UTT News...

Universal Textile Technologies announces Celceram®
June 2004

Universal Textile Technologies (UTT) announces the availability of Celceram® with BIOBALANCE™ polymers for use in the carpet industry. This exciting green technology will complement Universal’s existing soybean-based technology. Celceram®, a highly-refined recovered mineral compound endorsed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is carefully selected and processed for its component and performance characteristics. It is then combined with BIOBALANCE™ polymers containing soybean oil, a 100-percent renewable resource, to replace a portion of the system used to make polyurethane carpet backing. Celceram® with BIOBALANCE™ polymers was developed in response to market demand for a sustainable resource for the production of high-performance backings. This ecologically sound process reduces dependency on petroleum-based products and supports both the American agribusiness community and the EPA’s initiatives for high performance, sustainable products in industry.

According to UTT president Tom Peeples, “Our polyurethane backings already contribute to the sustainability of flooring products by extending their service life. This new process takes our environmental commitment a step further by incorporating a renewable resource and recycled industrial products,” Both Celceram® , developed by Boral Technologies, and BIOBALANCE™, a product of Dow Chemical, are now available in all polyurethane backing systems manufactured by Universal. “We are excited to be working with Boral Technologies and the Dow Chemical Company,” says Peeples.

For over 25 years, the business leadership behind UTT has supplied the carpet industry with multiple backing technologies, including polyurethane high performance backings recognized for providing cushioning benefits, functional barriers to liquid, and overall structural integrity. Sold under various brands and trademarks, including polyurethane attached cushion (PFAB) and polyurethane laminate (PAB), these products have become the specifier choice for use in high-traffic commercial applications, including the corporate, healthcare, and education markets. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Universal and its employees seek to balance the economic, environmental, and social responsibilities of implementing change while maintaining their high standards of quality and performance.