6455 East Johns Crossing, Suite 375
Johns Creek, GA 30097
1-800-228-3877
[email protected]
www.spilltech.com


Headquartered in Johns Creek, GA, with a manufacturing facility in Mobile, AL, SpillTech has manufactured and offered distributors high-performance polypropylene sorbent products for industrial maintenance and spill cleanup since 1971.

SpillTech offers an exclusive line of high-performance sorbents for almost any leak or spill application and also markets a range of complementary spill control products to help workers establish and maintain clean, safe industrial workplace environments.

The company’s main product lines are made with meltblown polypropylene and includes pads, rolls, socks, booms, pillows and spill kits in oil-only, universal and hazmat absorbencies.

SpillTech offers several different lines, or “families,” of meltblown polypropylene products by changing up the layers of construction. Its Responder family is a straight meltblown polypropylene pad allowing for the fastest basic method of absorbency. Its Commander family adds a layer of fine fiber to each side of the meltblown base pad, giving it a functional texture. Meanwhile, the Protector family adds layers of spunbond polypropylene to that base, which gives it great tensile strength for heavier-duty applications. The company also uses chopped polypropylene and poly blend to fill items such as socks, pillows or booms.

Most recently, the company developed a line using recycled fibers called Maximizer. These pads and rolls use 70% pre-consumer recycled cellulose to soak up 14 times their weight. “Having multiple methods for creating absorbents allows us to develop unique solutions to leak and spill problems for our distribution partners,” says Robin Thornett, marketing manager.

There are several reasons why polypropylene is the best material for the clean up of leaks, spills and drips, according to Thornett. First is because of its high absorbency. “Oil-based liquids have a natural affinity for polypropylene, making it the perfect choice for absorbents,” she says. “Simple treatment allows it to take on water-based liquids with equal veracity. The fibers trap the liquid, maintaining good retention until disposal.”

Also, polypropylene is known for being chemically compatible with many types of liquids, including some highly aggressive chemicals. “SpillTech has tested the most common chemicals we encounter, but if a customer is absorbing something we haven’t tried yet, we are happy to provide materials to test before making a purchase,” she explains.

Finally, polypropylene is not a fire hazard. As a general rule, Thornett notes that polypropylene doesn’t support combustion, which means its absorbent products won’t make a fire worse or do anything to sustain a flame. Once the flame threat is removed, a polypropylene absorbent will self-extinguish. If it is somehow kept in flames at 250 degrees, it will simply melt, she says.

The industrial absorbents market is not just comprised ofmanufacturers and distributors; it also includes raw material suppliers, processors and regulatory organizations in the supply chain, Thornett explains. “We are seeing pushes throughout the industry from oil and gas, chemical, food processing and healthcare industries as they all continue to understand the regulations surrounding leaks, drips and spills and how they impact worker safety.”

This activity, combined with general market consolidation efforts, has given substantial rise to buying groups and B-to-B broad range suppliers adding spill control products to their offering. “Those groups are looking to us, and manufacturers like us, to be utilitarian enough to fit a lot of customers’ needs while remaining nimble enough to set ourselves apart from the large groups of other vendors they may represent.”