Media
SynaTek creates biodegradable deicing solution for commercial and residential applications based on BASF’s formic acid
SOUDERTON, PA, and FLORHAM PARK, NJ, June 13, 2017 – SynaTek, one of the largest manufacturers of ice melt products in the U.S., developed a deicing and anti-icing fluid based on potassium formate, a salt of BASF’s formic acid. Marketed under SynaTek’s EntryTM, the fluid provides pre- and post-treatment of commercial and residential exterior traffic surfaces. SynaTek will showcase its new product at the SIMA Snow & Ice Symposium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on June 20, and the BOMA International Conference & Expo, June 24 to 27, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Potassium formate quickly and reliably removes thin layers of ice, and prevents new snow and ice from accumulating. At a 50 percent concentration, the freezing point is reduced to approximately minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 53 degrees Celsius.) Unlike other deicing agents, potassium formate is readily biodegradable, and does not contain chlorides that can damage ecosystems.
“Entry is an eco-friendly solution that is safer for pets, plants, and metals, and provides rapid and reliable results,” said Nate Clemmer, CEO and Managing Partner of SynaTek. “The non- chloride-based product does not become sticky or slippery, and eliminates residue and granular tracking. Additionally, our collaboration with BASF, and their formic acid production site in Geismar, Louisiana, allows us to offer a domestically sourced product.”
With its new plant in Geismar, Louisiana, BASF is the only company in the U.S. to produce formic acid, which reduces delivery time throughout the region. BASF is the world’s leading producer of formic acid, with plants in Geismar, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Nanjing, China.
Formic acid is an effective solution for a wide range of applications, such as animal feed preservatives, formate salts for runway deicing, household and industrial cleaning, pharmaceutical and other chemical intermediates, and the promotion of oil and gas extraction. Many beekeepers also use the organic acid to protect bees from the dangerous varroa mite.
For more information about formic acid, visit basf.com/formicacid-americas.
About SynaTek, LP
SynaTek, LP is one of the largest independent manufacturers and distributors of commercial turf, ornamental, and ice melt products in the United States, serving the professional landscape, golf, building and facilities management, and janitorial/sanitation industries. People Powered and Solutions Driven, SynaTek puts its people first in order to effectively partner with customers to solve problems they didn’t even know they had. SynaTek’s cycle of innovation is driven by understanding customers’ needs, resulting in high-performance products that have the least possible impact on the environment.
For more information, call 888-408-5433 or visit www.synateksolutions.com.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.
P-US-17-062