Embargoed
for release at 07:00 on 23 April 2007
Product
Update
Eco
Chemical Enterprises plc (the "Company"), the researcher and developer of
speciality chemicals with more
benign environmental footprints than existing products, is pleased to
announce that initial results from industrial trials of its Perachem FR flame
retardant treatment are progressing ahead of expectations, with commercial production
in the UK now expected in the third calendar quarter,
Perachem
FR is a novel wash durable flame retardant treatment for cellulose and wool
based substrates. The overall worldwide annual market for all flame retardants
is estimated at $3.3 billion. The product uses hemical formulations with
significant health and safety advantages over existing treatments. There are
zero formaldehyde emissions in manufacture or use of the product, which also
contains no antimony or bromine derivatives. Formaldehyde is classed by the International Agency for
Research on Cancer as a Class 1 (proven human) carcinogen. In the UK, the legal
workplace exposure limit (WEL) is 2 parts per million and a reduction has been
mooted.
International
patent protection has been sought via application PCT/GB2007/000738 filed on 2
March 2007.
It is
expected that Perachem FR can be produced at a price which will be highly
competitive in the market place; can be applied to a number of garments, such
as night clothes for children, without fear of carcinogenic formaldehyde
residues; will give fabrics a good handle and minimal loss of strength; and
will be tolerant of reactive dyes, giving access to a full range of vibrant
colours.
Results of
the industrial trials are due to be presented at the CRIET 2007 congress to be
held in Istanbul on 24-26 May 2007. CRIET is the EU branch association for the
textile finishing industry.
Andrew
Bayliff, CEO, commented "We have made excellent progress to what we hope will
be Perachem's first full scale commercial product with the potential to make
inroads into the flame retardant sector. Early trial results have been
encouraging and the likely combination of health & safety and product
benefits will add momentum to the product launch"
Enquiries:
Eco
Chemical Enterprises plc
Andrew Bayliff,
Chief Executive Officer 0113 343
2924
Stephen
Winston, Managing Director 020
7486 2222
Hichens,
Harrison & Co plc
Peter Trevelyan-Clark 020 7588 5171