ausauto News Article

Smart way to protect vehicles and the enviroment

'Green think' is certainly taking hold in the automotive industry. There's numerous alternatives to the internal combustion power plant being tested around the world, the V8 Supercars have moved to a cleaner, greener fuel and now Smart Automotive has moved to create a cleaner, greener product range for those working in the mechanical and smash repair industry.

Smart Automotive's Repeat is a fabric made from recycled PET (polyethylene terepthalate) for its latest range of seat protectors used during service, repair and maintenance.

The company claims that a Repeat seat protector will last for about six months of repeat use and when its working life is over it can be dropped into the nearest PET recycling bin ready for the next reincarnation.

Each seat protector starts out as four 600ml PET bottles that are chopped, washed, ground, melted and reformulated to become 100% PET flakes, which are then extruded and textured into yarn and woven into fabric.

The fabric is then put through a special sealing process to ensure the products are non-soluble and repellent. 

All of which means, according to Smart Automotive's David Turney, that technicians can now protect both the clients vehicle and the environment.

"The beauty of Repeat is that it is made from a recycled material with no extra additives. 

"Because it is pure, it can be recycled again, so it leaves a smaller ecological footprint than many other plastics.

"At the same time, it provides a product that is durable, reusable and economical to buy, which are important considerations for a business that must provide a service to its customers but also look after its bottom line," he said.

Smart Automotive also produces the patented Smartcover seat protector as well as steering wheel protectors and gear and handbrake lever protectors, all made from reusable, recyclable, non-woven polypropylene (NWPP).

"Both Repeat and NWPP are tough, fluid-resistant materials that can be customised to suit our clients' needs.

"Repeat is available in black and Smartcover can be made up in almost any of the Pantone matching system colours. 

"Both can be custom coloured and branded with a clients' business name, logo and graphics," added David.