The start of 2024 has seen news stories on the problem of plastic nurdles in the environment. On 9th January the BBC reported that over 1000 sacks of plastic nurdles had fallen from a Danish ship, and that 26,000kgs of plastic pellets in a container had fallen from a Liberian boat. The impact of this has been considerable on Spain, and Spain’s minister for the environment, Teresa Ribera, is quoted as saying;
The problem of plastic nurdle pollution is not new. Past incidents include the loss of over 22 tonnes of plastic pellets in the North Sea in 2019 as well as a spill of 26 tonnes in 2020 affecting the Norwegian and Swedish coasts.
Nurdles pose a significant threat to our environment. Due to their small size and resemblance to fish eggs, marine animals consume these pellets, leading to intestinal blockages and starvation. Plastic nurdles also attract and absorb toxins such as DDT and PCB, and when eaten by marine wildlife such as seabirds, fish and crustaceans, these toxins are released, causing further harm.
Plastic nurdles on beaches also disrupt important environmental factors, and for example, they affect sand temperature and permeability which impacts local wildlife such as sea turtles who use this for egg incubation. Also, plastic nurdles can smother seagrass meadows, impacting their photosynthetic abilities and the species that rely on them.
Research shows that this is a serious issue for humans also, with testing demonstrating microplastics being found in 88% of a sample of different proteins destined for consumers, “including seafood, pork, beef, chicken, tofu, and three different plant-based meat alternatives”.
The challenge of tackling nurdle pollution remains complex. There are various cleanup efforts and awareness campaigns in place. For example, Operation Clean Sweep have laid out principles for signatories concerning the production, transportation, and disposal of plastic nurdles.
There has been a general call from many different groups for more robust preventive measures and the need for tighter, enforced regulations is being stressed. In response, the European Union for example is moving towards including maritime transport in the scope of legislation addressing the issue of plastic nurdle spillage, noting that legislative bodies are starting to recognise the need for stricter controls to prevent such spills
As a consequence of the situation in Spain, there have been calls for stronger laws for plastic spillages within the EU.
The problem of plastic nurdle spillage, and the environmental and legislative concerns, are only likely to increase over the coming months.
Comprehensive strategies are therefore needed to tackle the problem and to ensure industry keeps up to date with good practice and legislative changes. This means not only tackling the immediate aftermath of spills, but also implementing long-term solutions to prevent incidents.
It is crucial that these solutions also meet environmental, energy and cost targets for everyone.
At SolvAir, we are committed to helping companies both meet their environmental targets as well as reduce their energy usage.
We have responded to the situation of plastic nurdles with our innovative Truck Blow-Off System (TBOS). TBOS efficiently addresses the critical issue of plastic pellet (nurdle) spillage in the logistics industry. This advanced system, aligning with Operation Clean Sweep® guidelines, is engineered to remove over 98%+ of plastic debris from transport vehicles, ensuring a cleaner and safer environment.
Unique in its design, TBOS can be easily integrated into existing logistics setups, does not require water, and is automatic.
2023 was another exciting year at SolvAir. Focussing on developments in key areas, our Team launched new products, expanded our market internationally, and continued to develop energy-efficient, cost-effective Air Knife Systems to meet the challenges our clients - existing and new - are facing in industry right now.
Here’s a summary of some of our important areas of work, marking not just another year of progress, but also celebrating two decades of innovation and success:
In 2023, we were delighted to celebrate an incredible milestone – 20 years of operation. Reflecting on our journey from relatively humble beginnings to becoming a pioneer in the Air Knife Systems industry, we feel this anniversary is more than just a number. As technologies, research and development, and global concerns around the environment have developed, every year we have operated has needed new approaches and innovations.
Our Team are always looking forward to what will be needed next. This 20-year milestone reflects the value of the new Air Knife components and systems we have brought to market, and is a testament to our commitment to excellence and the trust our clients have placed in us.
This year has been pivotal for SolvAir as we have sought to expand our influence in the industry. Building on our existing and new partnerships and collaborations, we have focussed on the effectiveness of our solutions in meeting the evolving needs of our clients.
Our increase in turnover in 2023 will provide the basis for ongoing growth and development in 2024, and we will continue to design, test and build Air Knife solutions in our expanding research and development base in Ipswich, Suffolk.
2023 saw the launch of our VortexTubes website. This newly launched website is dedicated to showcasing our range of vortex-based cooling products, including innovative Vortex Tubes, advanced Vortex Coolers, efficient Cold Air Guns, and highly effective Compressed Air-based Air Knives.
VortexTube.co.uk is designed to enable businesses to easily find the best choices to enhance their cooling operations, so supports our commitment to deliver efficient and eco-friendly Air Knife Solutions and ensures our customers and clients are well informed and supported. For example, sometimes our clients are not aware of when compressed air should or should not be used - in general, we advise that compressed air can be suitable for when short bursts of air are required by an application, but for prolonged use, the cost and effectiveness are not as beneficial as when centrifugal blowers are used.
Our Truck Blow-Off System (TBOS) saw the launch of our latest version - TBOS-2. TBOS-2 is a fully automated system that requires no water, is easily installed onto existing sites, and removes 98%+ of plastic debris and nurdles from the surface of transport.
TBOS is key to our ongoing environmental commitment and supporting our pledge as signatories of Operation Clean Sweep. In 2023 the TBOS network experienced significant expansion, with installations in over 9 countries, including our first ventures outside Europe, notably in the USA. This expansion signifies our ongoing capabilities in delivering high-quality solutions on a global scale.
This year featured some pioneering installations, including a notable project for a major car manufacturer. We developed an Ionized Air Knife System designed to eliminate static and dust from car bodies, which contributed significantly to resolving major paint issues and preventing costly recalls.
In our work with the agriculture industry, our collaboration within the Vertical Farming Industry was a highlight of 2023. This saw the unique application of our Air Knife System for this cutting-edge food production method enabling the precise cutting of watercress, and demonstrating the versatility of our bespoke Air Knife solutions.
Our focus on energy efficiency is one of our key drivers. Environmental concerns plus the rising cost of energy has made this a priority for our clients and customers.
We were delighted to be involved in key projects such as our recent Standard Profil installations. This project saw the installation of five systems, resulting in a 95% energy reduction - this translated to 136kWh less energy usage per year and so an estimated £100,000 cost in savings across the year in line with current electricity costs!
We were delighted to welcome two new members of staff in 2023 to support our growing operations.
Jamie and Rochele strengthened our Team, growing our skillset, knowledge and experience, and bringing fresh perspectives and expertise to drive our expansion and enhance client support.
We would like to wish all our clients, customers, partners, collaborators and our Team the very best for 2024. We very much look forward to continuing to work with all of you.
As we step into 2024, we're fueled by the successes of 2023, and excited for the opportunities that new challenges and developments will bring. Here's to another year of innovation, growth, and unparalleled service!
Formed in 2003 in Rochdale, SolvAir is founded on the idea that smart, engineered air solutions can make a genuine difference. As energy prices rise and environmental factors become even more pressing, we focus on supporting industry and businesses to meet the challenges of operating in the current environment and still be successful.
SolvAir have built on our services supplying Air Knives, blowers, and turnkey drying systems to become known as specialists in designing bespoke Air Knife Drying and Cleaning systems.
This includes our unique Truck Blow Off System (TBOS), launched in 2020, an automated, water-free system that removes 90%+ of plastic pellets from surfaces of transport and can be added to any site with ease.
Over the past decade, Chris Davies, our Managing Director, has extended the family business to include a headquarters in Suffolk plus a global network of partners. Last year also saw the opening of our new production and manufacturing site in Ipswich to support our global operational expansion into regions outside of Europe.
Our staff base has also been growing, and SolvAir are delighted to announce two new members to our team, Rochelle Mutton and Jamie Garwood.
Jamie is our new Business Development Manager, and comes to us with a wealth of experience in Global Export and Sales industries.
Rochelle is our new Administrator Assistant and will be supporting our customer services processes and ensuring the smooth running of our offices.
SolvAir continues to build on our brilliant team's expertise in Air Knife Systems, and we are now an organisation with over 2000 customers in 40 countries.
We would like to thank all our clients and partners for their support over the past quarter of a century, and we look forward to growing with you over the coming decades.
Merry Christmas
&
Happy New Year
SolvAir is set to close for the Christmas break on Friday December 22nd, 2023 at 3:30 PM, and will reopen on Tuesday January 2nd, 2024, at 8:30 AM.
Thanks to our Clients & Distributors
We would like to send our warmest greetings for the festive season to all of our clients, distributors and partners. Your support has been a cornerstone of our success throughout 2023.
Looking Forward
As we step into 2024, we are excited to uphold our commitment to excellence and innovation, enhancing our collaborations and expanding our global distributor network.
We gratefully acknowledge the support from all of our partners and distributors through 2023. Our goal for the upcoming year is to continue enhancing our products and services together and to keep thriving with our innovative engineered air solutions.
Here's to a fruitful 2024!
November 2023 saw the return of the BrauBeviale Beverage Industry International Exhibition. This event has now grown to include organisations across the entire beverage manufacturing process, and showcases expertise in areas ranging from technologies to packaging to marketing.
This year, the goal of BrauBeviale was to come up with ideas for future planning and how the Beverage industry can build a stronger community of best practices.
SolvAir and Gesete have been partners for 15 years, and we were delighted to meet with Manuel, Lukas, and Lena to discuss how we can build on our successes and continue to develop our valuable partnership.
We also had a great catch up with Carlos from Rycobel, one of our partners for EU distribution. Rycobel are based in Belgium and supply SolvAir’s Truck Blow Off System (TBOS) to European sites. We discussed expansion of TBOS, especially now that TBOS-2 has been launched, and how to develop our support for logistics to minimising plastic waste getting into the environment.
We look forward to seeing everyone at BrauBeviale 2024!
For more information on TBOS or our European Air Knife Drying System partners, please contact Jamie Garwood on 01473 320 307.
Jamie comes to us with a wealth of experience in the Export and Sales industries, where he has spent the last 10 years travelling across the Caribbean and Europe working with customers. Jamie is responsible for customer relationship management, including market research, forecasting and reporting, and he will work closely with new and existing clients, providing excellent customer service and offering products which best meet customer needs.
Jamie says:
“I am very excited to join such an amazing team here at SolvAir and am looking forward to meeting our clients and distributors. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to contact me and the team, we will be happy to help.”
A little bit about Jamie outside of working hours. Jamie has a loving family – a beautiful daughter called Daisy and his partner Louise, who manages to put up with him. As well as his keen interest in Air Drying Solutions, Jamie is also a football coach/manager and currently holds a UEFA B License Badge.
Rochéle is our new Administrator Assistant, coordinating the day-to-day delivery of our services. Rochéle is responsible for logistics, sales order processing, spares quotations and customer service updates.
She will also coordinate our sales and after-sales follow-up. Rochéle is key to our ongoing operational success, and we are delighted to welcome her to the team.
Nurdles. They sound harmless enough. But these tiny plastic pellets which are so vital in the manufacturing of all kinds of products have a downside which is seriously threatening the integrity of the world's marine environments.
Every day, millions of nurdles are shipped around the country on trucks and tankers. Inevitably there are spillages. It only takes one bag being split by a fork lift or lack of care in handling.
If accidental spills are not dealt with properly, the result is that nurdles can be released into the environment and can end up in our rivers, seas and oceans. As well as causing long-term pollution, they can be ingested by a variety of sea creatures, causing digestive issues that could be fatal.
Nurdles (or pre-production plastic pellets, to give them their proper name) are tiny beads that are between 1 and 5mm in diameter. They can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and other plastics. As the main raw material of all plastic products, they're transported in bulk to production sites, where they're incorporated into the manufacturing process via melting, moulding or extrusion.
Pellet spills can occur at any point in the production process, but they're less controllable when they occur in the transport and logistics chain. Nurdles are manufactured in special industrial sites and are stored in large silos. For transport purposes they're either loaded loose into tankers or packed and loaded onto trucks.
Clean-up and removal of loose nurdles in the transport chain is vital in protecting the environment. A 2016 study by Eunomia estimated that up to 53 billion plastic pellets are lost to the UK environment each year. That's the equivalent of 35 full tanker loads.
Once in a marine environment, nurdles soak up pollutants and become toxic. They never disappear from the ocean completely, but just get smaller and smaller. Marine animals and seabirds mistake nurdles for edible substances, allowing them to enter the food chain.
Plastics contain a cocktail of chemicals, including contaminants from fossil fuels or recycled products, as well as additives that make them colourful and malleable such as dyes, phthalates and plasticisers. In plastic packaging alone there can be thousands of additives used, as well as four to six non-intentionally incorporated substances for every additive.
Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is an industry-driven scheme supported by the British Plastics Federation. OCS enables companies to pledge their commitment to zero pellet loss and provides best-practice guidance to help plastics industry operations and transport managers to reduce the accidental loss of pellets into the environment.
If you're involved in vehicle logistics to transport nurdles, there's a simple way to ensure you're fulfilling your environmental responsibilities, supporting OCS and achieving compliance with your legal obligations. All you have to do is install SolvAir's market-leading Truck Blow-Off System (TBOS).
TBOS is a unique solution for plastic pellet removal and pellet cleaning for trucks and tankers which effectively deals with 90+% of loose nurdles, emitting a powerful airstream in excess of 700 KPH and using specially designed nozzles to target all areas of the vehicle where plastic pellet spillages can accumulate.
It's easy and cost-effective to install, with minimal operational or logistical disruption. It's also fully automated, so the cleaning process is automatically triggered by the arrival of a truck or tanker and the system can operate 24 hours a day without human intervention.
To find out more about the TBOS plastic pellet removal system, call SolvAir on +44(0)1473 320307 or contact us.
SolvAir, a leading innovator in air technology solutions, is proud to announce the launch of its new website, Vortextubes.co.uk.
This cutting-edge platform aims to provide its customers with a comprehensive range of vortex-based cooling products, including Vortex Tubes, Vortex Coolers, Cold Air Guns, and Compressed Air-based Air Knives.
As SolvAir continues to innovate and develop cutting-edge vortex-based cooling solutions, the launch of Vortextubes.co.uk marks an exciting milestone for the company. This new platform ensures that customers have easy access to the latest products and resources, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their cooling processes.
The new website, Vortextubes.co.uk, provides customers with detailed product information, technical specifications, and application data for all of SolvAir's vortex-based, compressed-air solutions.
“The launch of Vortextubes.co.uk comes as SolvAir continues to make strides in the development of efficient and environmentally friendly cooling technologies”.
Chris Davies | SolvAir CEO
SolvAir's vortex tubes are a groundbreaking solution for spot cooling applications. These devices use no moving parts or refrigerants, offering a low-maintenance and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling methods. Vortex tubes work by harnessing the power of compressed air, separating it into hot and cold air streams. SolvAir's range of vortex tubes offers various sizes and capacities, catering to diverse cooling requirements across multiple industries.
For cooling electronics, control panels, and other heat-sensitive equipment, SolvAir presents its high-performance vortex coolers. These efficient devices use vortex tube technology to provide a continuous flow of clean, cold air, maintaining optimal operating conditions for sensitive equipment. Vortex coolers reduce the risk of heat-related failures, extending the life of essential components and minimizing downtime.
SolvAir's cold air guns deliver a reliable and cost-effective solution for various cooling applications, including machining, tool cooling, and process cooling. These air guns generate a stream of cold air by leveraging vortex tube technology, eliminating the need for expensive and hazardous coolants. Cold air guns are easy to install, maintain, and operate, making them an ideal solution for many industries.
SolvAir's range of compressed air-based air knives provides an efficient and versatile solution for drying, cooling, and cleaning applications. These air knives use compressed air to generate a high-velocity, laminar air stream that can effectively remove moisture, debris, and heat from various surfaces. SolvAir's air knives are available in multiple configurations and materials, ensuring the perfect fit for any application.
Successful Air Knife blower design and installation is not about trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It’s about specifying and deploying a practical, cost-effective solution that delivers effective, efficient cleaning, drying, blow-off and liquid control, while integrating seamlessly with your production processes.
At SolvAir we’re experts in industrial Air Knife technology. We specialise in providing customers with a complete Air Knife blower design and installation service, from system specification and testing to deployment and ongoing maintenance support.
We know that there are many different types of applications for Air Knife technology, from food and beverage processing to automotive and electronic components manufacturing.
That’s why we never make assumptions or look for off-the-shelf solutions. We’ll work closely with you right from the start, taking the time to understand your business, define your aims, review your current systems and look for cost-effective improvements which can streamline your production line, achieving enhanced productivity and improved cost efficiency.
When we’re satisfied that we’ve done all the groundwork, we’ll provide you with a detailed proposal, showing potential modifications to your production line to incorporate high-performance Air Knives, powered by energy-efficient centrifugal blowers.
What’s more, we don’t just install the system and leave it at that. We also provide on-site optimization as well as training for your production management staff and valuable ongoing technical support if required.
Our many satisfied customers speak for themselves. We’ve supplied Air Knife and blower systems to over 2000 manufacturing and processing businesses across the world, including big-name brands such as Bosch, Airbus and Samsung.
Applications include removal of waste material in the manufacturing of food packaging, a drying system for car parts following the washing process, and dust removal from ceramic tiles.
We always think imaginatively to deliver innovative solutions. For example, we helped a French culinary herb producer process a range of different products of varying sizes on the same production line.
We used high-impact linear Air Knives and a Paxton AT700 5.5kW high-speed centrifugal blower, housed within an acoustically-lined enclosure and located above the production line. We also deployed 500mm long size knives for bottle drying and 494mm Air Knives for bulk bags. All of these were located within a single enclosure on the same production line for optimum operational efficiency and cost effectiveness.
See more Air Knife system case studies.
If you run lorries or tankers that carry nurdles, it's important to fulfil your environmental responsibilities. And that means having a reliable plastic pellet clean-up system that supports the aims of the Operation Clean Sweep® programme.
Nurdles are vital to the production of the plastics we use in our day-to-day lives. However, when they go astray they can become an environmental hazard, polluting our rivers, seas and oceans and threatening wildlife.
Driven by the plastics industry, Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) is a campaign dedicated to helping every plastic resin handling operation achieve zero loss of plastic into the environment. It's supported by the British Plastics Federation and PlasticsEurope.
The risk plastic poses to the environment is an issue that's relevant to all participants in the supply chain, from resin producers to plastics manufacturers. However, the risk is highest in the transport and logistics sector. Nurdles or plastic pellets can easily leak from packaging during transportation or handling.
That's why OCS compliance is so important for any company involved in the shipping of nurdles. Having a robust system in place for clean-up of spills is a key part of following best practice and supporting OCS.
The key message at the heart of the OCS campaign is that good handling practice can reduce plastic pellet loss. The OCS manual provides practical solutions to prevent loss for those who make, ship and use nurdles.
Companies who sign up to the OCS Pledge to Prevent Resin Loss promise to improve their set-up and operations to prevent and deal with spills. The manual provides guidance on how to carry out an audit to identify areas where pellet emissions are most likely to happen, as well as advice on actions to mitigate risk, such as staff training, supplying spill kits and catch trays in areas where pellets are transferred or improving filters in drains.
Over the last 25 years, hundreds of companies across the world have committed to the OCS Pledge. However, this is just a small percentage of the plastics industry as a whole and there needs to be more widespread adoption of the OCS principles to significantly reduce the environmental impact. According to the OECD's Global Plastics Outlook, significant stocks of plastics have already accumulated in aquatic environments, with 109 million tonnes of plastics in rivers and 30 million tonnes in the ocean.
There's an easy way for transport and logistics companies to reduce the risk of plastic pellet leaks into the environment.
SolvAir's Truck Blow-Off System (TBOS) is a unique, market-leading solution for plastic pellet removal and pellet cleaning for trucks and tankers. Fully automatic and energy saving, the system removes 90+% of plastic pellets and is easy to install, with minimal operational or logistical disruption.
You can read more about TBOS and how it can help you meet OCS compliance here.
PAS 510:2021 is the world's first plastic pellet loss prevention standard. It provides standardised protocols for the handling of pellets, flakes and powders throughout the supply chain, covering organisational responsibilities, leadership, training and operational controls.
If your company is part of the plastics supply chain, such a haulage company, you have a responsibility to ensure that plastic pellets, flakes and powders are contained and cannot escape into the environment. The British Plastics Federation now accepts OCS sign-ups from both member and non-member organisations. You can sign up online to OCS here.
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