How Herkula have replaced solvents with Ambimization®

We sat down with Supply Chain Manager Volker Linnertz from Herkula to discuss how they transformed their cleaning process by switching from solvents to Ambimization®. 

Herkula is a coatings and ink manufacturer based in Belgium. Their cleaning process is now completely solvent free after working with Terrafend to implement our patented methodology, Ambimization®. 

They are one of a growing number of companies recognising the harm solvents enact on people and the planet, and looking to avoid the operational costs associated with the risks that solvents present.

In this video, Volker describes what attracted him to Ambimization®, including how it acted as a drop-in solution and why his concerns about contamination quickly disappeared. We also discusses the straightforward onboarding process and what the outcomes were for Herkula.  

Herkula operates within the Responsible Care® Framework, a voluntary initiative in the chemical industries where companies agree to: 

• Continuously improve the environmental, health, safety and security knowledge and performance of processes and products over their life cycles to avoid harm to people and the environment. 

• Use resources efficiently and minimise waste. 

Herkula was dedicated to moving away from solvent cleaning, and undertook extensive research in considering alternatives – but they found that everything came with a compromise.  

For instance, solutions like caustic soda didn’t improve safety processes, while high-pressure water cleaning didn’t offer a good quality clean. 

Herkula soon realised that Ambimization® is the only solvent alternative that truly enhances site safety and efficiency, while delivering immediate sustainability benefits.  

‘I ran through all the other options that we looked at and there was a big negative point on all of these, but with Ambimization® we didn’t really see a negative,’ says Volker.

Working with Terrafend to move away from solvent usage allowed Herkula to focus on improving the environment for their operators, make the site safer and take advantage of the high reusability of Ambimization® fluid, reducing waste product. 

Herkula say they are incredibly pleased with the results, already recognising immediate benefits like:  

• A safer and healthier cleaning environment for their operators 

• Increasing reusability and minimising waste in line with the Responsible Care® framework 

• A great quality clean without fear of contamination 

For more information on how Ambimization® can have an impact, read our case study on Scott Bader, who reduced their emissions in the cleaning process by 93.9% by switching to Ambimization®.