A Finnish firm has developed a new incinerator that uses a pgm catalyst designed for use in the automotive industry.

Ehovoc Oy claims that companies throughout Europe can use the new technology to help them meet new, stricter EU standards for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions.

It is thought that the incinerator, called Little Giant, will be popular in the painting, printing, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

The coating of the catalyst used is developed to resist deterioration caused by high temperature and can tolerate poisons like phosphor, sulphur, calcium and zinc.

Only metals like platinum and palladium can survive in such a process without reacting with poisons.

"With the last and most stringent phase of the EU VOC directive coming into effect in October 2007, many companies using organic solvents are faced with meeting these tough new regulations," the company said in a statement.

"With Little Giant manufacturers can meet all the new emission standards with their current production processes."

The company is so confident that the VOC catalyst incinerator will last that it is issuing a ten-year warranty for the catalyst and heat exchanger.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd