Quaker Receives European Union Grant for Introducing New, More Environmentally Friendly Hydraulic Fluids
June 2006 - UITHOORN, THE NETHERLANDS (NYSE:KWR) – In 2005, Quaker Chemical received a grant from the European Union to introduce new technologies for more environmentally friendly hydraulic fluids to be used in underground mining equipment. The grant was made under the EU’s Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE) program.

LIFE, introduced in 1992, is one of the spearheads of the European Union’s environmental policy. It co-finances projects in the areas of conservation, environmental protection and sustainable development. For more information on LIFE, click here.

The LIFE grant is specifically targeted to introduce hydraulic fluids for longwall mining roof supports. Quaker is a leading supplier of environmentally friendly longwall roof support fluids and the EU is funding Quaker to introduce new technologies that will reduce even further the impact longwall fluids have on the environment.

Quaker's first demonstration of new technology longwall fluids (HFA) is complete, having been carried out over a period of a year in a Deutsche Steinkohle mine in Germany. The original project was prolonged to allow these very innovative technologies to be demonstrated in “real world” applications.

Quaker's second demonstration of new technology longwall fluids (HFA) will begin in the very near future. This new product has the following features:

• Fully synthetic
• A solution
• Highly biodegradable
• Very low in toxicity to aquatic life
  

Quaker Chemical Corporation, headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, is a worldwide developer, producer and marketer of high-quality chemical specialty products, and a provider of fluid management services for industrial customers in the steel, aluminum, metalworking and mining industries around the globe.

Contact: Nick Fowler Global Technical Manager, Mining +44 7785 350 870