Ernie Ellis News

Metalcraft, a designer and manufacturer of fire detection and suppression equipment, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company serves a broad range of industries, including marine, auto racing, defense and aerospace, where its extinguishers have flown on numerous NASA missions. Beginning as a machine shop in the mid-60s with two owners and a secretary, the company served a localized Baltimore customer base. Within 10 years, it began supplying fire extinguishers to the U.S. government and defense agencies. By 1997, Metalcraft had become an international company.

The halon and CO2 replacement has virtually no Global Warming Potential (GWP), is non-toxic and won't harm delicate electronics. "GWP has moved to the forefront as a major environmental concern," said Sea-Fire president Ernie Ellis. "In the 1990s, Sea-Fire addressed ozone depletion with FM-200. Novec 1230 also has zero ozone depletion potential, but a GWP of just one. Compared to halon's atmospheric life span of 300 years, Novec 1230's is only 5 days. "More and more countries, authorities and consumers require or opt for environmentally sound products," Ellis continued.