ARTICLE

August 2003

Clean-Up Products Target Military Needs

by Harold Kennedy

The market for environmentally friendly products is expanding in the military arena. On display at NDIA’s 29th Environmental and Energy Symposium in Richmond, Va., were these examples:

“Cantainers,” made by the Bowhead Manufacturing Company LLC, of Barrow, Alaska, can hold up to four five-gallon jerry cans of fuel apiece. These stackable, plastic containers, which resemble picnic coolers, make it easier to transport the cans and to control spillage.

They are vented to prevent fume buildup and weatherproofed to minimize rain from washing away pollutants, according to Steve Chappell, Bowhead’s national sales manager. Although the containers weigh up to 175 pounds apiece when filled, they can be lifted by two service personnel using the handles provided on each end, Chappell noted.

The ROPAK system of collapsible and reusable plastic shipping crates—made by LINPAC Materials Handling, based in Georgetown, Ky.—is more durable than the wooden pallets and crates traditionally used to ship military equipment and supplies, according to Mark D. Malatras, the firm’s government industry manager.

ROPAK crates—made of high-density polyethylene-don’t break as easily as wooden versions, and when they do wear out, they can be recycled, Malatras said. Also, they can be opened from the sides, allowing access to the contents while in transit, he said.

A WCS-25 self-recycling weapons cleaning station—made by Clarus Technologies LLC, of Bellingham, Wash.—allows two service members to stand side-by-side, cleaning their weapons, according to spokesperson Karl A. Thomas. The WCS-25 was designed with the help of Army armorers to make it faster and easier to clean weapons and safely dispose of contaminants, he said.

The station features a stainless steel soaking tray for barrels, oven-baked powder coatings, ergonomic solvent brushes, a separate on-board sludge pump and inboard filters, Thomas said. A so-called “Tortuous Path” baffle system uses gravity and a slow-moving fluid path to let contaminants and sludge settle out of the solvent, which is recycled for further use.

SmartWasher, developed by the ChemFree Corp., of Norcross, Ga., is a machine-parts washer that uses a microbial technology, rather than harsh industrial solvents to do the cleaning. The washer uses a pH-neutral, water-based degreasing solution that is biodegradable and non-hazardous, according to Thomas M. McNally, Chem-Free’s general manager. The solution cleans even better than mineral spirits, and there is no need to haul away dirty water, he said.

The Army’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory—working with Rutgers University, Norfolk Southern and Conrail railroad companies and U.S. Plastic Lumber Co.—have developed a railroad tie made of recycled plastics and fiberglass.

Army installations contain about 2,400 miles of railroad track, explained laboratory spokesman Richard Lampo. The artificial tie is intended to replace the traditional, creosote-treated version, which may not be available in future years, Lampo said.

Also, he noted, plastic ties are becoming more attractive economically, as wood becomes more expensive. In addition, he said, railroad cars are getting bigger and heavier, and the fast-growth production of lumber is resulting in weaker ties.

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