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Excel Wins Environmental Recognition
Date: 6 December 2002

Leading specialist fibre manufacturer, Excel Industries of Ebbw Vale, has won second spot in the final of the Arena network Environmental Goods and Services Awards programme for its new Viscocel SMART technology system. The placing signals the recognition of Excel as a company at the forefront of the development of new business systems and techniques that benefit the environment.

The newly developed SMART system makes it possible for Excel to supply its Viscocel SMA fibre for the road-making industry in pellet form, offering handling and transportation benefits, which in turn improve its environmental credentials.

Previously supplied only as loose, low density fibre, the company’s Viscocel SMA fibre acts as a highly effective binder coating in the manufacture of bituminous road surfaces, by preventing the bitumen from draining away from the stone aggregate as road layers are being laid. This results in smoother, quieter and more hard-wearing road surfaces.

The SMART system allows Excel to manufacture Viscocel as compact, pure fibre pellets, since the system is able to ‘refibreise’ the pellets on site prior to addition to the bitumen mix, thereby retaining their performance characteristics. Without the refibreiser this would not be possible. This method of fibre delivery realises several environmental benefits: the SMA fibres themselves are made from recycled newspaper, thus helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to land fill sites. Their production in high-density pellet form means they now take up less space when being stored and transported, enabling lorry deliveries, and consequently CO2 emissions, to be reduced.

The Arena network is an independent organisation that works in partnership with the Welsh Development Agency, Welsh Environment Agency and the National Assembly for Wales to promote greater environmental awareness and provide practical support to businesses and other organisations on environmental issues.

The final of the Arena network Environmental Awards took place at two simultaneous events in Cardiff and Ewloe, covering South and North Wales respectively. The Cardiff event was attended by Neil Turner, Excel’s Technical Manager, and featured video footage of each of the finalists, showing environmental best practice in action, before the winners were announced.