An emergency shelter, designed and produced by Frome firm Protomax Plastics, is on its way to the Caribbean as a demonstration model for low cost housing.
The shelter, or e-house, is heading to the Dominican Republic to show how upcycled waste plastic can be turned into boards for simple, easy to build, long lasting safe shelters. The board, under the trade name Storm Board, is made from a variety of plastic products such as coat hangers and containers. It is hard-wearing, weather-proof and at the end of its use is 100 per cent recyclable into new board and is a cost-effective and durable alternative to MDF, chipboard and plywood.
Protomax founder Nick Stillwell says the shelter will be particularly beneficial in areas surrounded by sea-water like the Caribbean, as it will not rot and it is hoped that neighbouring Haiti will realise the benefits of acquiring the shelters as disaster relief accommodation.
He explained, “There’s a lot of focus at present on plastic waste in our oceans and a company dedicated to fishing this waste out of the sea, Waste Free Oceans, is setting up educational workshops to collect waste and build with the board. We have the answer to converting that plastic waste into products for everyday use.
“There’s been a lot of interest in the Dominican Republic for setting up a Protomax plant to convert the waste into building products.”
Organising the delivery of the shelter to the Dominican Republic was one of the first jobs for new employee, Alistair Murray, at the Frome company.
Alistair has been appointed as head of the six-strong production team at the Vallis Way factory, which upcycles waste plastics and turns them into items for everyday use such as worktops, garden furniture and exhibition boards, but primarily into boards for the construction industry.
South African-born Alistair has a background in industrial engineering and quality assurance in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.
Protomax Plastics is based at Vallis Mills Trading Estate. BA11 3DT.
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