news release

Lacerta Group, Inc. Creates New Uses For Old Plastics

Boston, March, 1997: Lacerta Group, Inc., a young Boston -based company specializing in magnetic media and plastics recycling and reuse, has developed a reputation for integrating total recycling solutions into the manufacturing process.

Founder and principal Ali Lotfi states that his company, founded in 1993, manufactures thermoformed packaging and blister-packs using recycled plastics which often contain plastics recovered during their own manufacturing process.

"As we currently de-manufacture and recycle magnetic media products which contain engineered plastics and components such as PET, polycarbonate, ABS, polystyrene, polyethylene, and others, we sort and collect these products, including manufacturing scrap, for resale to plastics manufacturers, and then buy from them plastics which contain the materials we sent them for re-use . Everything from rejects to scrap generated in manufacturing, gets recycled."

Recovered materials can be used for manufacturing fibers, furniture, packaging materials, and even for re-manufacturing magnetic media. Lacerta uses recycled plastic materials in its blister-pack and thermoformed packaging operation. With on-site mold making capability, prototype molds and samples can be supplied in 48 hours. Package printing and fulfillment are also available to support the total packaging supply concept.

"Our first thermoformed packaging project was for Polaroid’s Step 1 Camera package. They are converting much of their packaging from blister-pack to recycled thermoformed packaging", comments Lotfi.

Due to mandates by government and environmental regulations, manufacturers of virgin plastics and packaging materials need to use certain percentages of recycled plastics in their processes. These regulations, combined with rising prices for virgin plastics, has resulted in a growing need for the recycled materials.

Ali and his brother Mory, principals of Lacerta Group, Inc., are both mechanical engineers, and have extensive experience in research and development, manufacturing of magnetic media, recycling and processing of plastic components, and environmental and waste management issues. Their combined expertise and experience allows them to provide the magnetic media industry with a comprehensive solution to address environmental concerns.

Lacerta currently de-manufactures finished products (rejects, overproduction, recalls, obsolete media formats or damaged products such as CDs, video cassettes, audio cassettes, diskettes, 9-track tapes and computer tapes), recovers the components for possible reuse, or grinds up the components for re-use in different applications. Materials currently being recovered include polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and ABS. The company also provides de-gaussing and data destruction services and sells a data recovery cracker for data retrieval from damaged 3480/3490 type data cartridges.

For more information on Lacerta Group, Inc., to request a quote on recycling services, or to receive a corporate brochure, please call Lacerta at (617) 442-3111, or e-mail taperecycle@lacerta.com.

Copyright© Lacerta Group, Inc. 1998