HALCOR SA

To reduce significantly the solvents use and to avoid emissions in the workplace and atmospheric emissions in the wider area.

The program concerns the company’s internal environment aiming at the environmental protection.

The program began in the 2nd trimester of 2014 and was completed in the same year.

HALCOR installed a new Closed Circuit Degreasing System, which replaced a previous degreasing system. This new degreasing system consists of:
 

• the work chamber
• a tank
• a recirculation system
• control panel
• the machine’s shell.
 

During the system’s operation, a block of tubes is put into a basket and transferred into the work chamber through the use of a crane. After closing the work chamber, the machine’s shell is shield automatically and degreasing begins. The shell opens only after the process of degreasing has finished. Afterwards, the basket containing the tubes is raised automatically by the crane, while the nest one is put in the tube. The whole procedure is automatically run through the control panel. The degreasing system’s operation is run by vacuum collection and is monitored throughout the whole operation cycle through an autonomous measuring system of the solvent.

More specific, according to the recommended system’s design, all solvent measurements below the limit (1mg/m3) are a safety valve for the removal of the tubes from the work chamber after the end of the degreasing cycle. In the new Closed Circuit of Copper Tubes Degreasing, perchloro is used as a means of degreasing. The estimated consumption amount is 11tn annually.

No cooperation with other associations. The program was developed in the company by the Environment Department in cooperation with the Production Management.

The program was developed by the Environment Department in cooperation with the Production Management executives.

Oinofita Viotias - HALCOR plant

Emissions reduction in the workplace: despite the fact that the air quality in the company’s workplace was already within the legal requirements, the company installed the program aiming to eliminate the solvent emissions. The benefits to the company’s employees are very important.
 

The solvent consumption (“Percloroethylene: the solvent used by the closed circuit) during May-December 2013 and 2014 was:
 

• May-December 2013: 39.600 kg
• May-December 2014: 5.280 kg
   

Consequently, given that the production was not significantly changed during this period, there was 34.320 kg solvent saving that is 86.7% reduction, in 8 months.

Economic and environmental benefits result from this program, such as:
 

• Solvents' use reduction.
• Gas emissions reduction due to solvents.
• Improvement of the internal air in the production.