Pricey Platinum Pushes the Price of Air Pollution Control Products Skyward

Santa Fe, NM – February 27, 2008 – During Sunday’s CBS broadcast of 60 Minutes, veteran commentator Andy Rooney asked what was all the fuss concerning the recent astronomical rise in platinum prices. Rooney ranted “I don’t really know what platinum is. What do they do with platinum anyway?” When it comes to cleaning up air pollution, the answer is plenty.

Surprisingly, manufacturers of air pollution control products are the top consumers of platinum - not the jewelry industry. Platinum is the catalyst used inside of most catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters to rid exhaust emissions of dangerous soot, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. With ever-more stringent air quality regulations being enforced in the United States and Europe, the demand for platinum has soared with the demand to control air pollution in cars, diesel trucks, construction vehicles, and emergency generators.

A recent shutdown of South African mines caused an increase of 41% in platinum prices since the beginning of the year. As South Africa supplies 78 percent of the world’s supply of this precious metal, even a stoppage of a few days has a worldwide effect on prices.

To put this dramatic rise in perspective:
- On February 21st, platinum reached an all-time high of $2,185 a troy ounce
- During the same month a year ago, platinum averaged $1,207 a troy ounce
- Five years ago, it averaged $684 a troy ounce during February of 2003

With an estimated worldwide shortage of 400,000 troy ounces predicted for 2008, prices may remain a volatile rollercoaster.

What effect does escalating platinum prices have on the cost of reducing air pollution?

Manufacturers of air pollution control products are finding it increasingly more expensive to produce catalytic converters and particulate filters mandated by the EPA, the European Union and the California Air Resources Board. “We used to adjust our product prices twice per year according to the rise and fall of platinum prices,” said Technical Sales Engineer, Ralph Wintersberger of CleanAIR Systems, a manufacturer of diesel particulate filters and oxidation converters. “Now we have no choice but to keep a close eye on platinum fluctuations and make daily adjustments to our prices.”

In the end, the ever-increasing cost of cleaning up air pollution is passed on to the consumer:
- As the price of platinum rises, the price tag on cars and trucks will also increase to cover the cost of catalytic converters made with high-priced platinum.
- Hospitals, schools, and data centers will feel the brunt of escalating platinum prices when they install diesel particulate filters on their emergency backup generators to decrease toxic air pollution.
- Diesel school buses are being retrofitted all over the country with converters to protect children from dangerous pollutants – a direct cause of asthma, bronchitis and other lung impairments. High platinum prices translates into fewer buses being retrofitted for the safety of riders.
- Mining equipment and construction vehicles are equipped with air pollution control technology to decrease on-site emissions of particulate pollution. The increased cost of catalyzed filters is passed on to the public in the form of durable goods, new homes and taxes to cover building and transportation projects.

Yes, Andy Rooney – you may not know what platinum is used for, but you will eventually feel the pinch of unprecedented soaring platinum prices in your pocketbook.

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About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Our products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

Cleaning Up Emissions

Santa Fe, NM – May 15, 2007 – CleanAIR Systems, a leading manufacturer of air pollution control products, has launched the PERMIT Filter/Silencer as a new addition to their line of diesel particulate filters. The Filter/Silencer is designed to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce noise from prime power and emergency generators. Facilities and companies with generators are already familiar with silencers installed to lessen engine noise. In today’s green economy, silencer products need to do more. With the enforcement of stringent pollution regulations, generator owners also need emissions control technology along with sound reduction to meet demanding air quality laws. Using CleanAIR PERMIT Filters, which are verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet the strictest air pollution laws in the United States, the PERMIT Filter/Silencer meets both requirements.

In the United States alone, there are an estimated 100,000 industrial standby generators. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them. Most are used on a limited basis by commercial and public facilities such as colleges, critical care facilities and data storage centers in case of an emergency. These generators are run periodically for routine testing and maintenance. But some facilities also use their generators as prime power to minimize peak power loads on the electrical grid. During operation diesel generators emit a variety of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons – all of which can cause serious health issues, especially for children and older adults. Due to our need for energy, generators and the air pollution they produce have become a part of every community.

Recent reports by the Clean Air Task Force, Environmental Health Perspectives and The Coalition for Clean Air all detail the dangers of fine particulate matter (PM) pollution. The health impact of particulate air pollution ranges from asthma attacks and lung cancer to cardiac problems and decreased life expectancy. The World Health Organization estimates that thousands of deaths each year may be caused by exposure to PM. And the American Lung Association believes fine air-borne particulate represents our most serious health threat. Not only is particulate matter a global environmental hazard, but also a dangerous health problem.

With this in mind, CleanAIR Systems designed the PERMIT Filter/Silencer to be installed on the exhaust of a generator, eliminating visible black smoke, toxic diesel odor and noise while the engine is running. Available for all stationary engine sizes, emissions of particulate matter are substantially reduced by more than 85% and emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%.

“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

The PERMIT Filter/Silencer is custom designed to fit each job. Its stainless steel construction is corrosion-resistant; thereby extending the life of the product. By using more durable, light-weight stainless steel, the Filter/Silencer offers a 50% total weight reduction over average silencer-only products, allowing for easier installation and shipping. Each PERMIT Filter/Silencer is also fully insulated to reduce heat loss and provide sound reduction.

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

Although we have come to rely on diesel generators for essential backup power, as in the case of school, emergency facilities and hospitals, they can also be cleaned up with readily available emissions control technology. Diesel particulate matter and other pollutants are eliminated when a generator is retrofitted with a CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer, helping to decrease the impact of diesel air pollution on our health and the environment.

For more information on the CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer visit http://www.cleanairsys.com/products/filters/index.htm

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.


Extras:
The Facts:
-- CleanAIR Systems introduces the PERMIT Filter/Silencer, an air pollution control product for generators, to substantially reduce emissions of dangerous particulate matter by greater than 85%, and carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%., as well as reduce noise levels.

-- Particulate matter is considered a global environmental hazard and a dangerous health problem. There are an estimated 100,000 industrial emergency and prime power generators in use in the United States. The majority have no emissions control technology installed on them.

-- The PERMIT Filter/Silencer can be installed by any facility with a generator to eliminate black smoke, diesel odor and reduce sound. Examples: schools and college campuses, waste water treatment centers, hospital and critical care facilities, emergency shelters, data storage centers, manufacturing facilities, private companies, municipal buildings, correctional facilities, mining operations, farm operations using pumping equipment, and power generation facilities.

-- The CleanAIR Filter/Silencer combines the benefits of a silencer for sound reduction and the benefits of diesel particulate filters for emissions control, into one space-saving unit. Containing CARB verified PERMIT filters, the CleanAIR Filter/Silencer has all-stainless steel construction and is fully insulated for sound attenuation. Available for all engines sizes, the custom-designed PERMIT Filter/Silencer is rust resistant, light weight, and easy to install.

Quotes:
“All kinds of facilities use our PERMIT Filter/Silencer to reduce pollution and help with sound. We work with schools, hospitals, power plants and just about anyone who has a generator,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “Many times space can be an issue. That’s why we combined our diesel particulate filters with a silencer. Now the customer purchases just one unit instead of two separate products that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters to reduce air pollution,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers needed. We designed a premium pollution control product that all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install for better emissions control.”

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Contact us: mailto:louise@cleanairsys.com