Polymers For Our Communities

Polymer Innovations works closely with different parts of the community, assisting them with their important projects & activities.

Whether it's removing or abating water & air pollution; the maintenance of council parks & gardens; reclaiming native bushland; teaching school kids about water conservation or supplying fake snow to a township's winter landscape at Christmas time.

Covering community industries as diverse as mining, horticultural, agricultural, environmental, sporting, arts & entertainment. Giving back to the community & offering a better 'bang for the buck' for taxpayers on government contracts & projects all over the country.

Currently our polymers are doing things like removing toxic hydrocarbons from Sydney harbour, abating coal dust pollution in the Hunter Valley, sealing Toowoomba's Japanese gardens, removing odour pollution from Rutherford or sponsoring local academic talent.

All walks of life use our polymers everyday!

Production companies, advertising & promotion agencies, theatre groups, night club owners, function operators, nervous brides, equestrians, even jelly wrestlers use our unique & diverse polymers everyday!

Community sporting clubs also use our polymers to reduce irrigation costs & aerate soil to reduce hard, dry spots for their playing fields. Keeping their greens 'greener' at golf, tennis & lawn bowls clubs.

The maintenance of recreational & decorative lawns, parks & gardens by private or public enterprise is a never ending task.

Polymer Innovations is happy to assist groundskeepers by developing polymers that assist in the maintenance, durability & efficiency of your grounds & gardens.

We also manufacture specific polymers that are effective in the hydroseeding, revegetation & reforestation of native trees, bushes & saplings for cleared land, roadside embankments & housing estates.

Polymer Innovations is located at Singleton in the heart & lungs of the Hunter Valley community. Maintaining a commitment to offering all communities a range of polymer product solutions that solve their local water & pollution problems.

Below are the main Polymer Innovations product ranges that government & community departments use on a daily basis:

SAP Range - a proud reputation in removing & controlling water based industrial pollution from some of Australia's biggest industries & most pristine environments. These specific SAP (Super Absorbent Polymers) address the unique requirements of these environments both on land & in water. Toxic water ingress issues are dealt with quickly & easily. Designed for critical applications where production or the environment is affected by water based slurries.

Water$ave DS Dust Suppression - keeping workers free from allergies & asthma, reducing soil erosion, ecological damage & airborne pollution. Also, reducing wear & tear on nearby expensive equipment. Finding ways to effectively control dust pollution in a simple & cost effective manner is beneficial for everyone.

Water$ave PL Plug Range - the best polymer based dam or pond sealant that is 100% customisable to your specific environment via our specific dam sealing blends Plug & Seep.

Whether the leak is in the base, wall, through rock or any soil type Polymer Innovations has the specific Water$ave PL dam sealant to put an end to your water losses. Water$ave PL locates the leak & seals it. Even if you don't know exactly where the leak is our polymers will locate the outflow & stop it.

Water$ave HY Hydro - prevents cellulose mulch from becoming hardpan during a dry spell. The mulch remains aerated allowing the seeds to sprout quickly. Water$ave HY Hydro also reduces the amount of mulch required. water$ave HY is highly effective in the young regrowth of trees, shrubs, bushes & saplings to assist in revegetation & reforestation.

Water$ave PT Plantation - effective in the revegetation & reforestation of trees, bushes & saplings. Water$ave PT reduces the mortality rate caused by transplant shock & also enhances root development encouraging more rapid growth & production. Also, non toxic & biodegradable, Water$ave PT reduces the leaching of any introduced fertilizer, minimising evaporation from the soil whilst improving porosity & aeration.

Water$ave M Medium - is the practical & economical solution to all domestic & commercial growing needs that is used widely by agriculturalist, horticulturalists, landscapers, weekend gardeners, sporting clubs & community groups. Water$ave M quickly uptakes the water & then gradually releases the water & nutrients as it is required by the plant. Water$ave M is an easy to use, versatile product that has a large surface area per gram gives a better distribution around the root zone.

Water$ave TF Turf - is a special polymer formulation that can be used throughout the growth cycle of lawns & sods. Water$ave TF ensures good germination & fast root development for the even growth of lawns. The rooting of the sod is faster, increasing growth efficiency. Providing relief for difficult growth areas & hot spots that are vulnerable to drying out & going brown. Water$ave TF is widely used in turf landscaping for decorative lawns, golf courses, bowling greens, parks & gardens.

Flora Gel - specifically designed for Floriculturalists & the cut flower industry to help preserve the life of cut flowers. Flowers will stand perfectly in the gels for display or transportation. Flora Gel will also absorb liquid fertiliser & plant food. Then releases the absorbed water & nutrients as required, allowing the plants or flowers to flourish.

D'ziner Snow - is a versatile, cost effective, realistic & revolutionary fake snow product. You have never seen anything like this, looks & feels exactly like the real thing. D'ziner Snow creates an authentic snow atmosphere in motion pictures, TV commercials, promotional events & exhibitions is made easy with D'ziner Snow. Used in shop displays, weddings, functions, birthdays, themed parties, snow parties, winter parties, Xmas parties, snow hobbies ...all sorts of fun!

Polymer Innovations sales & support staff will tailor the best solution for your government or community water, soil or pollution problems.

Roll In The Barrell!

'Big Blue' got some wheels. So we took it for a 'spin'... :P

Alright boys... let's go!

...here!?

...into the warehouse. P(

Big Blue Mixer Has Landed

Look what came in the mail today...! P)

Polymer Solutions For Coal Mine Pollution

Coal mines have been in the news a little more than usual of late & it has not been all good news. Serious questions have arisen globally about coal industries especially concerning duty of care towards it workers & the quality of life for those that live nearby. Who are quite often the families, friends & workers of supporting industries of these coal mines.

Recently the US government has announced that will be increasing restrictions on businesses that pollute water affected by mountaintop removal mining. This involves exploding coal seams from the side of mountains which eventually sends very hazardous & often radioactive toxins such as lead, arsenic & selenium into nearby rivers & streams.

This was somewhat in response to a disaster on December 22nd 2008 at the TVA Kingston's coal fired power plant in Tennessee which created the worlds largest coal sludge disaster. Over a billion gallons of this coal sludge destroyed nearby homes, lands & rivers.

From CNN:

"The sludge, a byproduct of the ash from coal combustion, was contained at a retention site at the Tennessee Valley Authority's power plant in Kingston, about 40 miles west of Knoxville.
The retention wall breached early Monday, sending the sludge downhill and damaging 15 homes. All the residents were evacuated, & three homes were deemed uninhabitable, according to the TVA."

Meanwhile in China coal mining is the deadliest occupation where thousands of people die annually either directly from pit disasters or indirectly from airborne pollution from coal mines or coal fired power stations.
The latest tragedy occurred in the northern China province of Shanxi only a month ago.

From NY Times:
"Investigators blamed the usual culprit in China’s regular mine accidents: a lack of safety precautions. For days before the mine flooded, managers ignored water leaks that presaged trouble, according to preliminary findings by the State Administration of Work Safety. Miners had been ordered to step up the pace of construction to meet an October deadline to begin production at the mine, the agency said.
Of the 261 miners underground that day, 108 made it to safety. The rest were trapped & feared dead.

However, the most recent mining tragedy is currently being uncovered on our turf in Australia's Hunter Valley. This tragedy is far less obvious but potentially just as deadly in the long term.

For the past twenty years the Hunter Valley has seen more & more mines being approved many of them open cut coal mining that readily creates airborne pollution across nearby areas.

Below: Satellite photo of the Hunter Valley. The grey areas are mines.

On 12th of April Singleton became embroiled in a 'cancer cluster' story that was aired by he ABC's 4 Corners program that links a predominance of cancer, asthma & allergies in the area to the large amounts of coal dust that comes from local mines & power stations.

A link to this story including a full version of the program & many more details can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2010/s2867659.htm

From ABC News:
"People who live in Singleton and Muswellbrook and the towns in between have told Four Corners that the pollution coming out of nearby mines and power stations is making them sick with cancer and asthma.
Local GP Tuan Au tested 900 local school children and found one in six students had a lower lung function. The national average for asthma is one in nine.
His report was dismissed by New South Wales Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt.
Dr Au says that is not good enough and he has called for more to be done.
"What I'm going to do, is do it again until the Government will listen to it, and I will let the history be the judge," he said. "If we ignore the problems and we do nothing about it's the same as murder."

One month later:
"Fears of high rates of childhood asthma in the resource rich Hunter/New England Region have been confirmed in the New South Wales Government's new child health report.

The report found nearly 40 per cent of 9 to 15-years-olds in the region had suffered from asthma at some stage. That is 17 per cent more than the central coast. The region also has the highest asthma rate for children under eight, with just over a quarter needing treatment.
There have been ongoing calls for a comprehensive health study in the Upper Hunter, due to concerns about asthma being linked to the coal and power sectors.
Health officials have previously acknowledged above-average levels of asthma and respiratory problems in the area."

Polymer Innovations is located at Singleton in the heart & lungs of the Hunter Valley. 

We feel it is our duty to maintain our commitment to offering local, national & global mines products that can solve or at least abate these coal mine pollution problems.

There are 3 specific Polymer Innovation products that assist in controlling coal mine pollution.

1. Polymer Innovations SAP HPF (High Performance Fines) & HD (Heavy Duty) absorbs large quantities of water present in mining, construction, roadways & other water affected areas.
Muddy water that is too thick to pump or too watery to shovel up, can be thickened or solidified quickly by adding SAP HD & HPF allowing for fast & easy removal.

In mining SAP HPF & HD is designed for critical applications where production is affected by water based slurries. Recovered waste can be transported to the surface on conveyors without extended periods of downtime or reduction in productivity.

SAP HPF contains smaller polymers for quick, targeted removals of water ingress.

SAP HD is generally more suited for larger scale instances of sludge to be removed.
However varying conditions occur all the time & the correct SAP for each customer is determined on a case by case basis.

Much more information on our SAP Products can be found in a previous blog post Super Absorbent Polymers SAP HD & HPF.

Our SAP range is not available online, yet.

For a copy of this SAP information please View/Download our SAP Catalogue.

 
2. Polymer Innovations Water$ave DS Dust Suppression is especially important in heavy industry that resides in open environments such as mines, roads & airstrips or construction sites that pollute the air & blow it elsewhere.
Finding ways to effectively control it in a simple & cost effective manner is beneficial for everyone. 

Polymer Innovations has met this demand with it's own specific blend for dust control Water$ave DS.
Water$ave DS has become a simple, proven, economic & environmentally friendly solution to control dust & light soil erosion. 

Local coal mines in the Hunter Valley with serious dust concerns use DS on a consistent basis.
No matter the scale Polymer Innovations provides the dust suppressant solution to keep your environment clear & it's inhabitants breathing easier.

More Information on our Water$ave DS Products can be found in a previous blog post Water$ave DS Dust Suppression. 

Or download or view the Water$ave DS Catalogue for more information.

Water$ave DS (Dust Suppression) is available in 20kg pails at our Online Store & we service worldwide.

3. Polymer Innovations Water$ave RS Road Stabilisation is an oil based product that is the key element of a road stabilization system. It eliminates dust, costly watering & maintenance procedures.

Water$ave RS is applied as a neat liquid once or twice a year to provide efficient dust control on haul roads, access roads & similar heavy traffic areas.

Water$ave RS is extremely effective as a stabilising agent for waste & mineral dumps, rural airstrips & other dust prone road surfaces.

• This is a proven, economic & environmentally friendly solution for road stabilisation.
• Binds soil particles to provide a firm hard surface.
• Surface has excellent traction in wet & dry conditions.
• Water is not required during application.
• Only need to apply once or twice a year.
• Easy and safe to use.
• Reduces time and expenditure on road maintenance.
• Increases the bearing capacity of existing road material.
• Consolidate & improve the quality of existing road materials.
• Significantly cuts dust exposure.

Our Water$ave RS range is not available online, yet.

For more information please View/Download our Water$ave RS Catalogue.

For all enquiries & orders call Polymer Innovations on: +612 65 715 177 or email: mining@polymerinnovations.com.au so we can help you solve these coal pollution problems for you A-SAP!

Work Christmas Party

 

Singleton Mayoral Scholarship Program

Small businesses in the Hunter Valley can feel like a little fish in a large dam when your surrounded by the large global enterprises of the local coal industries but that doesn't prevent Polymer Innovations from keeping up with the big fish when supporting the local economy & community when we can.

Last Thursday night Andrew & Lachlan attended the Singleton Mayoral Scholarship Program at the Singleton Council Civic Centre, where Polymer Innovations were honoured to be part of this great scheme.
Scholarships were presented in a number of categories including Arts, Finance, IT, Media, Engineering & Environment.

PolyInn proudly provided a scholarship for Ben Haines in the Health Services area.

Singleton Council were great hosts providing an opportunity to catch up over a drink & some finger food. This has been a new incentive from the Council and should be successfull for years to come.

From the Council's Press Release:
'The Program is designed to encourage and celebrate the dedication and commitment of people in the Singleton Local Government Area. The Scholarship Program will create opportunities for education in specialist fields. Sponsorship is a tangible expression of your commitment and involvement in community life.
Sponsorship allows you the opportunity to demonstrate your value beyond your current core business. Sponsorship of community based scholarship awards that enhance and assist others in further education and training allows not only potential growth in the field of your own expertise, but also in vital skill gap areas of employment and economic growth.

The key objectives of the Program are:

• A community celebration of excellence in education and training

• To give recipients of the Scholarship exposure to the community and in particular prospective employers

• Encouragement of individual accomplishment

Sponsorship of this initiative will also ensure that our local people and their achievements will continue to be recognised, valued and encouraged. We invite you to participate through the sponsorship of various Scholarships. Sponsorship of these scholarships offers your organisation high visibility and strong exposure to the local community.'

Posted from the Hunter Valley Newsroom Blog:
'A new scholarship being offered by Singleton council will allow students in the area to achieve their dreams according to the Singleton Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president Gill Eason recently praised the new scholarship scheme that is being offered to those Singleton residents of all ages looking to further their studies.
Applications for the scholarship which is being offered across several categories are available on the singleton shire website. Miss Eason said the program would help a lot of people in the area get to where they want to be in life.'
Also: 'Singleton council are offering a three thousand dollar scholarship to residents looking to further their education, the applicants must have lived in Singleton within the past three years.
All applications are due in at council by the close of business. Singleton Mayor Sue Moore said the money would go along way in helping someone further their career.'

Thanks to Don Gray for his help & to the Council for this excellent incentive for locals.
From everyone at Polymer Innovations...All the best Ben make us all proud.

STOP PRESS: Recieved a thankyou card from Ben this morning advising us that our scholarship will pay for his expensive medical text books for next year while studying in Melbourne...Awesome!