2006 marked the fifth series of the EnSolv Roadshow, which visits towns and cities throughout the UK and Europe
Visiting the Brooklands Hotel in Barnsley, UK, 100 delegates located from Scotland to London and beyond to Germany and Benelux, registered for this popular event.
25% of the audience were aerospace related following the unique success in EnSolv 5408 being approved by Boeing as a suitable alternative to trichloroethylene (trike).
Speaking on behalf of British Aerospace Jon Coneybeare welcomed the high standards exhibited by Enviro Tech Europe (ETE) and its partners and congratulated the programme speakers on the science presented when offering comparative data on solvents.
Derek Carpenter, sales and marketing director of ETE, introduced the mayor of Barnsley, councillor Margaret Morgan.
Addressing the audience and thanking ETE for choosing Barnsley for its venue, Morgan said: "Industry is facing many challenges and initiatives like this today go a long way to offer advice and support.
"It is clear that a great deal of effort has gone into planning today's programme and the time given willingly by speakers is to be commended.
"It is a pleasure for me to be here today together with staff from our own Regulatory Services Department who seek to protect the people of Barnsley".
South Yorkshire chairman of the Institute of Directors Andrew Platts offered a warm welcome to Yorkshire and amused the audience with many reasons that made Yorkshire the perfect location.
Commending the Roadshow initiative he spoke of the admirable qualities exhibited by ETE and its carefully selected partners.
"Determination, altruism, honesty, good ethics and efficacy are a powerful blend exhibited by ETE, making them a first choice supplier for solvent users", said Platts.
"ETE has proved to be determined and is the only company to have supported and invested in the area of science.
"It proves that if you search hard enough for facts they will eventually be found", he concluded.
Chris Barry, a specialist in microbial ecology and biochemistry related the value of human cell studies sponsored by ETE, which appeared in the April 2006 edition of Surface World.
This proved to be a popular subject with Barry congratulating ETE on its first class approach to science, which compared the broad range of solvents used in vapour degreasing today.
Using the theme 'To kill or not to kill is the question - or why we can check toxicity without dead rats?' Barry detailed the differences between animal studies and human cell studies.
Bernard Pye, managing director of process system specialists, Core-Chem, discussed the importance of consulting a specialist.
The audience agreed that in many cases their existing suppliers seldom understood their problems or regulatory issues, often giving misleading information.
Pye said the reason for this was that distributors distribute while specialists specialise.
Using a medical analogy to illustrate this he spoke of medicine.
A general practitioner (GP), he said, would know a little about a lot in a similar way to a supplier of hundreds of products.
A consultant (the specialist) on the other hand would know a lot about a little, his own subject which had special expertise of.
At a time of regulatory demands he warned specialist support was vital.
Core-Chem as an advocate of solvent reduction programmes work to provide measured benefits.
The Core Unibund system illustrated a desire to provide customer needs but Pye reminded everyone that transfer systems played no part in reducing solvent use in real terms.
He identified the support that should be expected and how to differentiate a specialist skill.
Derek Carpenter related the historic benefits and credentials associated with EnSolv and covered the Solvent Emissions Directive, so often unclear.
Cathryn Parkinson from Barnsley's Regulatory Affairs department reminded users of trike that it was a requirement to register for permit with local authorities if exceeding a 1tonne (685 litres) threshold per annum.
A permit cost would relate to the risks involved.
A survey of delegates as they arrived recorded the overall primary objectives of the audience.
90% felt solvent emissions was a real issue.
Discussion revealed that a low figure of 32% for technical support was the result of experiencing little from existing suppliers.
It was agreed that ETE was right to emphasise its importance in a climate of regulation.
67% agreed benefits were more essential than product cost.
Given that in excess of 90% of EnSolv formerly used trike, this illustrated customer satisfaction from changing.
Doug Went, a qualified chemist and technical manager for ETE related his responsibilities to manufacture, technical support, quality systems and responsible care.
Using the theme 'ETE's commitment to science and customer care', he related EnSolvs unique status.
He confirmed that ETE's customer satisfaction rating for 2005 was 90%.
Lee Casey of CC Hydrosonics, held as the most successful manufacturer of cleaning machines and a member of Crest, related the importance of balancing good engineering and product to achieve outstanding results.
He introduced the CCH Solvac cleaning system, a sealed loading system designed for EnSolv and capable of using less than two tonnes per annum.
He agreed with ETE that a typical solvent user would become a 1-3tonne user in the future thanks to joint technology.
CCH machines operate the Core Unibund system where users seek product transfer as part of their total process requirements.
Surveying the audience a programme satisfaction rating was gained of 83% with delegates agreeing they would readily recommend EnSolv Roadshows and consider EnSolv as their urgent replacement for trike.
The roadshow will visit London in the near future.
Delegates enjoyed a complimentary buffet.
Reflecting on the programme Derek Thomas, managing director of D+S Technical Services, noted: "It was good to hear a positive message for the solvent sector".
