Tretorn sets out to achieve almost a 100% reduction in on-site solvent usage
Having already succeeded in reducing its production-related solvent usage by 60-70% per annum, (thereby complying with its IPC license targets), Tretorn Sports Ltd set out to achieve an almost 100% reduction in on-site solvent usage.
Solvent usage mainly occurs at the point in the tennis ball manufacturing process where the felt pieces are applied to the rubber core of the ball.
The CGPP project team set out to design an automated assembly process that would replace the traditional solvent-based adhesive with a thermoplastic rubber adhesive. In particular, the new process would be designed to incorporate the twin operations of positioning the felt pieces on the rubber core in the correct orientation and applying the hotmelt thermoplastic adhesive between the core and the felt. By using this alternative assembly process, the CGPP project team believed that it would be possible to reduce annual solvent usage from 70 tonnes to approximately 5 tonnes i.e. just 6% of the original usage figure.
For further details, download the Tretorn Sports Ltd. PDF.
