solvay_live243_p02a04 somEdito

104981
DEEP REDUCTION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS
IN THE ELECTROLYZE HALLS.
ADAPT OUR PLANTS
TO RESPECT THE EUROPEAN
REQUIREMENTS
Anew European Directive relating to the
protection of the health of operators
exposed to magnetic fields in industrial
environments lays down draconian maximum
limits not be exceed from April 30 2008 on.
Many of our old electrolysis plants, and if we
are not careful the newly designed plants,
exceed or will exceed these limits.
This has led to a quest for solutions, such as:
• the compensation of the fields generated by
new geometries for the electric power bars
• a reduction at the source of the magnetic
fields generated through rectifiers
(transformation of the alternative current
into a continuous current).
Moreover, the measurement method
suggested by the Directive, and proposed
by CENELEC as standard, is very general.
A detailed measurement protocol has been
drawn up by Solvay and also proposed
as standard by CENELEC.
The development of this kind of project was
indispensable to ensure the compliance
of our electrolysis installations with
European legislation.
Thanks to this project, Solvay has acquired
a real leadership in this field.
> Pierre Ligot; Joachim Lange.
> CC ENERGY
103541
Sustainable Development & citizenship
SHELT’EASY, OPEN UP SPACE FOR SOLIDARITY:
A RANGE OF INNOVATIVE PVC
SHELTERS FOR HUMANITARIAN AID
SHELTERING REFUGEES
The seemingly endless string of catastrophes,
natural and otherwise, is giving rise
to a population of permanent refugees that
is estimated at 20 million persons.
The physical and sanitary properties of PVC are
undeniable. These two observations inspired the
innovation known as Shelt’easy. Why not use PVC
to come up with short and mid-term shelters and
basic sanitary infrastructure? The team developed
three light shelters meeting complementary
needs: housing for family units of four persons,
toilets and showers and storage. Another two
versions were also developed suitable for harsh
climatic conditions and long-term use. All of these
shelters have been designed to be light enough
to transport, easy to assemble and dismantle
(they can be put up without specific tools, thanks
to ingenious and exclusive assembly solutions)
and practical due to their self-supporting
structure. The project was the result of the pooled
efforts of various internal entities (Chemicals and
Plastics) and external partners, with a great deal
of input from NGOs. Today, industrial production
has been launched and the first shelters are being
tested on site by a few NGO. This is a passionate
project, at the crossroads between the possibility
of meeting both basic human needs and market
demands and one that offers promising potential
for applications in other fields of activity: industry,
events, tourism, army, etc. And the cherry
on the cake, it ties in with the three pillars
of our sustainable development policy.
> Alain Rémy; Sara Boudailliez; Philippe Bourgain; Manuel
Cardenas; Édith Chardon;Thierry Collard; Étienne
Collignon; Marie-Claude Couturier; Lionel Debeauffort;
Renaat Demeulemeester; Carine Demeyer; Pauline Ferrier;
Jean-Philippe Février; Marc Gansemans; Benoît Gaudriot;
Claude Geneslay; François Groussard; Bernadette Hislaire;
Didier Hisquin; Philippe Huart;Véronique Lamarche;
Michel Leblanc; Xavier Lepot; Paul Marie; Olivier Monfort;
Jean-Marie Oreins; Jacques Roblot;Alain Roggeman;
Richard Thommeret; Robert Vangeyts;
Xavier Vankesteren; Sylvain Vanlaerhoven.
> SBU VINYLS
J U L Y 2 0 0 6
63