LE Technology
ECOTAIN® APPROVED
LE Technology fulfills the criteria of EcoTain®, our approach to sustainability on product level.
Discover Value – LE Technology
Derya Ozer
Technical Marketing
Manager EMEA
Manager EMEA
Great product benefits for customers
Clariant markets bentonite-based additives used in green sand molding, an important industrial sand metal process, for example in the manufacture of automotive components. The new low emission products GEKO®LE und ECOSIL®LE (LE = low emission) are part of Clariant’s latest innovative developments that lower emissions of health hazards like xylenes, toluene and ethyl benzene by between 75 and 99%, benzene emissions by up to 88%.
»With locations around the world, we can offer personalized expertise and are in a prime position to react quickly and meet customer needs.«
Interview Eric Bonin, Laboratory Manager, Peugeot Automobile
The vast majority of iron flows in green sand molds for automotive parts, such as engine blocks, transmission parts or brake discs. How does changing to LE Technology influence the production process? To get the inside scoop, we asked Eric Bonin, Laboratory Manager, Peugeot Automobile.
How did it come to be that Peugeot Automobile began using LE Technology?
Eric Bonin As the environmental authorities officially requested us to lower our BTEX1 emissions outside the chimneys, we studied what Clariant offers as a solution.
What were some of the issues you were having with your previous product?
Eric Bonin There is no real existing issue except a lustrous carbon generator level in the premix.
When did you become convinced of LE Technology?
Eric Bonin Thanks to the various presentations done by Clariant and their BTEX tests on molding sands.
How complicated was it refitting the foundry for LE Technology?
Eric Bonin Some precautions must be taken. At the implementation phase, it is important to define the first recipe to be used, and then decrease the lustrous carbon generator rate percent step by step.
Would you recommend LE Technology?
Eric Bonin Yes, because using it contributes to improving the quality of our environment. The implementation of LE Technology is easy but more controls of the sand system are necessary during the product changeover steps. This technology helps reduce the consumption of premix.
What concrete benefits does it provide Peugeot Automobile in the production process for ventilated break discs?
Eric Bonin Basically the benefits are a reduction of the BTEX emissions, improvement of the molding and mold release accuracy and reduction of the premix consumption.
To what extent have your emission levels improved since you started using LE Technology?
Eric Bonin Based on the latest analysis, we confirm a reduction of the emissions, the extent of which remains to be concretely evaluated thanks to a complementary analysis we are currently working on.
1 BTEX stands for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes
