By Brad Dawson, Rubber & Plastics News
Akron, Ohio -- With all the talk surrounding green roofing and recycling materials, one Ohio company is taking advantage of the current trend and building its business around using EPDM materials and developing its own roofing products.
Last year, West Development Group introduced its System 14-brand silicone roofing system, which uses recycled EPDM and eliminates petroleum-based solvents. The system includes a silicone topcoat sprayed over a soya-based polyurethane foam, creating a moisture-resistant, seamless, self-flashing seal, according to WDG president Richard West.
A fluid, solvent-free silicone, marketed as R2R (Roof to Roof) is also part of System 14, utilising 20-percent recycled EPDM from old torn-off roofs to strengthen and enhance the topcoat. Using the recycled EPDM is ideal for the silicone coating of the spray PU foam in roofing applications because it was originally formulated for exposure to the elements of a harsh outside environment - such as ultraviolet rays, ozone, water and ice, West said.
Fire retardants also are included in the formulations.
Since its system's release, even in a shaky economy, WDG has maintained its sales and developed an increase in customer interest as opposed to contractor interest, West said. The company hired six employees for what it calls "green collar" jobs in 2009.
He believes the added interest is a result of greater awareness of the benefits of the recycled and environmentally friendly system, as well as the need to recycle existing EPDM roofs.
"We're finding that building owners are specifically asking for our roof system, or that their old roof system be directed to our recycling facility," West said.
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