ECOTEX is manufactured by laminating US Liner's Versitex glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) sheets on to a core made from chopped long fibre glass polypropylene. The material used in the core is waste from US Liner's production facility.
"With this new Ecotex product line, we are able to utilise all of our material internally to recycle back into this core and have zero scrap in our facility," explains Jeff Meek, Director of Sales & Marketing, US Liner. "Once we have market acceptance, we will develop a 'buy-back' programme to purchase scrap from our customers and reclaim this material for the core."
According to US Liner, based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA, ECOTEX offers twice the impact protection of conventional glass fibre reinforced plastic panels, is lighter in weight and costs less.
Currently available in 3/16” thicknesses and widths up to 96” in virtually any length, ECOTEX sheets are said to ideal for applications in truck-trailers, cargo and storage containers, building and construction, recreational vehicles, automobiles and military structures and equipment.
“Our goal has always been to create value for our customers through new innovations," says Michael LaRocco, President of US Liner.
"ECOTEX is an example of how we blend a reinforced recycle core product with our standard Versitex material to create a unique hybrid product that is Eco Friendly and cost effective. Our customers can find both strength and attractive pricing which can allow a low cost alternative to replace wood, steel, fibreglass, and other non-reinforced recycled materials.”