Trelleborg opens metal-treatment unit in Spain

ERJ staff report (DRR)

Cascante, Spain -- Trelleborg Automotive, the leading global supplier of polymer-based acoustic solutions for automotive applications, has opened a metal-preparation plant in Northern Spain, claiming it to be one of the most environmentally friendly such facilities in Europe.

The Cascante facility, close to the French border in northern Spain, will supply parts to Trelleborg Automotive's network of anti vibration component plants in Europe and features some groundbreaking environmental initiatives, the firm claimed in a 27 Oct announcement.

These include a wastewater treatment and solvent-extraction system which will enable the company to reduce its CO2 emissions by over 200 000 tonnes per year, as well as cutting solvent volumes by up to 80 per cent.

Arturo Navascués, Cascante plant manager, Trelleborg Automotive, commented: “At Trelleborg, we're committed to making our manufacturing processes as clean as possible and the new Cascante facility has been specifically designed with this in mind.

“Once contaminated, the solvents used in metal preparation have traditionally been burnt, resulting in the emission of CO₂ gases. At our Cascante facility we now have the ability to recover, rather than burn, waste solvents," he explained. "Not only does this mean that we're able to significantly reduce our CO₂ emissions, but we're also able to re-use recovered solvents, therefore considerably reducing our overall solvent usage.

“We have also reduced the quantity of contaminated wastewater resulting from the metal-preparation process. While chemicals have traditionally been added to wastewater to extract heavy metals and additives, our new wastewater treatment equipment has enabled us to extract waste without adding chemicals, which means we can re-use the water," he said.

"We are now generating 80 percent less wastewater than a traditional installation, 90 percent of which we're able to re-use,” he concluded.

The unit will perform a full range of metal-surface treatments, including chemical treatment, shot blasting and bonding. In addition, the facility will manage the storage, supply and logistics of all metal, plastic and rubber materials used in the production of the company's Automotive AVS solutions, manufactured in the region. This will enable Trelleborg to streamline its material purchasing, packaging and logistics, enabling it to consolidate both incoming and outgoing deliveries and further reducing its CO₂ emissions, the company statement concluded.

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Press release from Trelleborg Automotive