Surface World January 2023

MANAGING DIRECTOR & ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR

Nigel Bean

t: +44 (0) 1442 826826

e: nigelbean1@aol.com nigelbean@surfaceworld.com

EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jane Soones

e: janesoones@aol.com janesoones@surfaceworld.com

CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT

Sheena Burrus e: sheenaburrus@hillmedia.com

EXHIBITION ORGANISER

Sheena Burrus e: sheenaburrus@hillmedia.com

Hill Media Ltd, Marash House

2-5 Brook Street, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5ED, United Kingdom.

The Surface World magazine is published 12 times a year by Hill Media Ltd. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in Surface World, Hill Media Ltd and its agents accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright for all material published in this journal remains with Hill Media Ltd and its agents.

© Hill Media Ltd – 2022 ISSN 1757-367X

QUALICOAT for all your architectural aluminium powder coating requirements qualicoatuki.org

Surface World 2023bringing over 20 years of service to your industry

Trade shows, exhibitions and other events can be an excellent way to showcase your products and services. They give you the opportunity to increase awareness of your business, launch new products and services, network with industry members, explore partnership opportunities, see what competitors are offering, generate new business leads, attract and convert customers.

What is a Trade Show?

A trade show is a platform where businesses (exhibitors), professionals and business representatives (visitors) come together under one roof to exchange knowledge and make connections with other like-minded professionals.

Exhibitors book a stand and use this space to connect and engage with visitors to the event. Ideally, the event is used to generate leads, network, promote products and services, and hopefully close a few sales in an organic setting that’s tailored to them and their audience.

How can you benefit from exhibiting at a Trade Show?

There are many reasons why you would choose to exhibit at a trade show, which include:

Make sales – the golden ticket to trade show success, hitting a quota or making direct sales is the ultimate definition of winning.

Capture leads – without leads salespeople have nobody to convert, so generating enough leads for your marketing funnel is a must.

Analysing the competition – what technology are they using, what marketing angle are they taking? It’s good to know what the competition is up to.

Engage with existing customers –existing customers are more likely to invest in new products and services, so you can keep building relations and offering them more benefits.

Introduce new products/ services – new and old customers could benefit from your new product.

Account-based marketing – go into a trade show with an idea of who you’d like to speak with, so you can create a strategy that’s more likely to convert them.

Gather feedback – feedback is how you improve services and sales and marketing; you could receive advice that revolutionises how you do things.

Spot trends – spotting trends is vital if you want to stay relevant or avoid something that’s a flash in the pan.

What should you look at when selecting a trade show?

The best success can be gained from participating at an event that has a well-established history. These events usually draw the best reward. The event organiser should have proven methods in place to market the event to the right audience. They will have a database they have accrued over many years of business. The venue should be easily accessed by road or public transport and have plenty of parking. A venue with excellent nearby facilities, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, can also be a bonus if the event is held over more than one day.

Can You Make Money at a Trade Show?

Keeping costs down is a benefit when deciding which trade show to exhibit at. Smaller shows tend to be cheaper, so choosing an event that is aimed at your target audience is the key to a successful outcome from exhibiting. Here are some ways you can get a healthy ROI from a trade show, including:

Only buy the space you need – the area you buy takes up a significant amount of your budget, so overdoing

it can waste money, which is going to eat into your sales.

Get an enticing exhibition stand – you can have a tiny space and still attract people if your stand is attractive, making your area presentable promotes credibility.

Organisation is key – there’s a temptation to blindly hand out literature and marketing collateral, putting it at the back of your space makes reps think about engaging first, which is more likely to generate a lead or a sale.

Use tech where it’s useful – the whole purpose of a trade show is to generate business through face-toface marketing, so don’t dehumanise the event by using too much technology.

Pick the right team – there’s no point in attending an event if you pick the wrong staff. Ideally, it would benefit you if you had people who understand and empathise with customer challenges, but also know when to close deals.

Work the aisles – do not limit yourself to the boundary of your stand, you can reach out to passers-by and engage in the aisle.

Tell people you’re exhibiting –use as many marketing techniques as you can to create a build-up to the event and get people excited. Utilise all marketing opportunities the event itself offer, these are generally targeted directly at your required audience.

What Do You Need for a Trade Show?

The last thing you want to do is under prepare. Get the following ticked off before you get to your event:

Event space – the first thing you

need is event space, you’ll have a shock if you turn up and there’s nowhere for you to pitch!

Stand with supporting collateral – your stand and marketing collateral are what attract people to your stand.

Travel plans – train, bus, plane, car? It would help if you had robust plans in place before you depart.

Accommodation – if you’re planning on staying over, which you may want to as events are long, tiring days, reserve in advance as hotels may get booked up prior to the event.

Marketing collateral – brochures, leaflets, business cards; get all the material you need and ensure you get plenty. You don’t want to run out.

Staff – ask your staff well before the event to ensure they are available to attend, cancelling holidays will not be seen as favourable to you! Remember your staff are the face of the business at the event, get them prepared.

Could You See Success at a Trade Show?

Trade shows aren’t an antiquated form of marketing and sales – they’re proven to generate targeted, high-quality leads and sales. Not every business can benefit from attending trade shows, but they’re certainly worth exploring. Just like trade shows give you the opportunity to better connect with prospective customers, exhibiting at a trade show also allows you to meet existing customers face-to-face.

While most of today’s business is conducted over email or

phone, face-to-face meetings are undeniably a fantastic way to do business.

The Wall Street Journal agrees. Citing a study by Oxford Economics, the well-known financial publication reports that face-to-face meetings are the most effective way to strengthen relationships with both prospective customers and current customers.

Trade shows help bring all the different aspects of an industry together –consumers, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers, all in one place. With such a broad audience together in one place, businesses are able to schedule meetings, negotiate orders and other opportunities and collaborate on other projects. Trade shows allow businesses to facilitate discussions with their suppliers and even with other businesses, as well as move projects to another level if the opportunity arises.

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Gema UK & Ireland Team News

Gema is delighted to announce the appointment of two new team members in the UK. Neil Scragg and Josh Bowker have joined the business as part of our ambitious ‘fit for the future’ growth strategy and to add additional Technical & Sales support for our customers.

Neil joined the business in December as our UK Head of Sales and will be directly managing our distribution network and sales in the Northern Region. Neil has been in the Surface Finishing industry for 34 years and started his career as an Apprentice Mechanical Design Engineer and moved into Technical Support roles, Sales & Engineering Management and ran one of the UKs market leading Surface Preparation machine manufacturers before he joined GEMA. Neil has a wealth of experience and knowledge of applications, processes and systems which are complimentary to our powder coating expertise and looks forward to supporting our customers on the latest GEMA technologies and improvement opportunities.

Josh came on board in January as our Technical Sales Manager for the Midlands and South region. Josh started his career as an apprentice at General Electric in Stafford, gaining valuable experience in engineering as well as qualifications in mechanical and electrical engineering. Josh advanced into the manufacturing office as a Design & Production Engineer, implementing jigs, fixtures, tooling and CNC equipment as well as supporting the production team on the day to day running of the company. More recently Josh has worked as a Design Engineer, designing Industrial switchgear and Automatic transfer switches and supported the technical sales of EV charging infrastructure.

Leon Hogg, General Manager of GEMA UK & Ireland, has also reached a milestone of 15 years’ service with the business. General Manager of GEMA Europe, Richard Hawkins, is presenting Leon with his long service award.

Richard has been with the business for 37 years and has helped pioneer the adoption of GEMA powder coating systems into new markets and applications. Leon & Neil both served their engineering apprenticeships at the same business. Leon completed his electrical engineering apprenticeship and was heavily involved in the design and manufacture of control panels and systems. Leon progressed into equipment installation and commissioning and then into Technical Sales & Management.

Leon joined GEMA UK in January 2008 as the Sales Manager for the UK and progressed into the General Managers position in January 2016 and has since very successfully led the GEMA UK & Ireland team to become the market leading powder coating brand. Leon was also inducted into the GEMA management programme and achieved a prestigious MBA from Warwick Business School.

At GEMA, our team of professionals aim to be the best in our industry. We are the undisputed worldwide leader in our market. We have reached this position and maintained it for many years thanks to our strong investments in innovation, a real passion for high quality products and our service mentality that puts the customer at the centre of our initiatives.

The success of these strategies is largely based on our worldwide employees, who are the real driving force of our company. We invest in the best talent to bring a fresh perspective into our organization and become our tomorrow’s leaders.

For more information on Gema please visit: www.gemapowdercoating.com/en/

Neil Scragg – UK Head of Sales

Josh Bowker – Technical Sales Manager

Richard Hawkins presenting Leon Hogg with his long service award

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QUALICOAT’s Third Party Accreditation

By Angus Mackie -

QUALICOAT Chair

British Standards offer a respected specification are often used across the globe to recognise a ‘standard’ for manufacture or provide a service. By specification of a standard you are asking for a product or service that will fulfil its duty in use in any particular industry. However, as a specifier you rely on the credibility of the supplier to ensure that they maintain the consistency of the standard by checking and testing product and processes. The same can be said for many other national standards.

If a supplier fails to meet the level of specification within a given standard, often products can be replaced, but what happens when this cannot be achieved? Usually lengthy legal challenges take place costing time and money. Citing architectural powder coating as an example, it is not possible simply to remove the product and replace it as coated products are built into a building project. Often the final position for such failures of specification on installations is somewhat of a compromise. As we all know, it is better to get it right to start with, which is the holy grail for any specifier on behalf of their client.

Turning to third party accreditation, a process that protects both the specifier and the client, surely this

should be something that we should be insisting on? Often critical specifications are inspected by consultants, but is this really necessary, would it not be better for the supplier themselves to lay bare their processes so a third party can qualify the supplier against a standard for all production?

Simply put, third party accreditation invites an independent person or company the responsibility to undertake process and product checking to ensure the product or service meets the quoted standard. The result gives the client confidence that the product will fulfil their specified needs whilst the supplier is also qualified as a supplier of quality product.

The Association QUALICOAT has placed third party accreditation at the heart of their architectural powder coating specification. As a global specification, when used across the UK & Ireland, the specification is managed by ‘QUALICOAT UK & Ireland’ with offices based in the West Midlands.

So what is the QUALICOAT specification and how does it differ from the BS EN 12206 standard for powder coating?

First of all it is fair to say that the much smaller British Standard is largely covered by the much larger and more up to date QUALICOAT specification, simply because it is the correct way to powder coat architectural profiles. The difference is that the QUALICOAT specification is far more precise in giving details of process and process control parameters offering a far better consistency in quality output. So, who writes this more detailed QUALICOAT specification? Surprisingly the very members themselves acting in working groups consisting of members across the globe. Why? In order to offer the best possible quality of architectural powder coating for a long sustainable life expectancy. All updates to the specifications are a result of detailed research by dedicated working groups only made up of employees of member companies.

We have all said at sometime ‘put your money where your mouth is’, well this

Powder coating of aluminium profile

Angus Mackie

is exactly what QUALICOAT members do on a regular basis. They not only sign up to a more onerous QUALICOAT specification when they become members, but also agree to invite and pay for unannounced independent audits from a third party company. All current QUALICOAT licence holders can be checked on the main qualicoat.net website and on the UK & Ireland’s qualicoatuki.org website.

IFO from Germany are QUALICOAT UK & Ireland nominated independent test house who are regularly in the UK to undertake twice yearly unannounced inspection of coating members. Reports are issued to the Association and member noting any noncompliances against the QUALICOAT specification. Minor non-compliance issues, rare as they are, may be reinspected, unannounced, again in a short period, more critical non-compliance issues could mean that the coater will lose their licenced status and will not be able to use the QUALICOAT name in any of their business dealings.

Members meet four times a year to discuss progress of the working groups and to review updates to the specification which are often implemented as soon as they are released.

Each QUALICOAT member prides themselves on offering high quality coating, so any QUALICOAT licence holder coater not only signs up to offer the enhanced specification but also proudly carries the credibility of one of the worlds most wide reaching specification in building construction. But, it doesn’t stop there, to ensure vertical integration with quality powder producers and aluminium pretreatment systems providers, both these supply chain providers also have meet the QUALICOAT specification and follow a similar third party inspection regime. All major powder suppliers are QUALICOAT licenced as well as many of the chemical systems companies for pretreatment. Integrating these companies into working groups ensures that enhancements to the specification, which occur in real time, meet with the approval of the complete supply chain. So quality products supplied to quality powder coaters who then are able to offer possibly the best powder coating finish specifiable.

Finally, in the words of a very famous entrepreneur ‘one more thing’! In the Association‘s pursuit of the highest quality architectural powder coating, recently launched is QUALICOAT 3.0. Over the last decade as we use more recycled aluminium the Association has recognised that poor quality recycled content does affect the sustainability of the powder coating. A QUALICOAT 3.0 specification targets the aluminium processor to

ensure that their output of extrusion or sheet aluminium reaches strict tolerances for both process and contaminant content to ensure the longest possible surface coating life expectancy. This specification is now live and open to specifiers to use.

Please contact your local QUALICOAT coater or head office in the West Midlands should you have any specification questions.

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AkzoNobel launches dedicated range of Resicoat powder coatings to help drive the electric vehicles of tomorrow

The future success of EVs is dependent on the performance of the battery and associated systems. Battery performance, however, is highly impacted by its environment, which is why it needs protection to ensure the vehicle’s performance and the safety of the passengers. Powder coatings can improve the performance of the battery by providing insulation from electric current and protection against corrosion. This means manufacturers can extend battery life, and ensure the battery performs better for longer.

The range comprise Resicoat EVpack which delivers a range of protective properties for the battery pack or housing to insulate electrical systems; Resicoat EVcell which provides outstanding cell to cell electrical insulation for even the most intricate designs; and Resicoat EVcooling, designed to deliver superior performance in thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, edge coverage and consistent film building in cooling tube and cooling plate applications.

It also includes Resicoat EVbusbar to coat the busbars that carry and distribute electricity to improve heat dissipation and support a lower fire load with a longer lifetime during thermal impact.

Each of the five product ranges developed within the Resicoat EV range has been specifically innovated to enhance the safety and performance of the EVs of tomorrow. They have superior electrical insulating properties and enhanced thermal management to help protect the battery systems, motors, and electrical storage units.

To protect the electric motor, the Resicoat EVmotor range includes epoxy powder solutions that are specifically designed for the electrical insulation of hairpin stators.

Key solutions within the Resicoat EV range are tested and approved to UL 94 V-0 which enables vehicle systems to tolerate a certain amount

of exposure to a flame without igniting. They’re also tested and approved to UL746B and UL1446, ensuring they can resist thermal degradation and possible damage that can occur at elevated temperatures.

Sustainability is a significant driver in the popularity of EVs and similarly important to AkzoNobel. Crucially, the guaranteed durability of the Resicoat EV range in protecting essential components means those components last longer before needing to be replaced. Resicoat powder coatings have very minimum Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and conform to the industry’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, to give coaters and customers ultimate peace of mind.

Jeff Jirak, Managing Director at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, says innovation is the key to accelerating the future EVs: “For more than 60 years we have built the expertise and innovation inherent with our Resicoat brand to help resolve the challenge of electrical insulation. We understand how an exceptional powder coating with the right application technique will provide consistent electrical insulation for the life of the key components, such as the batteries in EVs,” he explains.

“It’s further proof of our commitment to supporting our customers through partnerships and product development to create, power and protect the designs of the future.”

For more information about Resicoat EV range, visit https://automotive. interpon.com/emobility/

AkzoNobel has launched a new range of Resicoat EV powder coatings to protect the battery system and electrical components of a new generation of electric vehicles (EVs).

Jeff Jirak, Managing Director at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, says innovation is the key to accelerating the future EVs

Jim Kavanagh appointed as Managing Director of Industrial Coatings, AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel has appointed Jim Kavanagh as its new Managing Director of Industrial Coatings.

Jim will lead the strategic direction across a diverse portfolio, including Coil and Extrusion Coatings, Packaging Coatings, Wood Finishes and Wood Adhesives. He joined AkzoNobel in 1990 as a development chemist in the Protective Coatings business. During his 32 years with the company, Jim has held various positions, including roles within product management and marketing. From 2000, he worked internationally as a General Manager and Commercial Director based in China, Africa and the UAE. Most recently, he was responsible for leading the Metal Coatings business in EMEA as Regional Commercial Director.

Commenting on his new role, Jim says: “I’m very proud to be leading a business with so many talented individuals and teams across such a diverse and impressive portfolio. I’m looking forward to further developing our capabilities and building on our leading global positions.”

AkzoNobel recognized again as a European Top Employer

AkzoNobel has launched a new range of Resicoat EV powder coatings to protect the battery system and electrical components of a new generation of electric vehicles (EVs).

AkzoNobel has been rated as a European Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute for the second consecutive year. In the latest benchmark review, the company has been recognized in eight countries – Brazil, China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the US – all of them repeat certifications. AkzoNobel qualifies as a European Top Employer because five of the certified countries are in Europe.

“In a year when many external developments impacted our focus, achieving eight certifications shows that we’re on the right track,” says Jöelle Boxus, AkzoNobel’s Chief Human Resources Officer. “It’s something to be proud of and we’re all keen to maintain this momentum going forward.” Each year, the Top Employers Institute certifies organizations who are focused on putting people first through their HR policies. The survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics, including people strategy,

work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity and inclusion, and well-being.

“We ran several people-driven initiatives during 2022 designed to help our employees thrive and build their capabilities,” adds Boxus. “They focused on several key areas to ensure that we continue to create a diverse and inclusive environment which respects cultural differences and offers opportunities for personal development. With People. Planet. Paint. at the heart of everything we do, we’re committed to helping all our employees be the best they can be.”

The latest 2023 rating marks the second certification in a row for AkzoNobel in France, Germany and Sweden, the fourth for the Netherlands and the US, the seventh for Brazil, the tenth for China and the 11th for the UK.

To learn more about working for AkzoNobel, visit:

www.akzonobel.com/en/careers

Bathing in non-reflective glory

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World Coatings Council Publishes First Global Sustainability Report

The World Coatings Council is pleased to announce the publication of its inaugural report, Sustainability in the Global Paint & Coatings Industry. The report highlights the global industry’s ongoing sustainability efforts to advance technologies in coating science and manufacturing, while minimizing impacts on human health and the environment.

The report emphasizes the critical role coatings and the global industry play in contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as framed by nine specific SDGs where industry can have the greatest impact:

(UN SDG #8); Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (UN SDG #9); Sustainable Cities and Communities (UN SDG #11); Responsible Consumption and Climate Action (UN SDG #13); and Life Below Water (UN SDG #14). Featuring examples that support Sustainability charter, the global report underscores that coatings are essential to making products and our built infrastructure sustainable by providing resistance and durability; providing performance properties and healthy communities; and serving a critical role for applications in the health and food sectors, among many others. The report also highlights the industry’s efforts to achieve

resource efficiency in production processes, consideration of raw material consumption, and implementation of health and safety measures to ensure decent work and economic growth.

You can read or download the Sustainability in the Global Paint & Coatings Industry report by visiting www.worldcoatingscouncil.org.

About the World Coatings Council

The World Coatings Council is comprised of members representing associations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The Secretariat position is currently conducted by the American Coatings Association.

The World Coatings Council provides a forum for information exchange and cooperation on the key issues and priorities facing the paint and printing ink industries worldwide.

For information about WCC and the activities it is involved in on behalf of the global paint and coatings industry, go to www. worldcoatingscouncil.org.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Beckers announces sale of global Railway Coatings business to KANSAI HELIOS

Beckers Group, a global purpose-led, innovationbased coatings company, today announces that it has reached an agreement to sell its Railway Coatings business to KANSAI HELIOS for an undisclosed sum. The asset purchase agreement for the sale of the railway coatings business of Beckers´ company Becker Industrie SAS, Montbrison (France) was signed on December 9th, 2022. After completion of closing conditions, KANSAI HELIOS will acquire all business assets of Becker Industrie SAS in the Railway Coatings segment.

The transaction is an outcome of Beckers’ strategic review and part of the transformation of Beckers into a focused sustainable innovation-based leader. It allows Beckers to increase efficiency and reinvest into strategic core segments and new products. As a part of this transaction, KANSAI HELIOS will establish its first subsidiary in France, KANSAI HELIOS France SAS. With this acquisition KANSAI HELIOS will further strengthen its competitive position in the railway coatings sector in Europe and worldwide.

After closing the process, KANSAI HELIOS France SAS will take over the relevant employees of Becker Industrie SAS in the Railway Coatings business and add further resources in order to ensure continuity of the professional service that customers are used to. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023. Beckers will continue to serve its Railway customers in India and China.

Christophe Sabas, CEO Beckers Group says: “This is a strategic deal for both parties. The Railway Coatings business will become an important part of KANSAI HELIOS’ growth strategy, while Beckers will be able to put more energy and resources behind our strategic businesses and new developments. We are very pleased to sell the Railway business to KANSAI HELIOS. Our committed Railway Coatings employees have been a much-appreciated part of Becker Industrie S.A.S. and I wish them the best of luck in the future. We know KANSAI HELIOS well and I am confident that joining the KANSAI HELIOS family will be good for those employees, customers and other stakeholders.

The Beckers Railway Coatings team is excellent and we are delighted that they have chosen the KANSAI HELIOS team to continue to serve their valued existing and new customers in France and around the world.

development and production has always been of great importance, and we have achieved a strong market position in recent years, being the largest producer of railway coatings in Europe with important brands such as Wefa, Rembrandtin and Helios. Beckers’ innovative industrial coatings designed to protect railway vehicles products guarantee the highest quality and environmental protection. The purchase rounds off our portfolio perfectly. This business acquisition is a further step of KANSAI HELIOS in the railway coatings segment, following our most recent asset acquisition and establishment of KANSAI HELIOS Wefa in Essen, Germany.”

Dietmar Jost adds: ”The Beckers Railway Coatings team is excellent and we are delighted that they have chosen the KANSAI HELIOS team to continue to serve their valued existing and new customers in France and around the world.”

Dietmar Jost, Executive Director KANSAI HELIOS Group states: “For KANSAI HELIOS the Railway Coatings

For more information visit: www.beckers-group.com www.kansai-helios.eu.

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Corrodere academy launch Coating Inspector courses with ICorr accreditation

Well established online training company, Corrodere Academy, are launching their popular Pipeline Coating Inspector and Insulation Inspector courses with ICorr accreditation.

Corrodere Academy offer globally recognised qualifications in the protective coatings industry including Train the painter, coating inspector and specialist courses. This is the first time ICorr accredited Pipeline and Insulation Inspector courses have been available online, offering flexibility and saving time and money when compared to classroom learning.

The importance of monitoring pipelines

Pipelines are energy lifelines, making almost every daily activity possible. They play a huge role in our everyday lives and are essential to the world’s industries. The world’s transportation would come to a complete stoppage without them as they carry everything from oil and gas to fresh water.

The course content includes an overview of the pipeline industry, pipeline corrosion, cathodic protection to pipeline and coatings, quality assurance and control, safety and pipeline inspector duties, recommended practices and international standards and environmental considerations.

This qualification opens extensive career opportunities in the oil and gas, subsea, fresh water, diesel and petrol and jet fuel industries.

The importance of monitoring insulation

One of the hottest topics in the protective coatings industry, insulation has been used for centuries to keep heat in and cold out or vice versa. The energy saving and environmental benefits that come from proper insulation are hugely significant. By making buildings and process systems more energy efficient, insulation helps reduce the amount of fossil fuel combustion needed to heat and cool homes, businesses and factories. That, in turn, decreases the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.

The course content includes a history of insulation systems, corrosion under insulation, insulation design, standards and specification, quality assurance and control, safety and insulation inspector duties, insulation application and conducting coating surveys.

Why study with Corrodere Academy?

Convenience. Distance learning allows you to learn from home, work, and on the road.

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Affordability. Studying online means no accommodation or travel costs, saving an average of 50% compared to classroom learning.

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Relevance. All courses are regularly updated by well-respected industry experts, ensuring accuracy and relevancy.

Course structure

These online learning courses will each take 8-16 hours to complete with a final online monitored 90-minute multiple-choice exam. Training access is available for 12 months, and once completed, students will receive a Certificate of Achievement accredited by ICorr, which is valid for 5 years. The course material was created by industry experts including Brendan Fitzsimons and Trevor Parry who between them have 70+ years’ experience in protective coatings. If you’re interested and want to find out more visit corrodere.com/ coating-inspection-courses/ or contact the team on 01252 732233 or info@corrodere.com.

Inquiry launched to investigate urgent need to grow apprenticeships in engineering, manufacturing and technology

As sector battles with acute skills shortage, inquiry seeks to explore concerning decline in apprenticeships uptake and find solutions to help with growing UK workforce

Employers, training providers and young people urged to take part in ‘call for evidence’

Former Labour and Conservative ministers Lord Knight and Lord Willetts, with support from charity EngineeringUK, are today launching an inquiry to uncover the reasons behind the worrying decline in engineering, manufacturing and technology apprenticeships starts seen over recent years in the UK.

Given the skills shortage and a growing demand for engineers and technicians, the inquiry will look to identify vital solutions which could help to increase the number and diversity of young people taking up apprenticeships in the sector. Employers, training providers, young people and those who work with them, are all being urged to get involved in the ‘call for evidence’ by submitting their views, evidence or ideas to improve this much-needed career pathway into the sector.

Despite a modest uptick in numbers last year, engineering-related apprenticeship starts in England are still 9% lower than in 2014/15. What’s more, the uptake varies by subject with a worrying 34% decline for engineering and manufacturing technologies.

Lord Willetts, Inquiry co-chair and former Conservative Minister for Universities and Science, comments, “Apprenticeships, especially in engineering and technology, enjoy enormous political and media support and are a crucial route into work for many people. Meanwhile the number

of young people actually doing these apprenticeships is falling.

“Our inquiry will draw on expert evidence to understand why this is happening and what can be done about it, so that we can grow and sustain the opportunities that apprenticeships offer to young people. I am delighted to be co-chairing this inquiry not least because my father ran the apprenticeship programme for a Midlands engineering firm.”

Lord Knight, Inquiry co-chair and former Labour Education and Employment Minister, comments, “Britain must transition towards a more sustainable and productive economy. The skills shortage is a dragging anchor on that transition, particularly in key areas such as engineering. The fall in young people taking up engineering and technology apprenticeships is an urgent problem, and I am delighted to be working with David Willetts and EngineeringUK to fully investigate where the problems lie and what can be done to fix them.”

The call for evidence, which is open until 27 February 2023, is seeking views and ideas from the sector on 4 key areas:

Opportunities

1. What part do apprenticeships play in helping to meet the UK’s skills needs in engineering and technology?

State of play

2. What are the reasons behind the

overall decline in engineering apprenticeship starts in recent years? We are particularly interested in understanding more about supply and demand.

Barriers

3. What are the barriers for businesses taking on young people as apprentices and what are the barriers for young people in accessing them?

Solutions

4. What do you think needs to change to help increase the number and diversity of young people taking up and completing engineering and technology apprenticeships?

Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK comments, “Given the pressing need for more engineers and technicians in the UK, now and into the future, we urgently need more young people to start and complete apprenticeships in the sector.

“We therefore urge the sector, as well youth training providers and organisations, to show their support for this important inquiry by sharing their experiences and suggestions for how to make engineering-related apprenticeships more available and accessible to young people. We hope the inquiry will open up conversations about how to break down barriers, inform effective policy making and widen opportunities for young people in engineering and technology careers.”

The inquiry - ‘Fit for the future: growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people’ has opened its call for evidence until the 27 February 2023. For more information and to respond visit: www.engineeringuk. com/fitforthefuture

On Demand Plating Line Technical Advice-Service

Following another successful and rewarding year helping client’s realise a number of significant projects we look forward to this trend continuing through 2023 as we commence the eight year of assistance since our advice service was launched. Therefore Plating-LineAdvice had no hesitation in booking again for the next Surface World show once more being held at the NEC in October 2023.

One of the aspects of our offer that was again very well received at the 2022 show was our range of bespoke technical advice Service and Support Plans, reports Will Green.

Whilst similar advice services exist specifically for the chemical processes used in surface treatment, we find generally there is a lack of provision in the industry of independent technical support on the engineering design aspect of specialised plating equipment.

We think this lack of provision may be due to perhaps a perceived intermittent need for engineering advice of this type due to plant upgrades or capital expenditure only happening periodically whereas the chemical process is in continuous use.

For the same reason many processing companies will have full time in house chemical support but cannot justify

The engineering support that does exist in the industry is often supplier oriented in support of increasing sales of a particular product so cannot always be considered fully independent.

The Service and Support Plans offered by Plating Line Advice give the benefit of on demand access to specialist independent technical advice at a fraction of the cost of a permanent in house alternative. Costs are known and agreed in advance and divided into equal monthly instalments over the period of the service and support agreement. The support however is drawn down on demand as required by the particular project timescale and complexity of requirements. This arrangement makes budgeting simple as the costs are the same each month and relatively low.

In addition to the on-demand aspect regular periodic site inspections are built in to increase confidence and maintain operational efficiency.

Annual Service and Support Plan Examples Gold

40 days of onsite plus remote telephone and internet support. Suitable for organisations planning major capital investment or those who have multiple process line installations.

Silver

20 days of onsite plus remote telephone and internet support.

Suitable for

organisations planning both capital investment or upgrades to existing facilities.

Bronze

10 days of onsite plus remote telephone and internet support. Suitable for organisations planning some capital investment or upgrades to existing facilities.

The above are indicative examples and support plans are tailored to meet the needs of each individual organisation both in agreement duration and number of days required.

Feedback from our clients on previous projects:

“We couldn’t have done it without you”

- Project Manager

“That is the best technical specification we have ever sent out”- Works Engineer

“You should have charged more”Divisional Manager

“We need Will to be involved in this project” – Plant Manager

All projects are carried out subject to complete confidentiality.

We have offices in both the West Midlands and the South West “Peace of Mind through Confidence”

Contact: Will Green FIMF

E: will@plating-line-advice.com

T: +44(0)7481 322263

www.plating-line-advice.com

Visit us on Stand E18 at Surface World 4th & 5th-October 2023

NEC Birmingham UK

ELECTROPLATING, ANODISING & GALVANISING

Aluminium Anodizing

Additives from Chemetall

Temperature factor

Chemetall’s Anodizing Technology

Nowadays, it is possible to work with modern additives to the sulphuric acid in the anodizing bath. To this effect, the Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, offers innovative additives from its Gardobond range.

worthwhile at first glance. In fact, however, a closer examination and evaluation of the individual process steps reveals possibilities which not only reduce costs but also boost productivity. Chemetall’s anodizing technology demonstrates how this can be achieved.

As a further development of the well-known oxalic acid, it reduces the redissolution rate in the anodizing process and increases the tolerance to dissolved aluminum. This allows for anodizing at a higher temperature, a higher aluminum content and a higher current density at unchanged voltage and/or at a reduced anodizing voltage with the same current density.

The anodizing technology

Chemetall offers a new generation of highly efficient additives. Added to the anodizing bath, they afford a very consistent surface and reduce the aluminum and temperature sensitivity of the anodizing process.

A higher treatment temperature means voltage can be reduced to achieve a density (e.g., for 1.5 A/dm² the following a reference lab test: 19°C - 18 V, 25°C This already provides a possibility for savings. Moreover, basically the same energy will be needed. Thus, the use anodizing additive will allow for energy

From architecture to construction to packaging to automotive – there are almost no limits to the possible industrial applications of aluminum. The processing of this light metal also leaves room for new ideas. Due to the growing competitive pressure, companies are looking for cutting-edge ways to stay ahead of their global competitors with innovative and cost-saving technologies. The solutions to this are closer than you may think: “standard technologies” offer opportunities for saving on costs without compromising on high quality.

Finding potential for improvement in established and proven technologies and processes may not seem

Anodizing is much more than just an optical enhancement of aluminum. The anodized layer that forms using standard technologies reaches at about two thirds into the treated aluminum part and grows at about one third on its surface, thereby affording an attractive, smooth surface and longterm corrosion protection. In addition to these excellent properties, it is also easy to process, making anodized aluminum extremely versatile and suitable for a wide range of applications.

good alternatives in practice. This paper presents ideas for optimizing the anodizing process. Experiences and case studies from customer applications around the world have demonstrated the successful implementation of these new solutions in practice. However, it should be decided on a case-by-case basis which technologies are best suited for the respective application, as the applicability should be evaluated individually for each application.

Further potential effects can also be achieved to the speed of the anodizing process. applies for the growth of the layer thickness anodizing with standard parameters, for architectural anodizing: the thicker its growth until it stops growing because acid attack have come to equilibrium.

In this context, a particular focus is placed on the possibilities of saving energy or increasing productivity by reducing the time of the anodizing process and also in the final sealing step.

Gardobond® Additive H 7526 thus yields coatings of perfect quality with a high aluminum content (max. 30 g/l), at higher temperatures (max. 30°C) while at the same time requiring a lower sulphuric acid concentration.

A reevaluation of the anodizing process and of the technologies commonly used in the industry is worth the effort since modified processes have proven to be very

The empirical formula to calculate this thickness (µm) = 0.3 x current density (minutes)

Efficiency improvements and costs

For the standard 1.5 A/dm², practical produced the following approximate values: 10 µm anodizing layer = approx. 20 20 µm anodizing layer = approx. 40

Over the years, almost any anodizer has tried to enhance his productivity by increasing the total number of workpieces to be anodized per day. Frequently, batches are simply increased in size without adjusting other important factors such as cooling. However, an increase of the batch size in many cases also means a drop in current density, which is crucial for surface quality.

This calculation formula clearly shows current density can have on productivity (due to shorter treating time).

Yet, the process temperature, current density and anodizing voltage have a great impact on quality, productivity and costs. As a general rule, higher temperatures result in a larger pore diameter, which in turn leads to less aluminum oxide and thus a softer anodic coating. The same effect can usually be observed at lower current density or (too) high acid concentrations. Coatings with larger pores are generally easier to dye, but in many cases show poorer sealing and corrosion resistance and are generally less durable because the anodic coating may become too soft. Conversely, lower temperatures and/or higher current density usually result in smaller pores that are more durable and thus of better quality.

ELECTROPLATING, ANODISING & GALVANISING

renewals. By increasing the maximum tolerance value for aluminum in the anodizing bath, bath renewals need to be conducted less frequently, thereby reducing the volume of acidic effluents and the volume of fresh water required for new bath make-up.

So how can efficiency be improved while at the same time reducing the direct costs of anodizing? Is there a way to speed up the anodizing process to increase productivity, but without compromising the structure and quality of the anodic coating?

Theoretically, it is easy to raise productivity by increasing the current density provided that sufficient rectifier capacity is available. An (excessively) high current density and/or the higher anodizing voltage needed to this effect, would generate a lot of heat that can lead to soft coatings and burns. Additional cooling would thus be necessary.

Additives from Chemetall

Nowadays, it is possible to work with modern additives to the sulphuric acid in the anodizing bath. To this effect, the Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, offers innovative additives from its Gardobond range.

As a further development of the well-known oxalic acid, it reduces the redissolution rate in the anodizing process and increases the tolerance to dissolved aluminum. This allows for anodizing at a higher temperature, a higher aluminum content and a higher current density at unchanged voltage and/or at a reduced anodizing voltage with the same current density.

Chemetall offers a new generation of highly efficient additives. Added to the anodizing bath, they afford a very consistent surface and reduce the aluminum and temperature sensitivity of the anodizing process.

Gardobond® Additive H 7526 thus yields coatings of perfect quality with a high aluminum content (max. 30 g/l), at higher temperatures (max. 30°C) while at the same time requiring a lower sulphuric acid concentration.

Temperature factor

A higher treatment temperature means that the anodizing voltage can be reduced to achieve a specific current density (e.g., for 1.5 A/dm2 the following was observed in a reference lab test: 19°C - 18 V, 25°C - 15,5 V, 30°C - 14 V). This already provides a possibility for significant energy savings. Moreover, basically the same

amount of cooling energy will be needed. Thus, the use of an adequate anodizing additive will allow for energy savings of ca. 40%.

Furthermore, a reduced consumption of sulphuric acid is possible, also combined with a reduction of the waste water flow due to reduced acid carryover into the rinsing baths.

Furthermore, a reduced consumption of sulphuric acid is possible, also combined with a reduction of the waste water flow due to reduced acid carryover into the rinsing baths.

Further potential effects can also be achieved with regard to the speed of the anodizing process. The following applies for the growth of the layer thickness during anodizing with standard parameters, for example those for architectural anodizing: the thicker the layer, the slower its growth until it stops growing because layer growth and acid attack have come to equilibrium.

The empirical formula to calculate this is:

The most important technical effect of the modified anodizing process, however, lies in the significant improvement of the surface and sealing quality. Higher anodizing temperatures also mean higher layer dissolution caused by acid attack, leading to an increase in anodic pore diameter while the oxide content in the layer decreases which causes the overall surface quality to drop considerably.

The most important technical effect of the modified anodizing process, however, lies in the significant improvement of the surface and sealing quality. Higher anodizing temperatures also mean higher layer dissolution caused by acid attack, leading to an increase in anodic pore diameter while the oxide content in the layer decreases which causes the overall surface quality to drop considerably.

thickness (μm) = 0.3 x current density (A/dm2) x time (minutes)

For the standard 1.5 A/dm2, practical experience has produced the following approximate values:

This in turn affects the sealing quality as well as the abrasion and corrosion resistance. The effect can be countered by using the appropriate additive.

This in turn affects the sealing quality as well as the abrasion and corrosion resistance. The effect can be countered by using the appropriate additive.

10 μm anodizing layer = approx. 20 - 22 minutes,

20 μm anodizing layer = approx. 40 - 44 minutes.

The pictures show the surface structure at different temperatures and aluminum contents: with Gardobond® Additive H 7526, the same pore sizes can be achieved at 25°C as in a bath at 19°C without any additive.

The pictures show the surface structure at different temperatures and aluminum contents: with Gardobond® Additive H 7526, the same pore sizes can be achieved at 25°C as in a bath at 19°C without any additive.

This calculation formula clearly shows the effect a higher current density can have on productivity enhancement (due to shorter treating time).

Gardobond® Additive H 7526

Positive side benefits

Another possible “side benefit” are less frequent bath renewals. By increasing the maximum tolerance value for aluminum in the anodizing bath, bath renewals need to be conducted less frequently, thereby reducing the volume of acidic effluents and the volume of fresh water required for new bath make-up.

Gardobond® Additive H 7526 can thus significantly improve the surface quality. The chart on the next page shows the options for improving the surface quality taking the example of the loss of mass as per ISO 3210 in an anodizing process with and without additive:

Possible benefits with Gardobond® Additive H 7526:

Lower overall process costs for energy (power and cooling)

Filter cake disposal: less sulphuric acid in the effluent

Productivity: reduced anodizing times

19°C without additive25°C without additive 25°C with Gardobond ® Additive H 7526

WEDGE GROUP GALVANIZING Your Galvanizing Partner

Hot dip galvanizing provides you with long-term protection against rust and corrosion of steel products. With 14 plants across the UK, Wedge Group

Galvanizing is the UK’s largest hot dip galvanizing organisation offering a national service, collection and delivery and 24hr turnaround on request. The group can process anything from small components to 29m structural beams.

bath value renewals need reducing the fresh water

Gardobond® Additive H 7526 can thus significantly improve the surface quality. The chart below shows the options for improving the surface quality taking the example of the loss of mass as per ISO 3210 in an anodizing process with and without additive:

ELECTROPLATING, ANODISING & GALVANISING

sulphuric acid the waste rinsing modified layer increase in surface the can be different Gardobond® achieved at

Possible benefits with Gardobond® Additive H 7526:

Anodization with the technology developed by Chemetall does not only improve the treatment processes, but also the characteristics and benefits of the aluminum proper. As a tried and tested technology supplier, Chemetall develops and optimizes customized technologies for all anodization applications – worldwide.

Contact and further

information:

Gary Mothersole

UK Sales Manager Aluminium Finishing

Telephone: 07825 319214

Email: gary.mothersole@basf.com

Visit: www.chemetall.com

Gardobond ® 7526

PAINT & POWDER

Lower overall process costs for energy (power and cooling)

Filter cake disposal: less sulphuric acid in the effluent

Productivity: reduced anodizing times

Quick Colour Change PVC Booths

ColorX series powder coating booths are produced from antistatic pvc material. Thanks to its smooth and slippery surface, it offers faster and comprehensive cleaning.

Anodization with the technology developed by Chemetall does not only improve the treatment processes, but also the characteristics and benefits of the aluminum proper. As a tried and tested technology supplier, Chemetall develops and optimizes customized technologies for all anodization applications – worldwide.

It allows you to save in terms of time and paint. It is suitable for manual and automatic applications. Its compact design allows operators to easily control the booths.

It is the best solution for continuous production. Feeding powder to the guns is done by powder coating centers.

E-Booth ColorX can be used with powder coating centers PM120 or PM130 with 20 or 30 injector modules, where adjustments and cleaning are done manually.

Also for automated systems, it can be used with powder coating centers PM220 or PM230 with 20 or 30 injector modules, or with pumped type powder coating center PM324P.

Our powder coating centers used for automated processes have fast colour change and automatic cleaning features. The part detection system we

offer as an option can detect gaps, height and width.

It is programmed to provide the best savings and the best paint quality according to the shape of each product to be painted.

It is designed in accordance with the 2014/34/EU Explosive Atmosphere Directive with reference to the EN16985: 2018 Standard. Optionally, Mobile Control Panel and Fire Suppression System

Contact: serkan.inci@electron.com.tr

Phone:+90 531 930 37 03

Visit: www.electron.com.tr

Companies in Bedfordshire and beyond now have a simple choice when it comes to purchasing tinted HMG Paints products. As Barton Le Clay based Simply Coatings have completed the installation of a brand-new UNIT Tinting scheme.

The UNIT Tinting scheme allows Simply Coatings to mix a vast array of colours including BS, RAL, Agricultural and more for their customers. Furthermore, the scheme allows Simply Coatings to mix larger volumes of HMG Paints products and offer faster turnarounds for customers. Products that can be colour matched and tinted include 1K & 2K topcoats, undercoats and primers, as well as a variety of sheen levels.

Darren Hardiman, Managing Director of Simply coatings remarked “We are delighted to be working with some of the best in the industry here at Simply Coatings and for our new investment it was an obvious choice to partner the Corob equipment with HMG Paints as we continue to grow the business in 2023 and beyond.”

DTM, PVC, Wood Coatings and more

Like many of HMG Paints distributors Simply Coatings are an independent family business and supplier & distributor of Paint & Protective coatings. Simply Coatings pride themselves in offering a range of products and full support from the moment customers get in touch until long after they have received their order. Along with the HMG Paints range which includes Direct to Metal Coatings (DTM), PVC coatings and wood finishes they offer a range of systems from various manufacturers.

“The installation of the UNIT Tinting machine takes the offering from Simply Coatings to a whole new level, and will allow their customers faster turnaround across a wide range of HMG products.” added Roger Blinco, HMG Key Account Manager.

“Darren and the Simply Coatings team have built a great business and the installation of the new HMG

Mixing schemes shows their commitment to the customers on providing exactly the right product, in the right colour when they require it.”

A wide selection of colours

The new UNIT scheme installation is also backed up by the HMG

Simply the first choice for tinted HMG paints

URBAN FURNITURE APPLIANCES

GENERAL INDUSTRIAL FUNCTIONAL COATINGS

Markets:

AGRICULTURE & CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (ACE)

ARCHITECTURAL TRANSPORTATION

FURNITURE

TAILOR-MADE SOLUTIONS

PRODUCT INNOVATION

EXPERT TECHNICAL SUPPORT

“OVER 100 NEW ENQUIRIES FROM SURFACE WORLD LIVE 2022” - WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

ColourBase Colour Box, which contains over 2400 colour chips, displayed in chromatic order within 20 fan decks. The box allows distributors and customers alike to choose the perfect colour from a number of ranges including RAL, British Standard, Commercial Vehicle Fleet Colours, Agricultural, Afnor and more. Every colour in the box can be then produced across a number of 1K and 2K HMG products. Across the whole of the UNIT mixing scheme HMG offer over 70,000 colour formulations ensuring that customers can always find the correct colour for their project. Uniquely HMG Paints actually manufacture their own range of colourants which in formulations to create exact colour matches. Being a colourant manufacturer means HMG can ensure each colourants uses the best pigments on the market ensuring the perfect colours every time.

As an independent paint manufacturer HMG Paints Ltd rely on a loyal, countrywide distribution network to supply and service customers. All of

HMG’s paints are Made in Britain accredited and supplied across a number of industries including, industrial, commercial vehicle, decorative, defence, wood finish and arts & craft. Distributors are selected based upon their reputation and the

Simply Coatings package of product and local knowledge makes them a perfect partner. Visit www. simplycoatings.co.uk to see the whole range of products available.

www.hmgpaint.com

Product Overview

Manual Monorail Systems

Unit loads up to 3000kg

Handling Solutions

Stewart Gill Conveyors Ltd have been supplying overhead conveyors into all sectors of industry for over 70 years.

As a long time member of the Railtechniek van Herwijnen BV Group based in the Netherlands, Stewart Gill Conveyors can offer a comprehensive range of overhead conveyor products which are capable of handling unit loads up to 7000kg.

Monorail Chain Conveyors

Unit loads up to 300kg

Stewart Gill Conveyors Ltd offer complete manufacture, installation and commissioning, coupled with fully documented instruction, operation and maintenance manuals.

We do:

 In-House 3D CAD engineering

 In-House manufactoring in the UK and EU

Power & Free Conveyors

Unit loads up to 7000kg

 In-House design of PLC/PC control systems

 Industry 4.0

 Worldwide installation and commissioning

 Remote support, service & inspection

Part of the

Floor Conveyors

Unit loads up to 500kg

Aluminum tubes for high-voltage equipment with high-quality coating

Hitachi Energy Brno, a manufacturer of high-voltage equipment, is now coating with Nordson’s HDLV technology, improving surface quality and doubling its production capacity.

The Challenge

Hitachi Energy is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-voltage equipment and produces some of the components required for this in Brno. In the Czech Republic’s second largest city, the company coats aluminum tubes up to 12 m long, which have different geometries inside and a diameter of up to 0.80 m, using the environmentally friendly powder coating process. A capacity doubling was needed while still ensuring that the coating of the workpieces met high safety and quality standards due to the high-risk area of application: An increase in output with the automatic guns of the existing old plant was not possible to the requested scope. In

addition, the company also wanted to make the coating process more economical and achieve powder savings in order to meet its high environmental requirements. Based on this, the decision was made to invest in a new, robot-guided powder plant.

The Solution

As part of their research, Hitachi Energy executives researched HDLV dense phase technology and conducted some preliminary testing at an HVAC manufacturer’s facility.

“Although we did not have 3D models of the workpieces for this robotic coating and therefore could not program the robots accurately, our customer was impressed with the

results,” says Ing. Jaroslav Blažek Managing Director at Czech system integrator Surfin Technology. To put the technology to the test on the workpieces in its own production, Hitachi Energy received two Encore® HD manual powder coating systems from Nordson. The powder guns that go with them are lightweight and well-balanced, and enable highquality, fast coatings that can be repeatable at any time, regardless of the powder. They also feature excellent coating of edges and corners, as well as optimal penetration depth, even into challenging shapes. “We were extremely positively surprised by the performance of Nordson HDLV technology. We did not expect the result like this,” Vaclav Holecek Production Development Specialist / Corrosion Engineer at Hitachi Energy, reports in retrospect. Due to the very good results, the company decided to use this technology and contracted Surfin Technology to install two Nordson ColorMax® E (engineered) powder coating systems with robotic coating guns.

In Booth 1, the inner surfaces of the pipes are coated with two Encore HD Select robotic guns mounted on two ABB coating robots. The dense-phase guns always enable repeatable, reproducible coating quality, achieve low powder consumption, and combine flexibility and profitability in powder coating. The Spectrum HD powder feed center ensures a reliable powder supply. The integrated dense phase pump technology ensures precise powder feed and combines consistent coating results with significant powder savings with minimal maintenance and downtime. Precise control of the powder feed center is provided by the PowderPilot HD control system. It allows the user, through the simple and color touchscreen control, to adjust all aspects for high quality powder application - from feed and atomizing air to electrostatics, gun stroke and triggering.

Combining robots and Nordson HDLV technology, Hitachi Energy doubled production output, even though they coat with fewer powder spray guns than before.

Hitachi Energy manufactures the high-voltage equipment for customers around the world, so the components are coated in a variety of colors. For powder coating, this means up to 15 color changes per day. To be able to implement these quickly and reliably, Hitachi Energy has selected Nordson’s automatic Color-on-Demand (CoD) system. Color changes are done in 20 – 50 seconds. The system automatically cleans the entire powder path - from the powder hopper to the powder gun. Manual color changing is not necessary. CoD offers maximum flexibility and enables coatings to be applied to order at short notice. Another benefit is that users can implement customer requirements quickly and reliably, even for batch sizes of 1, and small batches.

Hitachi Energy uses the CoD system in Booth 1 with “spraying to waste” to enable the company to perform fast color changes in just a few seconds. “This is very efficient precisely because of Nordson dense phase technology, as the extremely soft dense phase powder cloud allows the robotic guns to get very close to the parts with no bounce back effect, and there is minimal overspray,” explains Nordson sales manager Martin Vodak. Booth 2 is where the outer surfaces of the aluminum pipes are powdered, and like Booth 1, it features Encore HD robotic guns and two painting robots. It is also equipped with a twin cyclone, as this is where the overspray is processed and returned to the production cycle.

Special features include weigh cells on the Spectrum HD powder feed

centers, on the Color-onDemand systems, and on the two after filters. Regarding the high standards for environmental compatibility and sustainability, these provide the operator with real-time information about the current powder consumption and the quantity of overspray.

The Customer Benefits: Maximizing production output, coating quality, and degrees of automation while reducing powder consumption to achieve high environmental goals.

Installation and commissioning of the new powder coating system was implemented by Surfin Technology together with Nordson service technicians in December 2021 during the holiday season, allowing the system to start operating immediately after the production break. “By combining robots and Nordson dense phase technology, we have doubled our production output, even though we are powder coating with fewer guns than before,” says Vaclav Holecek at Hitachi Energy, summarizing the experience with the new powder coating system. “We have been able to install high process repeatability for our process, and the system now allows us to plan production and monitor the production process more efficiently. At the same time, the manual work and rework previously required has been reduced to almost zero. From time to time, for example with special workpieces, we still work with manual coating. For this purpose, we also have our own station with a manual

booth and an Encore HD dolly in production. Thanks to the soft cloud provided by HDLV technology, the same high-quality result is always achieved. With employees in mind, high operator safety is ensured at the same time, as well as maximum material utilization and a significant reduction in powder consumption.” Holecek proudly adds, “We have simply found a very modern and high-quality coating solution for our very important products to contribute to a sustainable energy future for future generations.” With the coated products, the manufacturer of high-voltage equipment is now able to meet the strict requirements of safety standards and repeat the coating processes of the different products at any time. They can also efficiently plan production and monitor the processes with the future-oriented Industry 4.0 standard. By reducing powder consumption and maximizing material utilization, the company’s own high environmental targets can be met.

www.nordson.com/ics

By combining robots and Nordson dense phase technology, we have doubled our production output, even though we are powder coating with fewer guns than before.

The soft spray of the Encore® HD powder coating system ensures maximum process control

Hitachi Energy has selected Nordson’s automatic Color-on-Demand® (CoD) system and color changes are done in 20 – 50 seconds.

BENEFIT FROM GLOBAL SOLUTIONS DELIVERED WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF LOCAL SUPPORT

When it comes to heavy equipment, there’s no room for error.

From demanding durability requirements to exacting color and finish criteria, the toughest of applications require the most formidable of solutions.

Contact: gi.emeai.marketing@sherwin.com

Visit: www.sherwin-williams.eu

Axalta’s 2022 Global Automotive Color Popularity Report Marks 70th Year of Providing Industry Insights

Axalta Coating Systems

(NYSE: AXTA), a leading global coatings company, has released its 70th annual Global Automotive Color Popularity Report, which revealed the top three automotive colors of 2022: white, black, and gray. First published in 1953, Axalta’s annual color popularity report is the automotive industry’s longest running and most comprehensive color account.

“Today’s vehicles are more vibrant than ever,” said Robert Schnell, Vice President, Global Sales & Product Management, Axalta. “For example, compared to the white color variations of the 1950s, these whites are brighter and beam with iridescent flakes. Together vehicles in white, black, gray, and silver add up to 82% of cars on the road today.”

Globally, white shades held the lead (34% total) with pearlescent whites at 14% popularity and solid whites at 20%. Next, deep black colors radiate with sparkling effects and total 21% of vehicles on the road. And gray colors (19%) had sparkling effects in an assortment of colorful hues. Overall, colorful variations of blue (8%), red (5%) and green (1%) were found with high color intensity and complex sparkling effects.

Axalta’s full Automotive Color Popularity Report can be accessed online. Together with Axalta’s Color Trend Report, the history and future of automotive color is compiled by Axalta’s global color experts and gives automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) captivating

insights into consumer preferences aiding them in making informed decisions about auto colors.

For more information visit refinish. axalta.eu and follow us on LinkedIn

For more information visit axalta.co.uk and follow us @Axalta on Twitter.

Suspension and masking technology for the surface finishing industry

WHAT WE DO Epifatech has been developing and manufacturing suspension systems for the electroplating & powder coating industry for over 40 years now and take great pride in being recognised as one of the market leaders when it comes to design and manufacturing for the surface treatment industry.

In collaboration with our customers, we have been producing effective solutions in a range of areas and are now pleased to have representation across Europe, and to meet with customer demands we are now pleased to confirm we have a comprehensive UK stock holding in place at our warehouse facility based in Shropshire, ensuring we are able to offer quick and effective deliveries across the UK.

Surface treatment can differ significantly and, on many levels, with this in mind Epifatech ensure that our suspension systems comply with the current stringent quality stipulations in place for many and make the process as smooth as possible, whilst always considering optimising the solution, giving our customers the desired outcome, they require.

A slightly more advanced suspension system could also make it easier to synchronise the different phases, and by doing so our customers have better control over the entire process through to the finished product.

WHAT WE DO Epifatech has been developing and manufacturing suspension systems for the electroplating & powder coating industry for over 40 years now and take great pride in being recognised as one of the market leaders when it comes to design and manufacturing for the surface treatment industry.

OUR PROCESS

Listening to your needs, budget and timescale is at the forefront of our vision on every enquiry we undertake.

We pride ourselves on making the process for our customers as simple as possible, we use a 4-stage process to obtain a final product that meets with our customer’s needs, from initial consultation &

discussions we are able to propose a solution, drawings are then submitted allowing any changes or adjustments to be made before prototype samples are manufactured.

With Epifatech this isn’t limited to a single prototype, again understanding the trialling process is something we appreciate and sometimes the need to have multiple prototypes is a must for some customers.

Upon approval we enter full production from either our head office based in Sweden or our new purposebuilt production facility in Poland.

QUALITY DRIVEN

Epifatech takes great pride in having a dedicated skilled team, with many employees being with us since day 1 of our venture, our success is clear for all of them to see and this has led our workforce to be as fully committed to delivering quality driven products to all our customers.

We feel quality is a matter of gaining the full trust of our customers, allowing us to work along side them gives us all immense pleasure when seeing a basic idea evolve into an optimised hanging system, meeting the needs of the customer completely.

PRODUCT RANGE

We offer a wide range of standard hooks, jigs, fittings, and masking products, our full colour brochure also makes ordering very simple, using a simple unique product code enables us to process orders efficiently. Ensuring our solutions can be adapted to suit all types of products and operations is a priority for us, and to achieve this we haven’t locked ourselves into just a standard range, instead we strive in every way to be flexible and by doing so can deliver product-based

needs, the result, is that we can offer complete, optimised solutions without necessarily costing more.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

We constantly seek to find specially adapted solutions, Epifatech firmly believe that we have optimised solutions as standard, by this we mean that it should not need to cost more to have an adapted system than it would be to buy a ready-made standard solution. Not only are we committed, but we are also competitive and have a great

Patrik Karagianis , CEO

DECADES OF EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT

understanding with our customers, having dealt with clients for many years clearly highlights the mutual success we have.

Listening to your needs, budget and timescale is at the forefront of our vision on every enquiry we undertake.

For more information, please take a look at our user-friendly website www.epifatech.com

Telephone: 07500 938950

Email: jason@epifatech.uk

At Epifatech AB e xcellent av a ila bilit y a nd clos e colla bor at ion wit h our cus t omer s is somet hing we pr ior it is e hig hly in our day-t o-day oper at ions For us , t his mea ns wor k ing wit h t he cus t omer t o produce a t a ilor-made solu t ion B y e s t a blishing a mu t ua l colla bor at ion at a n ea r ly s t a ge in t he proce ss , we ma ke it ea sier t o under s t a nd each indiv idua l cus t omer s nee ds which create s t he foundat ions for finding t he be s t possible solu t ion Don t he sit at e t o get in t ouch if you have que s t ions a bou t a ny of our produc t s or our wor k O ur employee s have hig h compet ence a nd k nowle dge t hat creat e a nd ena ble our succe ss t oget her we creat e a clos e colla bor at ion where ever yone is involve d

We are Pure Water Equipment Specialists and provide an extensive range of water treatment systems and services to commercial and industrial clients throughout the UK. Providing a Full Turnkey Service means we can Design, Manufacture, Install and Commission a system based on specific produc�on needs or requirements.

These Systems include:

Deionisers

I‐on‐x Exchange Cylinders

Reverse Osmosis

UV (Ultra Violet)

Filtra�on

So�eners

Pumps and Tanks

Spares and Consumables:

ADEPT Pure Water Ltd can also provide service for: Break Down & Repair on ALL makes of Water Purifica�on Equipment

Re-Condi�oning of all types of Water Purifica�on Equipment

Tailored Service Agreements –Standard or Responsive op�ons available Site Survey and System Efficiency Reports for prospec�ve clients or Repair and Service op�ons for pre-exis�ng systems.

ADEPT offer a choice of consumables including UV Lamps, Chemicals, Micron & Carbon Filters. We also offer Spare Parts, Tanks, Refurbished Water Equipment and more. Look out for the launch of our New ONLINE STORE COMING SOON

ADEPT Pure Water Limited 36 Huxley Close, Park Farm South, Wellingborough, Northants, NN8 6AB

Pull-Off Adhesion Testers

n Impact and scratch resistant color Touch Screen display with keypad

n Wirelessly connect the PosiTest AT-A to your smart device using our free app

n Record the results as pass/fail and the nature of fracture cohesive, adhesive and glue failures

Solvent vs Aqueous

How do you choose between solvent or aqueous cleaning?

Myths about solvent and aqueous cleaning continue to abound. Graham Fraser, MD of cleaning solutions provider, Fraser Technologies, has heard most before and is now clearing up some of the most commonly asked questions.

A lot of misconceptions still remain around the use of solvent cleaners, with many businesses using aqueous or water-based cleaning solutions because they think they’re safer or better – but this isn’t always the case! Instead, it’s important to consider the chemistry that is most appropriate for the application, and considering all the factors. Whether you currently use solvent cleaning systems or aqueous solutions, or you are looking to

upgrade or implement a new cleaning process, it is important to weigh up all the options to ensure you have the best all round cleaning process.

These are the most frequently asked questions we receive about solvent cleaning systems versus aqueous or water-based cleaning, to bust the myths and better inform you on these popular cleaning solutions.

Are solvents bad for the environment?

Modern cleaning solvents use extremely eco-friendly chemistries, which offer a superior cleaning performance. They provide a genuine alternative to the hazardous solvents, which have now been banned or restricted, and have low in use costs.

New generation solvents can also reduce the overall carbon footprint and energy costs of your cleaning process with a solvent process

typically using five times less power than a comparable aqueous system. In addition, the physical footprint is significantly less, which helps if floor space is at a premium.

The Chemours™ Opteon™ range, which Fraser Technologies distributes, are safe, stable, environmentally friendly, best in class solvents and are approved for use in a wide range of standard cleaning systems. These solvents now also boast low global warming potential (GWP), which is used to represent the equivalent of C02 being released into the atmosphere, where 1kg of C02 = a GWP of 1. Opteon™ SF80 – which is a new generation solvent - has a GWP of <2.5 compared to a other next gen solvents with significantly higher GWP figures.

What are the health impacts of using solvents?

FD-GA

Gas Process Burners

Lanemark gas burner systems offer users reliable, high efficiency, process heating solutions.

FD Series Packaged Oven/Dryer Burners

•Speci cally designed for process air heating applications in convection ovens and dryers

•High turndown/short ame lengths providing accurate process temperature control

•High ef ciency gas + air modulation, gas only modulation and simple high/low control options

•Heat Input Range: 9 kW – 1550 kW

TX Series Gas Fired Process Tank Heating Systems

•High ef ciency (80%+) heating of all types of spray and dip process tanks

•Compact high ef ciency small diameter immersion tube heat exchangers occupying minimum tank space

•Accurate performance modelling using Lanemark TxCalc design software

•Heat Input Range: 15 kW (1½") – 1150 kW (8")

Midco HMA Series Air Replacement or “Make-Up” Air Heating Burners

•Direct red, high ef ciency burner systems, for high volume air heating applications such as paint spray booths, ovens and dryers.

•Supplied either as Midco burner heads for OEM system integration or as Lanemark DB or FDB complete packaged systems including modulating gas valve trains and controls

•Wide range of ring rates to suit alternative temperature rise and air velocity system requirements

•DbCalc system design software

Lanemark Combustion Engineering Limited

Lanemark House, Whitacre Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 6BW United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 24 7635 2000 Fax: +44 (0) 24 7634 1166 E-mail: info@lanemark.com www.lanemark.com

COMBUSTION ENGINEERING

modulating gas + air process air heating burners.

TX high efficiency small diameter immersion tube tank heating systems.

FD-E low cost high turndown oven/dryer air heating burners.

FD-C high turndown oven/ dryer air heating burners.

Midco HMA high efficiency, high turndown, air replacement or “make-up” air heating burners.

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

There are hazardous chlorinated and brominated solvents, such as Trichloroethylene (Trike), Perchloroethylene (PERC), Methylene Chloride (MECL) and n-propyl bromide or 1-bromopropane (nPB), which pose numerous health risks. However, what many people don’t realise is that there are many safe, non-flammable solvents, which maintain compositional stability during use and have low odour and toxicity levels. And crucially, they also offer superior cleaning performance with the best solvency power in their class. New generation cleaning agents are worthy of consideration as a replacement, including the Chemours™ Opteon™ range. For example, SF80™ from Chemours™ is a drop-in alternative for many of the existing solvents with higher GWPs or poor health and safety profiles.

We look at each job individually, and then advise on the cleaning fluids, cleaning systems and equipment that will provide optimum results for your business.

and low surface tension so along with a pure vapour rinse, they can offer extremely effective results for high precision cleaning, as well as speed and efficiency that shorten lead times and reduce costs. Solvent cleaning systems are ideal for water-sensitive or difficult to dry components. SF80™, for example, is ideal for applications like vapour degreasing, oil and grease removal, precision cleaning, high solvency defluxing, removal of fluorinated oils and grease and silicone removal on sensitive substrates that can be difficult with aqueous cleaning.

When should I use aqueous cleaning?

best removed with an acidic aqueous solution. However, an alkaline solution is better able to remove salts, organic soils, metal chips, and grease and can work effectively within a range of temperatures.

The downside here is that water-based cleaning can require a lot of effort to maintain the correct balance of the chemistry to ensure it continues to perform consistently. Additions such as auto-dosing, and in some cases automatic chemical testing, can somewhat mitigate these issues but come at a cost.

Equipment like the SlimLine PLW 6011 & PLW 6111 aqueous cleaning machines from Miele use aqueous solutions very effectively and are especially effective for flux removal from electronic PCB assemblies, though they are ideally suited for many other specialist cleaning applications as well.

Do solvents clean better than aqueous options?

This is completely dependent on what needs to be cleaned, and to what level. Solvents have good solvency

Aqueous cleaning solutions are very adaptable and in many cases, are better for some applications. With water as the primary solvent, it is possible to add surfactants and detergents, emulsifiers, inhibitors and other agents to tailor the solution to your needs. Altering the pH can remove different substances – for example scale, rust, metal oxides are

We look at each job individually, and then advise on the cleaning fluids, cleaning systems and equipment that will provide optimum results for your business.

For more information on solvent or water based cleaning, please get in touch with Fraser Technologies on 01506 443058 to speak with one of our experts, or visit our website at www.frasertech.co.uk.

chromitAL TCP

Trivalent Chrome Passivation for Aluminium

SurTec 650 chromitAL provides excellent bare corrosion resistance on unpainted surfaces and enhances adhesion of organic coatings. Applications include plain and anodized aluminium.

drop-in replacement for conventional hexavalent chrome passivation

environmentally safe, non-toxic, simple to operate and waste treat

meets or exceeds MIL-DTL-81706B and MILDTL-5541F for bare corrosion (336 h in NSS per ASTM B-117) respectively, DIN EN ISO 9227 temper resistant up to 100 °C

low contact resistance, meets electrical conductivity requirements on aluminium substrates per MIL-DTL-81706B

field tested on alloys 2024, 2219, 5083, 7075 and various castings applied by immersion, spray or wipe-on for large areas finishing

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

New Test Center for high-purity cleaning applications

Ecoclean expands capacity for high-purity cleaning trials

Ecoclean GmbH’s new High Purity Test Center, which was officially inaugurated at its German production site in Dettingen unter Teck at the end of November 2022, complements the company’s 15 existing technology centers in the high purity sector. The facilities and conditions have been created to carry out cleaning trials on high-tech components with the highest cleanliness requirements.

In line with changing and sectorspecific requirements in industrial parts cleaning, Ecoclean GmbH has added new products and services to its portfolio. These include cleaning machines and systems specially designed for so-called high-purity cleaning applications, where extremely

high cleanliness requirements for metallic and optical components must be reliably met.

Such components are needed, for example, by equipment manufacturers supplying the semiconductor industry, in precision optics, as well as in laser,

measurement, analysis and highvacuum applications. It was thus a logical and appropriate step for Ecoclean to provide the corresponding capacities and technologies for conducting cleaning trials in a clean-room environment under ultra-clean conditions for customers from these market segments. This resulted in the new High-Purity Test Center at the company’s production site in Dettingen unter Teck, in which Ecoclean invested around four million Euros. It was officially inaugurated at the end of November 2022.

The new Test Center enables customers with high-purity cleaning tasks to conduct tests under extremely clean conditions. For this, a total of five cleaning systems, RO, DI and UP water, measuring instruments and a packaging station are available in a clean area and a cleanroom.

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

More than just an alternative to in-house trials

The new Test Center comprises a total of five cleaning systems which are outfitted specifically for high-purity cleaning tasks. These system cover all the technologies, media and processes needed for wet-chemical parts cleaning, such as ultrasonics, injection flood washing, plasma cleaning, pulsed pressure cleaning (PPC) and Ultrasonics Plus . For customers who manufacture precision parts for high-purity applications, the ability to perform cleaning trials in Ecoclean’s Test Center offers several advantages:

As a rule, new parts require extensive process validation procedures and cleaning trials. These would put a strain on in-house cleaning systems, which are invariably already validated and operated at full capacity.

The cleaning processes and process parameters, for example washing mechanics, chemistry, water qualities, cycle times and cleaning results, can be designed and optimized for the respective component independently of any company processes which might already exist.

The trials make it easier to estimate process requirements and cleaning results in advance, thus minimizing the risk for the team consisting of the customer and equipment manufacturer.

In addition, tests and feasibility studies on the cleanability of new precision components can be performed without having to interfere

with validated production processes. Last but not least, job cleaning services are also available to customers if required.

Equipped for pre-cleaning and final cleaning tasks with the highest requirements

The new Test Center has two cleaning areas, each with different cleanliness classes. The first one is in a clean-room that contains both a solvent-based chamber cleaning machine with integrated low-pressure plasma cleaning and a chamber-type machine for aqueous media. This area is used for pre-cleaning tasks, which prepare parts for final cleaning in the clean-room environment. It is also suitable for meeting the higher cleanliness requirements of a variety of typical ultra-fine cleaning tasks encountered in sectors such as the sensor, aviation, e-mobility and coating industries.

The final cleaning area is in a validated ISO Class 7 clean-room with ISO Class 6 zones. This contains a chamber-type washer for solvent media, a chamber-type washer for water-based media, and a multichamber ultrasonic cleaning system with nine wet and two dry

In the final cleaning area, which is in a validated ISO Class 7 cleanroom with ISO Class 6 zones, cleaning tests with the highest cleanliness requirements, such as Grades 2 and

stations. Here, different ultrasonic frequencies, cleaning chemicals, PPC, passivation agents and more can be tested. A range of (combinable) options are also available for drying parts.

In addition, the new Technology Center is fitted with media preparation systems for reverse osmosis (RO), de-ionized (DI) and ultra-pure water (UPW), thus supplying all the types of water qualities needed for ultra-fine and high-purity cleaning operations. Thanks to this equipment, extremely high cleanliness standards, such as those demanded by Grade 1 and 2, can be met. Since all systems are networked via the Ecoclean Connect cloud solution, all machine and cleaning test data are available in digital form.

To verify cleaning results, the Test Center is equipped with diverse measuring instruments. There is also a special packaging station for the cleaned products.

www.ecoclean-group.net

To detect residual particles, the High Purity Test Center also features a darkroom with a UV light source.

Ecoclean celebrated the inauguration of the new High Purity Test Centre at the Dettingen production site with around 110 guests from the semiconductor supply industry, precision optics and other hightech sectors.

1, can be carried out.

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

Our 2023 Brochure now available - Advanced solutions for vapour degreasing, corrosion protection, metal cleaning and surface treatments

EnviroTech Europe are specialists in metal, plastic and other substrate cleaning, pre-treatment and protection. We offer a range of approved products tailored to your industry, which are cost effective, energy efficient, safe for operators and the environment

We are pleased to introduce our range of products in our 2023 products brochure, viewable on our website and downloadable in PDF format: https://www.envirotech-europe. com/brochure

Our products are used in the following industries:

Electronics and Electrical

Environmental General Cleaning

Industrial and Manufacturing

Marine and Maritime

Mechanical Engineering

Medical Device Manufacturing

Military Motorsport

Power Generation

Railways and Automotive

FURTHER INFORMATION

Visit www.envirotech-europe.com/ applications-and-case-studies for information about uses and applications for all EnviroTech Europe products.

For more advice, please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our website contact form.

All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

Straaltechniek UK Ltd provide bespoke solutions & equipment modernisation programmes to the Surface Preparation Industry

Straaltechniek UK Ltd offer many services into the surface preparation industry including manufacture and supply of equipment, new or 2nd hand refurbished, aftermarket spares, and equipment modernisation (including our High Performance Long Life GN last Wheel) as well as maintenance support through service contracts and breakdown cover. With their office, workshop and showroom based in the Steel City of Sheffield Straaltechniek UK Ltd are proud to be a member of Made in Sheffield, one of the Worlds great brands.

As well as brand New, we offer quality 2nd refurbished shot blasting equipment. Our skilled engineers refurbish to a high standard to customer spec whilst also offering key feature upgrades including our Long Life High Performance Blast wheels as part of our Equipment Modernisation Programme (EMP).

Straaltechniek UK have a wide range of EMP programmes to assist customers when legislation and production demands require more from their existing equipment. Health & Safety, Dust Filtration, House-keeping, Handling & Ergonomic issues are classic examples. The health & safety of

all employees is paramount in any modern businesses who must comply with the latest H&S regulations. Straaltechniek UK can assist these businesses with advice and Straaltechniek UK Shot Blast & Shot Peen Equipment Modernisation Programmes E.M.P. Simple Safety Interlock, Access Platform & Ladder, Automatic Abrasive Replenishment upgrades to meet with these mandatory demands. Whether it is working from heights, near to powered moving machinery, excessive noise, dust or ergonomic issues Straaltechniek UK can provide the latest bespoke solutions.

With the supply of Servicing and Spare Parts Straaltechniek UK are able to provide customers with a quick response by keeping spares on the shelf and having a fleet of skilled engineers on hand to offer the support daily requirements from scheduled service and maintenance visits, to emergency breakdowns. Carrying out preventative maintenance to customers installations will save them on costs, unnecessary down time and ultimately lost profit. Proper and timely maintenance will also extend the service life of the machinery. Opting for a Straaltechniek UK service contract allows the customer to concentrate on other critical aspects of production maintenance.

Abrasive Media plays a key part in both shot blasting and shot peening and Straaltechniek UK supply all types, from glass bead and aluminium oxide to steel shot and grit. Not only do they supply the media but also provide technical support to customers including on site sieve analysis. Correct abrasive selection and control in the process is absolutely key to success in surface preparation and Straaltechniek UK can assist by offering trials with different media and having the understanding for what works best to achieve the required finish.

Shot Blast Machine refurbishment (before & after)

PRETREATMENT, SURFACE PREPARATION, DEGREASING & CLEANING

Save on Elbow Grease with Kemet Mould Tool Cleaning Solutions

Known for over 70 years in the mould and tool industry for their Diamond Pastes and other polishing consumables and equipment, Kemet International Ltd have another offering to the industry; A cleaning process that can bring any used mould tool back to a near new condition, removing any contamination in less than an hour - be it for Injection

Moulding or Die Casting!

Normally cleaning requires some manual processing using abrasives that remove, not just the contamination but also the parent material from the mould. This can change the geometry of the mould, damage precision edge profiles and surfaces until it can no longer be used. The resultant cost in time and money, for mould refurbishment or replacement, is significant.

The Kemet process requires no manual scrubbing; simply a Kemet Ultrasonic Cleaner and a special aqueous based

mould cleaning solution. All that is removed is the contaminant, whether plastic or rubber residue, release agent build up, non-ferrous mould debris or tarnish; all with no manual input other than loading and unloading of the tool being cleaned.

As the process is ultrasonic and uses an aqueous solution, which searches even the most difficult areas of the tool, no solvents are needed, making the process kinder to the environment and the workforce.

Perfectly complementing the comprehensive range of products for the precision engineering industry, which are detailed in Kemet’s new catalogue.

As well as Ultrasonic Cleaning, Kemet also offer;

Vacuum Solvent Cleaning machines that can recover 99% of material waste.

Passivation lines that comply with ISO 7 clean room.

Contact Kemet on +44 (0) 1622 755287 or Sales@Kemet.co.uk to arrange cleaning trials, so Kemet can find the ideal cleaning solution for you.

www.kemet.co.uk

Powder Checker

Non-contact Uncured Powder Thickness Gauge

Affordably measures uncured powder coatings using non-contact ultrasonic technology to predict a cured thickness



Dedicated stand-alone unit is ready to measure right out of the box

 Fast measurement speed—ideal for moving lines and swinging parts

 Scan Mode continuously takes measurements—ideal for analyzing large areas

 Storage of 999 readings with onscreen averaging. Stored readings can be downloaded to PosiSoft Desktop Software

Powder Inspection Kits

Complete solutions for measuring powder coating before and after cure are available

16A Long Drive, Meadway, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2PN t: 01442 879494  www.dftinstruments.co.uk  e: sales@dftinstruments.co.uk

Cleantech Oxyle powers wastewater treatment as it raises CHF 2.8 million to scale growth

Oxyle provides a novel wastewater treatment technology that completely eliminates the most persistent and toxic micropollutants from water in a cost-effective, sustainable and easy to use manner. The game-changing technology is helping users easily comply with strict effluent discharge regulations while providing real-time data on the water quality.

Water contaminated with persistent and toxic pollutants is one of the world’s most pressing health and environmental concerns. All over the world precious bodies of water are contaminated with micropollutants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS chemicals. When untreated,

these chemicals cause hormonal imbalances, cancer, and birth defects in humans and pose a serious threat to the survival of our ecosystems. In addressing this global crisis, Oxyle AG, an advanced wastewater treatment and monitoring solution provider, is today announcing a CHF 2.8 million

pre-seed funding round to bring to market their mission of improving the health of our precious bodies of water and protecting ecosystems against micropollutants. The funding round was led by Wingman Ventures with participation from SOSV, Better Ventures, and another.vc. Including this round, with pre-seed non-dilutive funds and grants raised last year, Oxyle has raised over CHF 7 million in total.

Founded in 2020, Oxyle has developed a sustainable and scalable technology that destroys a wide range of micropollutants including the forever chemicals such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, hormones, pesticides etc. from contaminated wastewater. Oxyle’s novel treatment process is driven by their nanoporous catalysts that oxidise and eliminate micropollutants, down to detection limits of 1 ng/L, even for the highly persistent compounds that are

resistant to existing treatments. This treatment process is coupled with Oxyle’s proprietary analytics technology that allows for real-time monitoring of micropollutants, a truly unique and much-needed offering that helps customers comply with their strict discharge regulations. The aim is to install remotely operated modular, decentralised reactors of varying sizes to meet customer needs from chemical industries, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and environmental remediation projects.

The core technology behind this game changing innovation was developed over 5 years by Oxyle’s CEO and cofounder, Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, during her doctoral research at ETH Zurich that commenced in 2014. Together with Dr. Silvan Staufert, the concept of a novel catalyst for micropollutant degradation was built into a scalable technology platform that is able to address the problem where it matters: at the source, before they enter waterways. Oxyle has successfully completed several paid pilots with industrial and municipal customers, advanced its technology to TRL8 through on-site demonstrations, and grown to a team of 17 people. Oxyle’s team of water experts possess strong expertise in developing and implementing advanced water treatment and monitoring solutions for its customers.

Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, CEO and Cofounder of Oxyle AG commented:

“We are living in an era where we face several existential crises on a daily basis and lack of clean, pollutant-free water is one of them. At Oxyle, we are bringing market-disruptive solutions that remove and detect micropollutants in an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable manner for our industrial and municipal customers. We are exploiting new market drivers such as stricter regulations and growing public pressure to expand our operations in attractive market segments and help a diverse portfolio of global customers. We are excited to work in close partnership with our investors, customers, regulators and partners as we prepare for the market entry of our latest product, our batch treatment system.”

Dr. Silvan Staufert CTO and Cofounder of Oxyle AG commented: “Flexibility is at the heart of our technology since its conceptualization. Key performance metrics such as ease of use, energy efficiency and treatment decentralisation were always in the focus. With our scalable technology platform we provide both efficient treatment and monitoring solutions and are ideally positioned to tackle this problem wherever it comes up. Building on the success of our ongoing customer pilots where we have shown removal of PFAS to below

detection limit. We are building on this momentum to provide products that protect our health and the environment from these toxic forever chemicals.

At present, 80% of the world’s wastewater is discharged in rivers, lakes and groundwater bodies without receiving any treatment. Rapid industrialization and growing demand for better consumer goods means ever increasing discharge of toxic pollutants into effluents and a strain on our freshwater resources. In the last few years, incredible advances have been made in the field of water analysis allowing regulators to detect very low concentrations of pollutants in water. Moreover, regulators now have a much better understanding of how toxic and problematic even very low concentrations of micropollutants are for humans and our ecosystems. Just this year, EPA’s health advisory level for PFOA (chemical used in the production of waterproof clothes, teflon, cosmetics etc.) was drastically lowered from 400 ppt (ng/L) in 2009 to 0.004 ppq (pg/L), a 100,000x stricter level due to the danger these chemicals pose to humans when consumed.

These market drivers and the lack of effective solutions, have created the perfect opportunity for Oxyle to bring our innovative treatment and

monitoring solution to market and fill the much needed void. The proceeds from the funds raised in our round will be used to strengthen our team with upscaling capacities, expand our customer portfolio into attractive market segments, build partnerships to enter new locations, and most importantly, to bring our first product to market next year.

Alex Stöckl, founding partner at Wingman Ventures, commented: “Solving our global water crisis has never been more urgent. Our freshwater resources are depleting at alarming rates and toxic micropollutants in water lead to severe damages in our health and environment. New regulations will demand companies to act.

But additionally, we need to use sustainable technology to protect our precious water resources for us, and our future generations. We are proud to support Oxyle on their journey to address our global water problem in order to give everyone access to clean water.”

Pae Wu, general partner at SOSV, commented: “The pervasive and hidden problem of forever chemicals and other diverse pollutants in our drinking water demands urgent action. Oxyle’s technology directly attacks the hardest challenges to deploying a real solution at scale - by volume, by cost, and at the parts per trillion (and below) levels that are necessary to make a meaningful impact on our health. We are thrilled to make this investment in Dr. Mushtaq and her team to get this much-needed technology into the market to solve this major challenge to our right to clean drinking water.”

Currently, discharge regulations are based upon the Best Available Treatment (BAT) standards. Oxyle’s technology has demonstrated removal of even the most persistent compounds like PFAS to below detection limits of 1 ng/L, a BAT standard that is 10-100x lower than our competitors. We truly believe that the best approach to solving the global water contamination crisis is to implement stricter pollutant discharge regulations that are realistic to achieve by solution providers. Our long-term vision is to work closely with customers and regulators to set new discharge regulations and support a wide range of customers in developed and developing nations against the negative impact of micropollutants.

Empowering our end-users with an efficient technology supported by real-time treatment monitoring performance, while allowing them to reuse treated water and lowering CO2 emissions in customers’ value chains are core components of Oxyle’s long-term mission.

For more information please visit https://www.oxyle.ch/

Monitoring of the Coating Baths for Uniform Colouring

In order to apply coatings at a well-defined plating rate and with a well-defined composition, electro-plating companies must monitor and control the formulation of their plating baths very closely. For example, the metallic coatings (like AuCuCd, AuCuIn, RhRu or others) especially beloved in the jewellery industry must be applied absolutely homogeneously over the entire surface to ensure an even colour finish.

Quality Control of Plating Baths

The quality of metallic coatings

depends heavily on the formulation of the plating bath, which consequently needs to be monitored. Compared with other methods, XRF (X-RAY

fluorescence) analysis of such solutions is straightforward: sample preparation is quick, and the only consumables required are small pieces of plastic foil, as opposed to other analytical methods where gases (Ar) or purified water are used.

Setup of the solution Analysis Cell

All the FISCHER XRF instruments can be easily outfitted for analysing plating solutions by mounting the optional solution analysis cell (see Figure 2). First, the specialized cell is filled with the solution to be analysed, then it is covered with a thin but robust Mylar foil and sealed with a plastic ring – all part of the solution analysis kit. Different cells are available which vary only in the material of the cell’s base from which they are made. Choosing the correct material can considerably improve the measurement performance. Matrix effects (Cl, SO4, CN,...) in the solution can be corrected via the absorption

Figure 2 - Setup of the solution analysis cell. First it is filled with the solution, then covered by a Mylar foil and sealed with a plastic ring.

of fluorescence radiation of the cell’s base material (e.g. Mo or Ni).

Fast and simple bath analysis

Due to the easy handling bath analysis can be carried out directly in the

production without specially qualified personnel being required. Measurement results are available within minutes which provides short reaction times regarding changing the bath. In addition the cells are resistant against chemicals and can be re-used.

There are no further operational costs involved.

Analysis of metal content using Fischer’s XRF measurement systems

FISCHER’s high-precision, fast and user-friendly XRF measurement systems are perfect for analysing the metallic content of plating solutions. Equipped with the solution analysis cell they provide great time savings compared to other analytical methods. For more information, please contact your local FISCHER representative:

FISCHER INSTRUMENTATION (GB) LTD - 12 Goodwood Road, Keytec 7 Business Park, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 2JL.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1386 577370

Or visit:

www.fischerinstrumentation.co.uk

High Carbon Steel shot and Grit. Low Carbon Steel Shot and metal Bead Stainless Steel Cr and Cr/Ni. No

Fax:

E-mail: sales@pometon.co.uk

Scangrit has become one of the leading suppliers of blasting abrasives by meeting the rigorous demands of European Industries.

We combine huge resources of skill and expertise to provide you with the widest range of top-performing products, a first-class technical support service and fast reliable deliveries.

When you need to take abrasive action, you’ll find Scangrit is a hard act to follow.

For all your Shotblasting & Engineering needs.

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AIRLESS SPRAY & COATING EQUIPMENT

OVERHEAD CONVEYORS

NYLON COATING POWDERS

RDM Industrial Services Ltd Parkfield Industrial Estate Kemp Street Middleton Manchester M24 4AA Tel: 0161 643 9333 Fax: 0161 655 3467 www.rdm.u-net.com.

Contact: Robert Horwich or Geoff Ball Spraybooths, rooms, ovens, conveyors, pretreatment, powder plant and air replacement units.

Straaltechniek UK Limited

8 Valley Works, Grange Lane, Sheffield, S5 0DQ, United Kingdom

Table Wheel Blasting Machines

• Work zone mm; 1803 Dia x 1500 H

• Work zone mm; 1803 Dia x 1200 H

• Work zone mm; 2743 Dia x 400 H

• Work zone mm; 1500 Dia x 1000 H

• Work zone mm; 1000 Dia x 400 H

• Work zone mm; 1200 Dia x 1200 H

Tumblast Wheel Machines

• Type; Rubber Belt

Volume Litre; 420 Litre

• Type; Steel Belt

Volume Litre; 425 Litre

• Type; Rubber Belt

Volume Litre; 50 Litr

• Type; Rubber Belt

Volume Litre; 150 Litre

Hook Wheel Machines

• Type; I Track

Work Zone mm; 1800 Dia x 1800L

• Type; Y Track

Work Zone mm; 1500 Dia x 1700L

• Type; Y Track

Work Zone mm; 800 Dia x 1200L

Roller Conveyor Wheel Machines

• Type; Roller Conveyor

Work Zone mm; 1000 x 500

Wheel No; 4

• Type; Roller Conveyor

Work Zone mm; 1000 x 500

Wheel No; 4

Air Blast Hand Cabinets

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 900W x 600D x 350H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 900W x 700D x 500H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 900W x 700D x 500H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 900W x 700D x 500H

• Type; Suction

Work Zone mm; 700W x 500D x 400H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 800 Dia Turntable

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 500 Dia Basket

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 1200 x 750 x400

• Type; Suction

Work Zone mm; 700W x600D x300H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 600W x 500D x 400H

• Type; Pressure

Work Zone mm; 1400W x 700D x 600H

Blast Rooms

• Work Zone mm; 4000L x 2000W x 2000H Type; Room

Abrasive Recovery; Waffle Floor

• Work Zone mm; 4000L x 2000W x 2000H Type; Room

Abrasive Recovery; Waffle Floor

• Work Zone mm; 20ft x 8ft x 8ft

Type; Container

Abrasive Recovery; Sweep Up

Dust Filters

• Various Types & Sizes

For more information please contact:

With an estimated 30% rise in gas prices, can your company afford not to switch to our ambient, one stage pretreatment technology?

Our ambient temperature one stage processing system requires no heating and therefore no gas.

Additional benefits when switching include: better corrosion protection, savings in water, and savings in extra labour costs.

Customers who switch from their standard three stage phosphating plant to our innovative one stage Toran 3 technology reduce their overall costs by 23% annually.

Contact Metavate to help your business move forward.

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1000+ hours salt spray protection

No water required - no sludge produced

Ambient processing - no gas required

No flash rust for 6 months on treated-metal prior to painting