Absorbents for manufacturing plants and machine shops

Why universal absorbents suit production floors

In a machine shop the liquids are mixed: neat oil, water-based coolant, hydraulic fluid, cleaning solvents and plain water often end up in the same place. A universal absorbent takes them all up, so the person cleaning up does not need to decide what the liquid is before acting. Grey is the industry standard for universal absorbents because it hides grime, so pads look cleaner for longer in use.

Where a plant only handles oils, or works outdoors, oil-only absorbents repel water and pick up only the oil. Where acids, alkalis or aggressive chemicals are used, for example in plating or battery charging areas, use chemical absorbents.

Which product goes where on the floor

A typical plant uses several formats, each in a different place:

• Pads: CNC coolant overspray, daily drips under machines and presses, and drum-top dispensing stations.
• Rolls: under plant and conveyors, along aisles, and torn off at workstations to line shelves and benches.
• Socks: around machine bases and sumps, for coolant containment around CNC machines, and across doorways and drains.
• Pillows: under gearboxes, in drip pans and under leaking valves, as overnight cover for slow leaks.
• Hi-vis caution rolls: production and assembly lines and walkways, where people need to see that a floor needs care.
• Recycled felt: press shops, assembly lines and paint shops, and on rough or uneven floors.
• Wipers: parts, tools, machines, benches and hands.

Recycled felt for heavy-duty areas

Our shoddy felt is needle-punched from reclaimed textile fibre with no chemical binders. The oil grade is 80% recycled cotton and 20% recycled polyester, for oil, fuel and lubricant clean-up on hard surfaces. The universal grade is based on recycled viscose and acrylic fibres, for oils, coolants and water-based fluids. The felt is dense, drapes well and lies flat on rough floors, and the unperforated pads and rolls can be cut to any size. For plants with environmental targets, it gives a recycled-content option alongside the polypropylene range. Because the feedstock is reclaimed, shade and fleck vary slightly between runs.

Marking wet areas

A caution-printed roll absorbs the leak and keeps telling people who walk past that the area needs care. It is perforated down the centre and across, so one roll gives four usable sizes without a knife, and the printed face is abrasion resistant for light foot and trolley traffic. The print can be our standard caution design or your own artwork, wording and language. High-visibility marking supplements, but does not replace, proper signage and safety procedures.

Choosing wipers

Wipers are chosen by the job. Polyester-woodpulp spunlace is durable and absorbent; polypropylene-woodpulp spunlace resists chemicals and abrasion; PP meltblown wipers have high absorbency for oils and chemicals; microfiber cleans without lint or scratches. Spunlace wipers come plain, creped or embossed; meltblown, viscose and bamboo wipers plain or embossed. All are supplied as centrefeed rolls, perforated rolls, folded packs or dispenser formats.

Supplying plants under your brand

We supply distributors and brands who sell under their own name. Universal comes in grey as standard; construction, size, weight, fill, perforation, print and packing are set to your specification. 5–6 different products can be combined in one 40'HQ container, so absorbents, felt, hi-vis rolls and wipers can travel together.