Boys in blue go green
December 1st 2006

In an effort to produce greener products which outperform current market leaders,Green Concept has developed a clean,water based, non-hazardous and easy-to-use graffiti removal solution – which does not require aggressive solvents or chemical removal agents.Greater Manchester Police like it

Graffiti removal can be an expensive, time consuming process – and is often damaging to the buildings affected and the environment. But Green Concept has developed a product which it claims is set to change that.The product was trialed this year in the UK with South Ribble Council in Lancashire as part of the Graffiti Focus campaign and additionally with the Greater Manchester Police.

South Ribble Council intended to introduce a new policy under its planning regulations, which requires vulnerable new and refurbished buildings to be protected from graffiti attack.The Council felt that existing methods could be improved upon and set about an extensive review of the numerous products which are around.

South Ribble Council's team manager Andy Cowley contacted Green Concept and arranged a trial on a very challenging soft-stone railway bridge, which had suffered badly both from graffiti attack and its removal.

"The trial proved all of the impressive claims made for the product – and I have recommended it to our planning committee," says Cowley.

Green Concept Managing Director Alan Best adds his own opinion:"In the past, anti-graffiti systems have involved lots of hazardous chemicals and significant man-hours to remove to a much lower standard than with our product.We have harnessed new technology to create a solution which is quicker, more effective and more environmentally friendly than those available in the past".

The company claims the solution incorporates the best aspects of micro waxes and fluoropolymers to make protection and removal comprehensive and fast – also eliminating the need for very high pressure jetting to reduce physical damage.

The product works in two stages:The impregnation coat uses nano-chemistry to firstly protect the surface from penetration by paints, oil and water and to allow it to breathe naturally.The second sacrificial coat is a specialised micro wax coating. Both products are invisible when dry and require only standard paintbrushes, rollers or airless spray systems – all of which can be quickly cleaned in cold water.

The trial with Greater Manchester Police was run through Equion, part of the John Laing Group which builds and runs a large number of public buildings.

The Greater Manchester Police had been experiencing problems with graffiti at one of its 17 Manchester police stations – until a product demonstration was carried out in Salford.According to Alan Best:"The results were good enough for the product to be formally specified for use by the whole group which includes schools, hospitals and even a railway."