Delano, MN – February 3, 2011 - Solar Plastics, Inc., a recognized global leader in custom rotational molding, is excited to announce that it has received an EPA Certificate of Conformity for gasoline fuel tanks covered by EPA 40 CFR Part 90, 1045 and 1060.  The regulation provides evaporative emission guidelines for off-road gasoline engines used in the United States.  Many of our customers’ products will be subject to this new regulation beginning January 1, 2012. 

This accomplishment is the result of more than eight years of research and development aimed at delivering the most reliable, robust, and cost effective low permeation system available.  Solar Plastics played an integral role working with Arkema to develop PetroSealTM, which was awarded a California Air Resources Board Executive Order in 2005.  Solar’s EPA certified material system, EnviroGuard 2.5, is a modification of the original PetroSeal system, and has been designed to improve upon certain characteristics found in the original material system.

Variants of the EnviroGuard 2.5 have been proven through four years of commercial production and subsequent field success.

Solar Plastics, Inc. is a 47-year-old family owned business specializing in developing innovative technology aimed at solving complex rotational molding problems.  The company serves a variety of high-profile global OEMs from its operations in Delano, MN, Davenport, IA.

Please contact Rick Carlsen (rick.carlsen@solarplastics.com or 763-972-5626) for additional information.

Solar Plastics' patent on new molded in sight line technology has been approved! 

In 2002, Solar Plastics introduced Solar Vision, a seamless integrated sightline for rotationally molded fuel, hydraulic and custom fluid tanks.

Previously the only way to determine the fluid level in an opaque rotomolded tank was to incorporate a sending unit, gauge or a mechanical sightline with fittings and tubing mounted on the tank’s exterior. Today, Solar Plastics has the technology to manufacture an opaque tank with a translucent sightline, which is seamlessly molded into the tank wall. This feature can replace other modes of determining fluid levels and their associated costs in assembly components and secondary operations. This technology was previously unavailable in the rotational molding industry.

The technology development team at Solar Plastics, dedicated to researching and developing new technologies, developed and patented this exciting new process. The sightline is completely seamless and offers a uniform wall thickness throughout the tank. The integration of the sightline with the tank in the molding process offers a leak free, corrosion resistant and assembly free way to determine fluid levels. There are virtually no limitations to this new process. The sightline can be customized to meet customers’ requirements. The sightline can be made with a variety of materials.

This exciting new technology is an exclusive process only available through Solar Plastics. Contact your Solar Plastics representative today or contact us via email at: sales@solarplastics.com for more information. Click on the following link to view this exciting new product: Solar Vision

Solar Plastics, Inc., the technology leader in rotomolding fuel tanks, partnered with Arkema Inc. in the development and testing of the permeation resistant PetroSeal™ material system.   

In cooperation with Solar Plastics, Arkema submitted for and received an Executive Order from the California Air Resources Board (CARB).  This Executive Order pertaining to Small Off Road Equipment (SORE) states that “no tank permeation data is required to be submitted in the certification process for equipment using the Arkema Inc. PetroSeal™ technology…”.  The order can be accessed at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/offroad/sore/sorecomponent/cu05005.pdf  

This order is the culmination of a cooperative effort between Solar Plastics and Arkema that involved material and process development, sampling, testing and consultation with CARB officials.

PetroSeal™ technology also meets EPA permeation emission requirements for recreational vehicles, and the proposed permeation standards for boats and other nonroad gasoline-powered applications.