Environment

As a metal finishing company we are subject to a wide range of environmental controls regarding the use of hazardous chemicals, health and safety, disposal of waste products to land, air and water as well as in part, the issues concerning the recycling of products treated with chemicals such as chromium. We apply strict internal controls to ensure compliance with all of these issues as well as accepting regular audits and inspections from the local authorities, the water company and health and safety regulators.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety of our employees is critical to us. In early 2005 we issued a fully revised Health and Safety Policy and related procedures following a comprehensive audit carried out by a fully qualified firm of external consultants. We now carry out regular internal Health and Safety audits in addition to an annual external review. Daily production is carried out under strict internal guidelines regarding safe working practice and all of our employees are fully trained in the correct use of facilities and emergency control procedures. Whilst not required, we have installed a state of the art fume extraction and scrubbing system within the factory which results in an internal air quality which can be described as superior to that found in the average office.

Controlled Substances

Many of the chemicals used in the treatment of aluminium are controlled by legislation and regulations. These regulations require that we control the emission of fumes to air, the discharge of waste water to the local sewage system and the disposal of solids and sludges to landfill and incineration, all processes of which are subject to frequent/regular inspection by the relevant controlling bodies. Certificates of all controlled waste disposals are maintained in accordance with current legal requirements.

RoHS and WEEE Compliance

The RoHS Directive bans the sale of new electrical and electronic equipment containing significant levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) from 1 July 2006; and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) requires manufacturers to finance the recycling of their electrical products. The only controlled substance relevant to our processes is hexavalent chromium, which is used for Chromic Acid Anodising and Alocrom finishes. To satisfy customer demand as a response to these recent changes we now offer Irridite NCP and Surtec 650 as alternatives for the potentially chromate bearing treatments of alocrom 1000 and 1200 where required.