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Low VOC
Technologies

Unic International is a leading global provider of equipment that enables sustainable, cost saving work practices wherever high-fidelity paint finishes or specialist coatings are required.

For over 40 years, Unic has pioneered the design of equipment to help businesses lower their use of products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can cause adverse health and environmental effects, and are contained within a wide array of paints, coatings, and solvents.

As well as offering a range of water-based cleaning equipment, Unic’s proprietary protecEarth brand proudly showcases the latest in green technology innovations to help customers mitigate their use of solvents and associated VOC emissions.

The protecEarth product range includes protecLV – any model references ending with ‘P’ are optimised for use with protec Wash LV, a novel cleaning solution with a formulation containing 85% less VOCs than traditional solvent-based cleaners, but delivering results on par with high-VOC solvent cleaners.

For those customers adhering to ISO 14068 standards for carbon neutrality, the protecEarth range provides opportunities for reducing both Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 3 (upstream) emissions:

  • Scope 1: Using protecLV lowers volatilisation of solvent-based compounds (due to the naturally low VOC content of protec Wash LV) – this lowers energy demand for extraction, abatement, and ventilation systems associated with VOC control.
  • Scope 3 (upstream): Solvent recycling technologies enable lower solvent consumption reduces embodied emissions from solvent manufacture and transport.
  • Scope 3 (waste): Enclosed gun-cleaning and solvent recycling systems reduce solvent waste volumes, cutting emissions associated with hazardous waste treatment/incineration.

The protecEarth products are fully compatible with our universal solutions for reducing solvent use:

  • The Little Blue Filter: Inline filtration fitted to a spray gun cleaner to remove paint solids, extending the cleaning fluid life and reducing the need for fresh cleaner top ups.
  • Solvent Reduction Valve: Fitted to the exhaust of a solvent-based spray gun cleaner, this valve opens and closes only during operation of the machine, which reduces evaporation loss, saving solvent, and reducing VOC emissions.
  • Solvent recyclers: By applying condensation and distillation, these units separate paint solids from the solvent, and create a stream of pure solvent ready for reuse.