Start
Now! Create on line tests, quizzes, surveys and exams in minutes!
|
|
|
|
   
|
||||||
|
|
2007-06-27 News Release
GE plastics replace metals in solar shields Alcatel-Lucent achieves environmental, cost and performance benefits by replacing metal with Lexan plastics sheet in Modcell solar shields.
Alcatel-Lucent Technologies, a leader in systems, services, and software for next-generation communications networks, has slashed material-related costs by 53 percent while reducing environmental impacts by replacing painted, chromated sheet aluminum with GE Plastics’ matte textured Lexan* 9000 polycarbonate (PC) sheet in solar shields for cellular equipment housings. “We chose GE’s matte textured Lexan 9000 sheet to achieve several important corporate goals in our Cabinet Platform Initiative,” said Jack Dispenza, technical manager, Design and Engineering Center of Excellence at Alcatel-Lucent. “We’re saving about $400 in material and shipping costs per Modcell cabinet while ensuring a high level of protection for cellular equipment. But most important, the GE material supports our goal of continuous improvement in the environmental performance of our products. GE’s Lexan sheet has hit all these targets and is giving us a competitive edge.”
From a cost standpoint, GE’s Lexan plastics sheet is less expensive and lighter than sheet metal, and requires fewer secondary operations. As the result of a 78 percent (29-lb) weight reduction vs. aluminum, GE’s matte textured Lexan 9000 sheet saves about $100 in shipping costs per cabinet. By moving to lighter-weight, high-performance Lexan 9000 sheet with molded-in color for the shielding of its Modcell outdoor enclosures, Alcatel-Lucent saved $1 million in material-related costs in just one year. GE’s weatherable Lexan PC sheet delivers high performance in demanding outdoor environments. It complies with the stringent requirements of the Telcordia GR 489 standard for cellular infrastructure equipment. Specifically, the GE plastics material resists impact – particularly at low temperatures down to -40 F – as well as flame and shotgun blasts. Further, thermoformed Lexan sheet requires no welding, and its molded-in, custom gray color eliminates the need for painting. Environmentally, the use of matte textured Lexan 9000 sheet instead of painted aluminum offers Alcatel-Lucent many additional advantages: for example, fully recyclable, non-brominated Lexan sheet eliminates human exposure to toxicity risks from anodizing aluminum with hexavalent chromium. According to Dispenza, “Alcatel-Lucent can produce 100 sets of solar shields with less pollution than one plated aluminum set. The environmental performance of Lexan sheet, expressed in global warming potential, is 98 percent better than chromated aluminum. Plus, it takes less energy to recycle plastics than to burn off paint. Finally, lower weight in shipping reduces fuel consumption.” Paul DiSciullo, application development specialist for GE Plastics stated, “Metal replacement with GE’s Lexan sheet offers environmental benefits across the board – in manufacturing, transportation, and even recycling. We look forward to working with Alcatel-Lucent on other potential applications of this technology.” The GE material is thermoformed into panels attached to the top, sides, and door of the 6-ft x 3-ft x 2.5-ft Modcell enclosures, which house cellular equipment for service providers worldwide. GE Plastics and Alcatel-Lucent collaborated closely on the Modcell solar shielding. GE Plastics provided a range of tests at its facilities in Pittsfield, Mass., including design compatibility, cold-impact resistance, chemical resistance, and high temperature resistance under load. * Lexan is a trademark of General Electric Company. Plastics Manufacturing Engineer Jobs - Post Employment Opportunity!
Click here to view more news headlines. E-mail this page to a friend
|
|
 News / Resources - GE Plastics flame retardant thermoplastic resins - Certification, Training and Courses from The American Management Association - Small Quantity Specailist - Plastics, Metals, Tool Steel and ... - Looking for a Study Program? - All this Months News - Changing Jobs? View a Wide Range of Real Estate Nationwide - 2007 Ad-Aware release - anti-spyware protection - Golf Equipment Manufacturer -Buy Direct and Save! Copyright - Unless
otherwise stated all
contents of this web site are © 1998/2007 JOBWERX.COM.
– All Rights Reserved. For permission to reproduce any contents of this
web site, please advise our Syndication department: Log onto HELP
|
|
