suppliers deliver more than 50% biocidal- and formaldehyde-free liquids. Compared with previous year, this is a significant increase. But dear metal fluid users. Read the safety sheet more than once and please ask for more data from your suppliers. There are companies that are experimenting with additives that are not classified as biocides because they have a different effect classified as primary for the subject. Several of the additives I've seen companies use to replace "conventional" biocides, is relatively untested, and knowledge of its long-term effects are limited.
Miranda Jensen, Head of Environmental Management:
– In 2016, sustainability has gone from just meaning environmental issues, to include social aspects such as a healthy work environment. I hope that this will be further strengthened and that it will no longer be accepted that people get sick on their jobs.
Karsten Lübke, Regional Sales Manager Germany
– Fluid monitoring was the major topic of conversation when the coolant users and manufactures gathered in Stuttgart. Especially bigger companies are interested in how to extend the fluids lifetime, and therefore invest more in filtering and surveillance. A BMW fluid manager explained how they filter and reuse the whole fluid. Another big issue was how to purify fluids in the best way, and now the whole system is included, even tubes and other devices.
Do you want to learn more about the chemicals legislation and the environmental friendly way of purifying metalworking fluids?
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