Socially Responsible Manufacturing with 100% Recycled Bio-Composites

By Joe Roach, AMACO Manufacturing Engineer/R&D

“For economic and environmental reasons, it is critical that we recognize the importance of conservation, be it fuel, electricity, or our natural resources.”

Eco-friendly tabletops on redesigned ie and ie-lx wheels.

“It’s our responsibility to keep an open mind when looking into materials and processes to improve our products and equipment. We make significant efforts to conserve resources while maintaining the durability synonymous with the AMACO® and Brent® names. With that in mind, we are using a fairly advanced form of bio-composite as the tabletop of our newly redesigned Brent® ie  and ie-x wheels. 

Bio-composites are compounds made from a blend of organic fiber and thermoplastic, both 100% recycled in this application. The organic fiber (bio-fiber) is a reclaimed by-product of the forestry and agricultural industries, typically in the form of waste wood or rice-hulls. Because these by-products can be utilized and combined with recycled plastics, no new resources are consumed in the production of the bio-composites. 

As we continue on the path of socially responsible manufacturing, we intend to introduce more biocomposite materials into the Brent® line of products. The implementation of alternative materials used in our manufacturing processes may come unannounced, so our customers may notice slight changes in appearance and texture in some products as we progress. Biocomposites typically have a natural appearance, serving as a reminder that additional resources were not wasted on aesthetics.”

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