The Concept...The Ecopanel Systems concept is based on taking agricultural fibrous (Agri-Fibre) waste, for example, sugar bagasse, water hyacinth, elephant grass, to name only a few.Wood and other types of fibrous waste, and by simple & well-established technology producing a viable substitute for wood based particleboard. |
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| Although the principle itself is well established, it is simple in its execution and application, which in turn, is economical to manufacture on a small stand alone "rural" level as well as a fully automatic industrialised scale. In addition to these benefits a typical, non-sophisticated board plant will generate in the region of 30 jobs operating on a full three shift pattern, producing up to 4 - 6 tonnes per hour. Whereas a fully industrialised plant can be built to provide almost any quantity of board, but only working with about 4 people per shift. As stated previously, these plants are of a modulated nature and have been designed so that they can be expanded, in the most economic way possible. The Ecopanel system, both as a process and a product, has been primarily devised to help developing areas of the world solve the major environmental problem represented by the disposal of enormous surplus quantities of annually renewed fibrous waste material. Suddenly vast quantities of unwanted waste (as described but not limited to the above) can be transformed into a commercially viable, hard currency generating (or saving) commodity. By generating a use for this waste a further considerable advantage is the reduction of landfill and/or the need for incineration, which are currently the only ways to dispose of it. |
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A third, but by no means less important, another major benefit of the Ecopanel System is the reduction of timber usage and high rate of deforestation being experienced in many parts of the world. |
| By keeping its plant relatively inexpensive to buy and operate and by only using non-toxic-binding agents in its process, the Ecopanel System offers many commercial and ecological advantages. Thereby creating a value for an otherwise waste material, while at the same time reducing usage of timber and environmental threats to the land and the atmosphere. Quite a number of developing countries utilise their own timber resources for the generation of "hard currency", that is, exporting, unfortunately such exports do not generate as much as would be desired. For example, the production of veneers, the vast majority of veneers produced are usually exported in their primary state, that is, there is no real added value plus there is a significant amount of waste. Another example, is Saw Milling, and Plywood manufacture, again a significant amount of waste is generated, which at present is either wantonly burned or just left. The waste from both of these sources can be used on an Ecopanel System to produce high quality particleboard, which in turn could veneered and subsequently exported ay a much higher value. Depending upon the actual execution, most Ecopanel Systems enjoy a very favourable payback/profit scenario indeed. |
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