HOTmesh Achieves Unprecedented Power Factor of 1

 

Revolutionary New Heated Product

Flexotherm just announced it has entered into a manufacturing and distribution agreement with the new HOTmesh(TM) heating elements securing category exclusivity in the automotive sector.  HOTmesh can now be integrated into any Flexotherm heated blanket, jacket, heated seats or other applications.  There are numerous advantages over existing heated products including:

Uniform Heat Distribution – 7,000 hot points per square foot.  The power factor is close to 1 – denoting that nearly 100 percent of the electrical energy is converted into heat energy.

Temperature Control – HOTmesh tolerates twice as much start-up voltage, allowing a more rapid rise to the desired temperature.

Cost-Effective – the uniform distribution allows for decreased temperature over an increased area.

Ease of Manufacturing – pre-manufactured HOTmesh elements are easily integrated into blankets and insulating products.

Flexibility and reinforced strength to withstand up to 3 tons and extreme temperatures

Click here for more product information.

EPA Proposes Stronger Standards for PVC Facilities

April 19, 2011

EPA Updates Emission Rule for PVC Plants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday proposed stronger
standards for facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The standards (pdf) update emissions limits for toxics such as dioxin and vinyl
chloride. The EPA has proposed maximum achievable control technology (MACT)
standards for emissions sources including PVC process vents, resin processing,
equipment leaks, wastewater, heat exchangers, and storage vessels.

Vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen, and children are more sensitive to its
cancer risks. The agency said the standards would give facilities flexibility to
choose the most practical and cost-effective control technology to reduce their
emissions, while improving air quality and protecting public health.

The proposed rule would replace a 2002 EPA regulation for larger emitting PVC
production facilities, which was vacated by the District of Columbia Circuit
Court as a result of a petition. The new rule would also amend the existing air
toxic rule for smaller emitting PVC production facilities, issued in 2007.

The EPA estimates a total capital investment of $16 million, and an annualized
cost of $20 million, will be necessary to meet the new rule requirements.
The proposed rule would set emission limits and work practice standards for
total organic air toxics, and also for three specific air toxics: vinyl
chloride, chlorinated di-benzo dioxins and furans (CDDF), and hydrogen chloride.
Reductions under the proposed rule are estimated to be 1,570 tons total HAP, 135
tons of vinyl chloride, 33 tons of hydrogen chloride, and 0.022 gram CDDF.

In contrast, the 2002 rule set an emission limit for vinyl chloride, and used
that as a surrogate for all other air toxics.

Under the new rule, facilities would also need to monitor emissions at certain
points in the PVC production process to ensure that the standards are met. All
existing and any new PVC production facilities would be covered by this
proposal.

There are 17 PVC production facilities throughout the U.S.: six in Louisiana,
four in Texas, two in New Jersey, and one each in Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky,
Mississippi and Missouri. These facilities manufacture resins used to make a
large number of commercial and industrial products, including latex paints,
coatings, adhesives, clear plastics, rigid plastics and flooring.

EPA will accept comment on this proposal for 60 days after publication in the
Federal Register. The agency will also hold two public hearings in the Houston
and Baton Rouge, La. areas.

In a separate action, EPA is developing standards for the chemical industry that
will address air toxics such as dioxins and vinyl chloride. The agency will
issue a proposal for these sources later this year.

Source: Environmental Leader

Flexotherm Continuous Emission Monitoring

New Heated Lines Gaining Traction with Major OEMs

Newswire Today March 31, 2011, Highland, Michigan

Neptech, Inc. just announced a new line of Flexotherm™ Heated Lines offering industry-leading quality, durability and value.  Building on its core strength in the electrically heated products category, they’ve now added a new smoke meter line that is compatible with virtually any opacity monitor on the market.

Heated Smoke Meter Line

After successful prototype testing with a leading diesel engine manufacturer, full scale production began in the first quarter.  While Flexotherm™ has been a force in the emissions testing arena, they continue to extend their technological and engineering expertise into heated products for continuous emission monitoring, hot runner applications, as well as heated sanitary lines used for pharmaceutical and food processing applications.

“There’s no doubt that we have benefitted from working with industry leaders in manufacturing, technology and R&D, according to Michael Seacord, President of Neptech.”  They demand that we keep pace in terms of quality, innovation and continuous improvement in every aspect of our business.  The customer feedback and test data indicate that our Flexotherm™ heated lines are superior starting right at the core of electro-polished stainless steel, high-grade alloy heating elements, and aluminized silicone outer sleeves for insulation and durability.  The overall attention to detail adds up to consistent quality and performance.”

Neptech also recently expanded its in-house manufacturing capabilities, with investments in the equipment and manpower for CNC milling, machining and fabrication.  These steps are paying dividends with more standardized components, quality controls, reduced outsourcing costs, and accelerated production schedules.  This enables Neptech to carry most standard components in stock, while allowing the flexibility to build custom orders to precise specifications within a matter of days.

While many manufacturers have been in survival mode, the investment in product quality and focus on improving cost-efficiencies during the recent downturn have positioned Neptech and the Flexotherm™ brand of heated products as a formidable competitor for years to come.

American Upstart Brand Competing with the Majors

Flexotherm® has expanded its product line in the highly competitive filtration market.  The company now offers 2,900 different filter elements including coalescers, particulate, adsorbers, general purpose and high temperature filters.

Consistent Sales Growth
The new product line rolled out in early 2010, has shown incremental monthly gains averaging over 46% for the past four months. The brand is also gaining momentum overseas, landing new accounts in the U.K., France, Italy, Australia, and Turkey in recent weeks.

Competitive Advantage
Flexotherm® has been successful by focusing on key product attributes customers are looking for- – basically product quality, performance, filtration efficiency and low replacement cost. The growing volume has enabled the company to achieve production cost efficiencies and offer extremely aggressive pricing.

Unique Product Design
The unique coalescing-separator filter design utilizes inorganic microfibers vacuum-formed into complex paths that trap particles throughout the entire cross-section of the filter, maximizing capacity and lowering pressure drop. They are used in water-oil separation, solvent recovery, air-oil separation, bacteria-dust removal, and removal of submicron particles.

Particulate filters are made from special grades of borosilicate glass, cellulose and synthetic fibers which provide high performance particle removal in applications ranging from food processing to industrial filtration.

Invisible Contaminants
The business of filtration ain’t pretty.  While often invisible to the naked eye, elements filter out contamination such as hydrocarbons, oil, metallurgical dust, smoke, paint pigments, particulate matter, exhaust, bacteria and atmospheric dust down to the submicron level.  The range of applications is virtually endless with growing environmental and worker safety concerns over air quality and liquid purification, as well as for the protection of industrial equipment.

Demonstrating Quality and Value
Because Flexotherm® is a new player in an established market, it was important to demonstrate product quality and performance by getting prototypes into the hands of prospective customers for testing and evaluation. Real world results have proven that their filter elements are at least equivalent to the major brands in terms of quality and performance, at a superior value.  The word has spread largely through product sampling and word-of-mouth.  Marketing efforts have been limited to online listings in Thomas Net and Google Product Search.

Competing with the Majors
The rapid growth of the Flexotherm® brand is remarkable considering the historical market dominance of major equipment manufacturers, who have held a captive market and commanded premium prices for replacement filter elements. Flexotherm® replacement elements are directly interchangeable with virtually all major brands, including Parker, Balston, Domnick-Hunter, Finite, Filtersoft, Hankison, Headline, Ingersoll-Rand, Pall, Wilkerson and literally hundreds of others from Airtak to Zurn.

For more information visit Flexotherm Filter Elements online

About the Company
Flexotherm® is a division of Neptech, Inc. based in Highland, Michigan. The company manufactures a wide variety of electrically heated products including heated lines, heated filters, valves, high temperature heated insulated blankets, temperature controls, CEMS equipment for continuous emissions monitoring and flexible silicone heating elements used for emissions testing and countless other industrial applications. The company is also an authorized distributor for thousands of related components including fittings, flow meters, pressure gauges and temperature sensors. The company works with major OEMs, engine manufacturers, Research and Development facilities such as Southwest Research Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as institutions such as the University of Michigan and Stanford University.

Manufacturers Finding Creative Ways to Cost-Efficiently Meet Surging Demand

Highland, Michigan – July 15, 2010 — Neptech, Inc., a leading provider in the emissions testing field, has expanded its scope of contract services at its Tech Center in Highland, Michigan.  The Neptech team is structured to support an expansive market – from original equipment manufacturers and suppliers to R&D labs and testing facilities throughout North America.

The company has built-up its capacity to handle jobs ranging from small electro-mechanical sub-assemblies to large turn-key projects.  This enables manufacturers to outsource assembly work in order to keep up with surging market demand while maintaining world class quality standards.

The process starts with design right through component specification, manufacturing, testing and installation.  The design team works with customers to develop an efficient design that meets the application requirements for performance, electrical, mechanical and thermal attributes.

Recent projects have included design and installation of test cells and industrial gas distribution systems for exhaust gas measurement.  They have the expertise to design high purity gas distribution systems for semi-conductor, aerospace and solar / PV applications.  The added capability of orbital welding has increased cost-efficiencies and turnaround time on average by 25% on custom work during 2010.

While Neptech has maintained steady growth over the past two years, it has built its reputation on its lean efficient operation, responsiveness to market needs, and by consistently delivering cost-effective solutions for its customers.

Neptech has the ability to leverage its network of hundreds of suppliers and partners allowing the option of custom manufacturing or sourcing of components as needed while achieving economies of scale.

For more information visit www.neptechinc.com/contract-services

About Neptech

Neptech = New Product Technology.  Neptech is a veteran-owned, Michigan firm engaged in the manufacture and distribution of industrial heated products and a full line of related components, filters, valves, including the Flexotherm® brand of electrically heated lines, high-temp silicone blankets, heated filters and sample probes for emissions testing.  The company also builds custom lines for CEMS applications, as well as a full line of coalescing filter elements.

Neptech Introduces New Line of Filter Elements for Emission Testing

Neptech launches new line of filter products for use in emission testing and chemical analysis.  These products have been tested and proven to exceed industry standards and are priced well-below major competitive brands.

Free Test Sample Offer
To demonstrate the quality and performance of these new filter elements Neptech is offering free samples to select customers for testing and evaluation purposes.

Filter Elements
These Teflon® coalescing filter elements have been tested by OEMs under the most challenging conditions.

• Temperature ratings up to 700°F.
• Vacuum-formed media – no seams, for consistent performance and quality
• High Filtration Efficiency
• Long life and low operating costs
• Priced 30% below major name brands

Filter Housings
Neptech also designs and manufactures high quality 316 Stainless Steel Filter Housings designed for heated filter set-ups or stand-alone use.

• Electro-polished 316 Stainless Steel
• Available with SilcoNert 2000™ surface treatment. This patented process eliminates surface adsorption of active compounds and improves the precision of sample transfer and analytical systems.
• Equivalent to Balston Model 38 Filters

Visit the Neptech site below for more information on over 2,000 replacement filter elements and the complete line of quality Neptech products at www.Neptechinc.com/filter-elements

Send your shipping address to sales@neptechinc.com to receive your sample filter element.

Neptech stands for New Product Technologies.  Your feedback is an invaluable part of Neptech’s continuous improvement process.

Flexotherm Develops New 316SS Filter Housing

Flexotherm continues to make improvements to its filter housings used in emissions testing and chemical analysis. Here are a few key innovations that make the Flexotherm filter housings superior to anything on the market.

There are 4 series, all made from 316 Stainless Steel, electro-polished inside and out.  The line includes the base stand-alone non-heated model along with several heated models, in short and long versions.  Features include:

• 316 Stainless Steel
• Electro-polished inside and out
• Teflon(R) insulated handle shaft
• High-Temperature Silicone O-Rings
• Dupont Krytox(R) Performance Lubricant
• Heated models include J,K, T or E Thermocouples or RTD.
• Panel-mount mini-twist-lock connector to connect to controller
• Short versions use 1″ x 2.5″ filter media
• Long versions use 1″ x 7″ filter media
• Heated models run on 120VAC with insulated heating element (175W for Long, 110W for Short)

The Heated Filter Valve (HFV Series) includes a pneumaticallly-actuated high-temp heated ball valve.  The electronically-actuated model is in the final stages of testing and will launch shortly.  The HFV+TC includes an integrated 4-channel temperature controller.

All Flexotherm(R) products come with a 2-year limited warranty.  More product details may be found on www.flexotherm.net/filter-housing or call the manufacturer at (810) 225-2222.

GHG Emissions Standards Set

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly established new federal rules that

set the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards for

passenger cars, light trucks, vans and SUVs sold in the United States.

Manufacturers will be able to build a single, light-duty national fleet

that satisfies all federal requirements as well as those in California and

other states. The collaboration of federal agencies also allows for

clearer rules for all automakers, instead of three standards (DOT, EPA,

and a state standard).

While there was no mention of heavy-duty or commercial vehicles in the

EPA/DOT announcement, a government official in Canada said his country and

the U.S. were working on new emissions standards for heavy trucks, which

he said should be released in the next few months. “The whole subject of

heavy trucks — the kinds of tractor-trailer units you’d seen on the

highway, for example — is the subject of different discussions that are

going on with the (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency,” said Canadian

Environment Minister Jim Prentice. “We have a working group that is

focused on that. We anticipate that later this spring, we will be in a

position to put forward the standard for heavy trucks.”

The final rules announced by EPA and the DOT establish increasingly

stringent fuel economy standards under NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel

Economy (CAFE) program and greenhouse gas emission standards under the

Clean Air Act for 2012 through 2016 model-year vehicles. Starting with

2012 model year vehicles, the rules together require automakers to improve

fleet-wide fuel economy and reduce fleet-wide greenhouse gas emissions by

approximately 5% every year.

NHTSA has established fuel economy standards that strengthen each year

reaching an estimated 34.1 mpg for the combined industry-wide fleet for

model year 2016. Because credits for air-conditioning improvements can be

used to meet the EPA standards, but not the NHTSA standards, the EPA

standards require that by the 2016 model-year, manufacturers must achieve

a combined average vehicle emission level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide

per mile. The EPA standard would be equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon if

all reductions came from fuel economy improvements.

EPA estimated that the rule will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about

960 million metric tons over the lifetime of the vehicles regulated. NHTSA

and EPA expect automobile manufacturers will meet these standards by more

widespread adoption of conventional technologies that are already in

commercial use, such as more efficient engines, transmissions, tires,

aerodynamics, and materials, as well as improvements in air conditioning

systems. Although the standards can be met with conventional technologies,

EPA and NHTSA also expect that some manufacturers may choose to pursue

more advanced fuel-saving technologies like hybrid vehicles, clean diesel

engines, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and electric vehicles.

In conjunction with the United States, Canada also announced Light Duty

Vehicle GHG-Emissions regulations. U.S. EPA and NHTSA have worked closely

with Environment Canada to ensure a common North American approach.

EPA Sets Phase-In of GHG Permitting

March 29, 2010

Under a final decision issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) no stationary sources will be required to get Clean Air Act permits

that cover greenhouse gases (GHGs) before January 2011.

EPA said that it would provide time for large industrial facilities and state governments

to put in place cost-effective technologies to control and reduce carbon emissions from power plants and other larger emitters.

The announcement is the first step in EPA’s phased in approach to addressing GHG emissions laid out by Administrator Lisa P. Jackson earlier this month. The action determines that Clean Air Act construction and

operating permit requirements for the largest emitting facilities will begin when the first national rule controlling GHGs takes effect.

If finalized as proposed, the rule limiting GHG emissions for cars and light trucks would trigger these requirements in January 2011 – the earliest model year 2012 vehicles meeting the standards can be sold in the United States. The agency expects to issue final vehicle GHG standards shortly.

EPA has committed to focusing its GHG permitting requirements on the largest sources. The agency will make a decision later this spring on the amount of GHGs facilities can emit before having to include limits for

these emissions in their permits.

Emissions Move Out To Sea

The International Maritime Organization has officially designated waters off North American coasts as an area in which stringent international emission standards will apply for ships. These standards will dramatically reduce air pollution from ships and deliver substantial air quality and public health benefits that extend hundreds of miles
inland.

On March 26, 2010, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) amended the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) designating specific portions of U.S., Canadian and French waters as an Emission Control Area (ECA). The proposal for ECA designation was introduced by the U.S. and Canada, reflecting common interests, shared geography and interrelated economies.

In July 2009, France joined as a co-proposer on behalf of its island territories of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, which form an archipelago off the coast of Newfoundland. Allowing for the lead time associated with the IMO process, the
North American ECA will become enforceable in August 2012.

Ships are significant contributors to the U.S. and Canadian mobile-source emission inventories, though most are flagged or registered elsewhere. Ships complying with ECA standards will reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

In 2020, emissions from these ships operating in the ECA are expected to be reduced annually by 320,000 tons for NOx, 90,000 tons for PM2.5, and 920,000 tons for SOx, which is 23 percent, 74 percent, and 86 percent, respectively, below predicted levels in 2020 absent the ECA. The overall cost of the North American ECA is estimated at $3.2 billion in 2020, while its benefits are expected to include preventing as many as 14,000 premature deaths and relieving respiratory symptoms for nearly five million people each year in the U.S. and Canada.  The health related benefits are estimated to be as much as $110 billion in the U.S. in 2020.

www.neptechinc.com/technical-reference