Study on Best Available Techniques (BAT) for Surface Treatment of Metals and Plastics (FKZ: 3711 43 330 5)
The EU Commission has carried out an exchange of information on the electroplating industry in Europe in accordance with the requirements of the IVU Directive (2008/1/EG) and as a result published a Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference document on the electroplating industry in 2006. The new Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EG) requires the EU Commission to update all BAT reference documents after 8 years. It is therefore expected that an EU-wide exchange of information to update the state of the art in the European electroplating industry will begin in 2014.
Germany, under the auspices of the Federal Environment Agency, intends to make its own contribution to the exchange of information available, demonstrating the high state of the art in the German electroplating industry. The aim is to establish this standard as the best available technology throughout the EU. This will increase the competitiveness of the German electroplating industry and improve environmental protection in Europe. The EU Commission will review in accordance with the new Industrial Emissions Directive four years after publication of the BAT reference documents whether the emission values in electroplating plants associated with the best available techniques are being achieved in all EU countries.
For the exchange of information for issuing the BREFs by the EU Commission, it is particularly important to document the state of the art using real plant examples and associated plant-related operational data and information, including the associated framework conditions. ÖKOPOL was commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency to prepare this documentation in cooperation with QUBUS and to research the corresponding information.
Within the framework of the project, suitable plants will be selected which represent a high state of the art as a reference and, in the case of environmentally relevant topics, demonstrate the emission values that can be achieved with the best available technology. The operational information should include details of the entire production chain with pre- and post-treatment steps. The framework conditions and application limits of the technologies should be identified, both for low consumption and emission values and for substitutions. Furthermore, measurement methods and measurement periods are to be documented.
The Federal Environment Agency as well as ÖKOPOL and QUBUS are advised on the selection of the reference plants by an accompanying advisory group of representatives of federal state authorities and the Central Association for Surface Technology (ZVO). After the data collection, the results will be discussed in the advisory group and, if necessary, an additional assessment will be carried out. In September 2013, the draft of the final report will be discussed at an expert meeting. After incorporating the suggestions from the expert discussion, a final report on electroplating reference plants in Germany will be completed in English at the end of 2013.
Contact: