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Environmentally safer chemistry
imageIn autumn 1984, Danish television transmitted a series of programmes which revealed that painters in the building industry were developing serious health problems as result of their long-term exposure to substances such as turpentine and white spirit. In particular, doctors specialising in industrial health stated these solvents caused brain damage.

Since then, medical research has focused on aromatic solvents, with results that suggest that their strength and the ease with which they penetrate the human skin can have a harmful effect.

Other surveys, conducted over a period of some years, have revealed that exposure to toluene and xylene, used in printing, may reduce the reproductive powers of the human male. They are also under suspicion as carcinogens.

One of the immediate consequences of this research was a demand for improved safety-at-work regulations. Legislation was passed in the Danish Parliament requiring industrial companies to replace "harmful" chemicals with less harmful alternatives. The law - which became known as the "Law of substitution" - had the aim of improving industrial safety.

The introduction of these stricter regulations in Scandinavia in 1984-85 coincided with the filing of world-wide patent applications by CPS for the companys less harmful solvents.

Since then, CPS has been granted two world-wide patents for solvent compositions which have so far proven less harmful than the solvents previously used in screen-printing plants. In 1991 CPS was nominated for the Danish Patent Price recognising the advancement in development of safer solvents.

One of the patents relates to chemical compositions which completely does away the need to use aromatic solvents and which are not subject to the health-danger labelling regulations of the European Community.

In addition, the CPS products generally have high flash points, which minimises evaporation and protects both the workers using them and the environment. Another benefit: Due to the products` low-evaporation characteristics, printers need less cleaning fluid, so CPS has demonstrated that - even though the price per litre for its products may be higher - the print companies actually save money, as well as providing a safer industrial environment.

In 2006 CPS production facilities were relocated in the United Kingdom in state of the art facilities in Wantage.



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