Green Series of Brent® Products is Dedicated to Socially Responsible Manufacturing with 100% Recycled Bio-Composites

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Brent®, eco-friendly materials (called bio-composites) are being used in the new Green Series of Brent® products. The first products in this line include the NEW Brent® ie and ie x wheels. The wheel tabletops are made of 100% recycled materials.

 

Brent ie wheel tabletop version shown.

Green Series indicates Brent Products made with 100% recycled materials

Bio-Composites Made of 100% Recycled Materials

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, labor, materials, or any of our natural resources.”

Joe Roach, AMACO Manufacturing Engineer/R&D  

“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 foundation 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. 

The bio-composite material we use is also listed as a USDA Bio-Preferred material, because it is composed significantly of biological or renewable agricultural material and has comparable or superior performance to petroleum-based counterparts. The individual bio-fibers are encapsulated inside the thermoplastic; so that the material is resistant to moisture, essentially waterproof.

As we continue on the path of socially responsible manufacturing, we intend to introduce more bio-composite 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. Bio-composites typically have a natural appearance, serving as a reminder that additional resources were not wasted on aesthetics.”