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SOLKAFLAM®227
Free use of HFC-227 for fire extinguishing in most European countries
Manufacturers in most European countries can freely choose their supplier of HFC-227 for fire extinguishing purposes. This freedom of using HFC-227 in fire extinguishing systems was obtained in 2002 when the European Patent Office fully revoked European patent EP-B-0439579 of Great Lakes after oppositions filed by Solvay and others. – In contrast to this, the recently confirmed European patent EP-B-0570367 of DuPont de Nemours does not cover the use of HFC 227 as fire extinguishing agent, but only concerns the product´s very specific use for fire prevention in enclosed spaces like telecommunication switch stations or semi-conductor clean rooms. In addition, this different patent is only effective for France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
Solvay Fluor is the only European based HFC-227 manufacturer, producing it since 1989 in Solvay´s Frankfurt facility and now offering it under the trade name Solkaflam 227.
Solvay Fluor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Solvay S.A., with facilities in Europe and affiliates in NAFTA and Namibia (raw materials). Major acquisitions including Hoechst´s refrigeration business in 1996, Norfluor (Mexico) and Chemtech (USA) in 2000, as well as the effects of the Ausimont acquisition in 2002, were key steps in the development of the Solvay Group´s fluorinated specialities. Details are available at www.solkaflam.com
Solvay is an international chemicals and pharmaceuticals group with headquarters in Brussels. It employs more than 30,000 people in 50 countries. In 2003 its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 7.6 billion generated by its three activity sectors: Chemicals, Plastics and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay is listed on the Euronext 100 index of top European companies. Details are available at www.solvay.com
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