Componentes Mecanicos de Matamoros

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Painting/Coating

Industry: Plastics

Wastes Reduced: Solvent

Substance: MIBK

Equipment: Distillation

Location: Matamoros MEXICO

No. of employees: 3173

Contact: Marcus Suarez

Description:

Componentes produces plastic instrument panels, steering wheels and air bags for a number of different GM cars. The painting of some plastic parts is necessary for the color schemes of the cars. Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) is a solvent used to clean lines between uses. Rather than simply disposing of the used solvent, a distillation unit was purchased to distill and reuse the MIBK.

Environmental Benefits:

Componentes distills approximately 500 gallons of MIBK a month that would have gone to a fuel program.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The distillation unit cost about $7,000. Through reduced purchases of new solvent, reduced disposal cost and reduced paperwork (shipping wastes) Componentes is saving $3,500 a month. The system paid for itself in a little over two months.

Source: TCEQ