ipcm® n. 67 - January/February 2021

The smart journal for surface treatments

®

ISSN 2280-6083

ipcm digital on www.myipcm.com 2021

INTERNATIONAL PAINT&COATING MAGAZINE

12th Year - Bimonthly

N° 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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Future-proof and reliable overhead

and floor MONORAIL and P+F CONVEYOR systems that can be perfectly integrated into your production processes.

We take care of all your requirements and create a tailor-made and cost-optimized concept for you.

CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

© AdobeStock

06

© BASF

MARKET CLOSE UP Ethics and Sustainability Remain Key to the Future of the Coating Industry

© HangOn

46 05 10 14 18 26

ASF Releases its Color Report 2020 B for Automotive OEM Coatings

© FASTER

ANALYSIS

60

A Look Back at the Great Crises of the Past to Overcome Fear

EDITOR’S LETTER BRAND NEW

28 30

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH PPG Presents its New Colour Project, Extra-Ordinary, and Introduces Upcoming Colour Trends in the Automotive World

38

BRAND NEW BRAND NEW

22

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

56

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY FASTER. A Turnkey Powder Coating Plant for Laboratory Fume Hood Components

IPCM IN REVIEW FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY Dradura’s Last Generation Coating System Optimises the Powder Coverage of Metal Mesh Intersections

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY The Perfect Combination of 3D Printing and PVD Sputtering: From Prototyping to the New Frontiers of Additive Manufacturing

ART WITHIN SURFACES French Artist Creates a Colour Palette With 144 Automotive Models

57

SUSTAINABILITY

58

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

66 68 72

AkzoNobel Develops A More Sustainable Way of Making Resins

Robust and Precise Mixing System for Up to Three Components

BRAND NEW HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH Use and Reuse: MST CHEMICALS’ Sustainable Corporate Philosophy

BRAND NEW

FASTRIP, for the easy, effective and rapid paint stripping of metals.

The FASTRIP range is easy to use with adjustable cycle parameters: time setting, heating function, constant temperature control, and real-time temperature display. It is made of high quality steel and the cleaning basket can be supplied in AISI 304 stainless steel. It features a powerful large-diameter transducer with a considerable cleaning effect and an electric circuit insulated from liquids for greater safety.

FASTRIP

T5

FASTRIP

the range of medium-sized paint stripping tanks with a capacity of 800 liters.

www.alit-tech.com

T2

the range of compact tanks for immersion paint stripping

CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 © OMSO

74

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY OMSO SpA: Innovative Process Solutions and Integrated “Green” Coating Technologies

© Arzuffi

100

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE rzuffi Fast-Met Metallising Systems A for an Unlimited Range of Colours Thanks to Reactive Sputtering

© Viktor Mácha

108 82

ART WITHIN SURFACES

118

The Lively Spirit of Steel in Viktor Mácha’s Photography

SUCCESS STORIES Tenfold Increase of Tooling Uptimes and Improved Process Stability with the Drag Finishing Technology

84

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

88

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

Axalta on the Sustainability of Super Durable Powder Coatings in the Architectural Segment

From Craftsmanship to Contract Coating: the Metamorphosis of a Contractor through Targeted Investment in Technologies 4.0 and Human Resources

98 104 106 112 116

© ipcm

BRAND NEW

THE MARKETING CORNER Social Media Trends 2021: The Ultimate Guide

126

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

130

THE MARKETING CORNER

133

STANDARD & LEGISLATION

134

ZOOM ON EVENTS

BRAND NEW SUCCESS STORIES Solutions for Efficient Powder Coating at Wandel GmbH

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH Walther Trowal Expands in the United States

ZOOM ON EVENTS COVERED by ipcm®

The Professional Training Courses of ipcm® Academy: The Opinion of a Trainee

Disruption in Technical Communication: ipcm®OnAir, a Television Format Devoted to Technological Innovation

The Year of the SCIP Database

THE INVISIBLE PROTECTION Approved by:

SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français) RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens) Gütegemeinschaft Anti-Graffiti e. V. London Underground

A NEW FOCUS ON INNOVATION www.adaptacolor.com

EDITOR’S LETTER

The Future after Covid-19 Richiedi la versione in italiano a info@ipcm.it

Anyone who thought that on 1 January we would put behind us a dramatic year, which saw the entire planet face a pandemic that has overturned everyone’s life in many ways, was wrong. Aware of being wrong.

Indeed, the beginning of 2021 has been very similar to the end of 2020: fluctuating infection rates, openings and closures occurring all over the world (even Beijing is no different), new, frightening virus variants, and an underlying uncertainty that never goes away.

However, whereas 2020 was a dark year, 2021 is bringing a light of hope, with the vaccines and the other tools that the global scientific community is making available for treating the sick and defeating this virus.

The year 2021, therefore, is offering us one or more reasons of hope and optimism – which do not allow us to plan for the short-term future, yet, but do give us a glimpse of a return to normality. Even Morgan Stanley, just before Christmas, stated that the arrival of vaccines, whose effectiveness has been confirmed to be higher than 50%, and the rise in markets experienced last November make more concrete the possibility of returning to some sort of “normality” in the second half of 20211.

In the meantime, we must not give up.

The fastest countries to reach herd immunity will be the biggest drivers of recovery. Although difficult in a somewhat shaky market environment, with rising raw material costs and continuing restrictions on international travel, companies must not give in to the temptation to deconstruct themselves, so as to be ready to face the future huge demand from the market, especially from those countries that have suffered the most from the pandemic crisis.

Covid-19 has set the pace for the transition to a digitally driven economy. The year 2020 has taught us that everything (or almost everything) can be done “remotely” or online. The question, however, is: can everything be done as well as with a traditional approach? The answer is no (or at least not everything). On the other hand, opening digital channels and investing in flexibility, dynamism, and the possibility to reinvent oneself are not only ways to survive in the current context, but also the key to corporate development in the future post-Covid environment.

I am therefore very happy to open this editorial year with the success stories of several companies that, by virtue of their ability to reorganise, invest in technology, team up, and develop industrially, closed 2020 without any major shocks and opened 2021 with a positive market outlook.

On the following pages, you will find numerous reports on new product launches, projects combining technology and sustainability (another key to succeed in future), and finishing processes designed for new additive manufacturing techniques. And some words spent on ipcm®’s projects.

Indeed, we also closed 2020 successfully despite several difficulties (you will find a video review on page 28) and started 2021 with many big news, from our ipcm®_Academy course (which will finally be able to certify professional Industrial Surface Finishing Process Technologists) to our ambitious ipcm®OnAir project (which combines virtual and real-life features in a television format, in order to offer to the industry an opportunity to meet in the absence of events and trade fairs).

From this ipcm® issue on, moreover, you will find a new section, The Marketing Corner, presenting original content to guide you through the world of digital communication. Finally, there is a small technical innovation that makes the digital version much easier to read: an interactive table of contents. By clicking on the title of each article in the table of contents, you will be taken directly to your page of interest.

A little improvement to make ipcm®’s user experience even better.

Alessia Venturi Editor-in-chief Direttore Responsabile

1

https://www.morganstanley.com/im/en-la/intermediary-investor/insights/articles/the-year-ahead-the-roaring-20s-or-the-scary-20s.html

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MARKET CLOSE UP

Ethics and Sustainability Remain Key to the Future of the Coating Industry Interview with Giovanni Marsili Vice President of Assovernici, the Italian Association of Coating Manufacturers

Š Assovernici

2020 has been a particularly intense year for all markets: how has the coatings industry fared during this period, and with what outlook?

Our industry has been able to adapt promptly to the needs that have suddenly arisen in all markets following the pandemic, while wisely applying the series of the urgent decrees issued by the Government.

As regards the construction sector, based on the nature of their economic activity, producers and distributors were allowed to remain active and, in many cases, from April to July they witnessed a strong increase in sales to private customers: the sales of

Giovanni Marsili.

A

products related to do-it-yourself activities, such as enamels and impregnating agents,

fter a fluctuating 2020, full of

have increased significantly, as have online

unexpected events and unpredictability,

sales. As a result of this major change in

the coatings industry is preparing to

their sales mix, Assovernici, through its

face the new year with renewed momentum,

continued statistical panel available to

starting from two elements that are becoming

members, has recorded positive year-end

more and more crucial: sustainable

results in terms of revenue. The industrial

innovation and ethical business management.

sector, on the other hand, was heavily

This is what we can infer from the answers

affected by the lockdown and, despite a

that Giovanni Marsili, the Vice President of

positive trend in the second half of the year,

Assovernici (the Italian Association of Coating

closed on negative ground. COVID is still a

Manufacturers) and a board member of the

global health challenge, whose effects on

European Council of the Paint, Printing Ink,

socio-economic systems is largely uncertain.

and Artist’s Colours Industry (CEPE), gave us

Moreover, as in other sectors, the pandemic

in this interview. They illustrate the signs of an

has triggered processes of acceleration of

increasingly innovation-driven industry, but

changes already underway, such as new

also the premises for an even closer, more

ways of managing staff, suppliers, and

active collaboration among companies and

customers, but also the enhancement of

the associations that represent them.

digitalisation processes and an exponential

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

growth of the e-commerce channel.

Currently, both sectors are seeing the

While Governments will continue to field

spread of claims related to antibacterial

interventions of various kinds, what will

surface protection products. Where does

make a difference in the near future is the

your association stand on this issue?

ability of companies to adapt quickly and

We believe it is essential to promote

flexibly to these changes, by learning to live

investment in research and development

with uncertainty and adapting rapidly to new

to deliver solutions that are increasingly

customer and consumer demands.

effective, efficient, and responsive to today’s challenges in the building, industry, and

What are the industry’s current

infrastructure sectors. In addition, our

legislative and technical priorities?

Association has the important statutory

As a board member of CEPE, the European

objective of disseminating correct

trade association to which we belong, I

information about coating products.

can say that, at the European level, the

Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic,

“Chemical Strategy for Sustainability” and

we have seen an increase in advertisements

the broader “Green Deal” framework are

of paints and coatings focussing on their

the complex and important challenges

antibacterial, disinfectant, or sanitising

to be managed by the entrepreneurial

properties, not always demonstrated by

system in the near future. The companies

objective data and sometimes ending up

in our sector will have to make a further

being completely inappropriate. In principle,

effort to renew themselves and rethink

such products can significantly contribute to

their products and production processes.

ensuring a healthy working environment and

Alongside this, in both the construction and

preventing the spread of microorganisms.

industry sectors, VOC reduction regulations

However, several regulatory requirements

are constantly coming in force for greater

must be met for their marketing and use.

emissions reduction, as well as limitations

Only mandatory approvals ensure that such

on the use of substances that may adversely

products have undergone prior evaluation to

affect human health and the environment.

guarantee their safety for the environment

Over 2021, our priorities will address

and consumers, as well as the effectiveness

the implementation of new regulations,

of the indicated conditions of use. In

including the new hazardous notification

addition, their related claims must always

system of the European Chemicals Agency

be documented and proven by adequate

(ECHA) and since 1st October 2021 2021,

empirical evidence.

the 14 Atp will come into force, which th

includes the classification of TiO2, with

What requirements must companies

significant consequences especially on

fulfil in order to be admitted to your

production areas, where the use of raw

association?

materials with suspected carcinogenicity

Our association is open to all companies

will require special measures to be taken.

that manufacture coating products, provided

Finally, as for research activities, our industry

that they operate on the Italian domestic

is focussing on new raw materials, such as

market and they are willing to commit to

binders, additives, and biocides, capable of

the principles set forth in our association’s

meeting the above-mentioned sustainability

Code of Ethics. When evaluating a potential

requirements without sacrificing product

member, our Board of Directors gives a

performance, but rather improving it.

higher score to firms that show virtuous

© Adobe Stock

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

07

MARKET CLOSE UP

behaviours, such as the adoption of integrated certification systems

to reconcile the main differences among them by offering to our

or other quality, safety, and environmental management certifications,

members a continuous service of statistical data collection, divided

the adoption of organisational models pursuant to Law 231/2001, o

into our three macro areas. This is a fundamental tool available to

the creation of sustainability reports. Indeed, our association wants

companies to keep abreast and monitor the main industry trends.

to maintain a precise direction, rewarding the implementation of

The main elements of differentiation lie in technical and regulatory

continuous improvement processes and of concrete, demonstrable

aspects. This is why we have separate statistical and technical/

actions of social responsibility and business ethics.

regulatory committees, which however are always open to dialogue

Finally, for companies and entities that have characteristics of

on any analysis and interpretation issues. We also have an integrated

complementarity and economic connection with our ordinary

Health, Safety, and Environmental Committee devoted to monitoring

members, there is the possibility to join Assovernici as an aggregate

safety and health issues within manufacturing facilities, analysing

member. Raw material suppliers are an example of this: their presence

any workplace accidents in the context of the international OSRA

fosters the exchange of experiences in terms of production chain,

Safety Alert program, and developing environmental indicators. These

product formulation, and related services.

activities are of particular importance to both sectors, also given the stringent environmental and safety standards imposed to companies,

Assovernici is characterised by the presence of members from

which have been even exacerbated by the current pandemic. Our

two different sectors: industrial coatings and construction

working groups are also the starting point for strengthening our

coatings. How does the association act as the “common thread�

relation with CEPE and they will play an increasingly significant role in

between them?

reaffirming the importance of our industry. Finally, we try to guarantee

These various product sectors have the important role of enriching

an appropriate level of representation within our Board of Directors,

our scope of representation and our activities, while offering a

which is our decision-making body, issuing the main operative

complete overview of our industry. In terms of markets, it is important

guidelines of Assovernici.

Š Adobe Stock

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

Ready. Steady. Coat If you can’t perform, you won’t compete. You know that.

We know that. And that’s why powder job coaters look to Interpon. We’re a global leader in quality powder coatings and our products are approved for use with a diverse range of applications. We have literally thousands of colors, textures, and special effects in stock. Take the next step to outperformance with Interpon Powder Coatings.

gtc.interpon.com

BRAND-NEW

© BYK-Gardner GmbH

BYK Gardner Launches spectro2go for Mobile Control BYK Gardner has introduced spectro2go to help the users from automotive, paint and plastic industries control the quality of colour, appearance and physical properties.

B

YK Garner developed spectro2go, the newest member of

displays. The spectro2go is completely in line with this trend offering a

the spectro2guide family, to help the users from automotive,

3.5” colour touchscreen – the largest on the market. A perfect premise

paint and plastic industries to control the quality of colour,

for the icon-based menu, which allows an intuitive smart phone like

appearance and physical properties.

operation and the integrated camera, that shows a live preview of the

The overall appearance of a product is influenced by colour and gloss.

measurement area to ensure precise positioning and to prevent false

To ensure colour harmony spectro2go measures colour and 60° gloss

readings on imperfections or scratches. The long-term calibration of

simultaneously in compliance with international standards. In addition,

the instrument can be monitored on an external colour and gloss

the spectro2go uses the same high performance LED technology as

test standard. If the values are out of specification, the instrument

light sources for which BYK Gardner’s measurement instruments are

will automatically ask to calibrate on the instrument white standard.

highly appreciated by customers. Due to the outstanding performance

A docking station to perform an automatic auto diagnosis can be

of these innovative LEDs, the short-term, long-term and temperature

purchased as an optional accessory.

stability as well as a homogeneous illumination spot are unsurpassed

The spectro2guide offers three possibilities to transfer data: via

in the industry. As a result, a superior accuracy and excellent inter-

docking station, USB cable, and wireless with WiFi. Dependent on

instrument agreement allow the use of digital standards.

needs, data analysis can be done with either the software smart-lab

Being part of the family, digital standards can also be exchanged

for online measurement and flexible data analysis or smart-process

with the spectro2guide which additionally predicts colour stability

for a standardized sampling process with digital standards defined in

by means of a built-in miniature fluorimeter. This high technology

Organizers.

is complimented by the easy-to-use operation and handling of the spectro2go. As for mobile phones, there is a trend towards ever-larger

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

For further information: www.byk-instruments.com

BRAND-NEW

ALIT Technologies Partners with SAT for the Exclusive Sale of Fastrip ISP ALIT Technologies and SAT sign a collaboration agreement for the sale of Fastrip ISP paint stripping technologies for aluminium extrusions vertical coating lines.

A

LIT Technologies has signed a commercial agreement with

together”, said Andrea Trevisan, CEO of SAT, an Italian engineering

SAT (Surface Aluminium Technologies) S.R.L. for the exclusive

company dedicated to the design and the installation of aluminium

sale of ALIT Technologies’s Fastrip ISP machine for the in-line

profile surface treatment systems.

paint stripping of hooks for aluminium extrusions coating lines.

The agreement comes as a result of years of projects between the

“SAT is a very well-known and respected brand; we are happy of the

two companies and has the aim to provide their customers with the

agreement we signed with them. I’m sure it will provide great value

most advanced technologies that make the painting process more

for worldwide customers in our market”, stated Loris Rossi, CEO of

efficient and economical.

ALIT, specialist in chemical paint stripping of metal surfaces.

“We are all very excited about this collaboration and we really look forward to working with ALIT to carry on new challenging projects

LIQUID COATINGS

For further information: www.alit-tech.com

BRAND-NEW

New H2O’s Solution to Reduce COD

by Further 50 Percent H2O has developed the Purecat solution: this new technology, in combination with Clearcat, is able to reduce COD 50 percent further.

T

he limits of the chemical oxygen demand (COD – Chemical

minimize the COD value. In fact, thanks to this solution the treated

Oxygen Demand) for the reuse and discharge of polluted

water can be reused in production or discharged, and previous

industrial wastewater are becoming increasingly strict globally.

complex processes will be simplified, because maintenance- and

COD measures the pollution of wastewater with organic substances,

cost-intensive activated carbon filters used for post-treatment will no

such as oils.

longer be needed.”

The H2O GmbH’s application centre for wastewater-free production

As early as 2006, H2O launched a COD-reducing technology on

has developed a technology that reduces the COD value drastically.

the market. The Clearcat condensation stage achieved very good

“We are helping to make even more industries wastewater-free”

COD reduction, but often lacked the last bit to meet the values. The

said Uwe Hanschke, Head of application technology at H2O GmbH.

Purecat technology puts the necessary icing on the cake and, in

“We achieve fantastic values with our new Purecat technology. The

combination with Clearcat, reduces COD 50 percent further.

COD value in the wastewater is reduced by 97 per cent. This means that even very strict limit values can be complied with in order to

For further information: www.h2o-de.com

© H2O GmbH

The visual comparison shows the difference: in the laboratory, a rich green stands for a lot of COD, orange for little. The brighter the orange colour, the less COD. In the picture on the left, the distillate of the VACUDEST without technology, in the middle with Clearcat, on the right additionally with Purecat.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

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HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

PPG Presents its New Colour Project, Extra-Ordinary, and Introduces Upcoming Colour Trends in the Automotive World During the digital preview of the biennial Color Show, PPG revealed 5 colour palettes encompassing 80 colours, shades where brightness stands out as a new symbolic trend expressing quality and a search for beauty.

P

PG confirmed in 2020 its biennial

important for PPG and it continues to be

coating materials to produce batteries or

appointment with Color Show,

strategic, even this particular year. In fact,

“battery packs”, in which PPG is supporting

choosing a digital format to present a

PPG’s mission is to hold a unique position

both Automotive OEM (Original Equipment

preview of the group’s new palette which will

as a partner of the automobile industry,

Manufactures) and battery and components

colour the cars of tomorrow under the larger

supporting its ongoing transformation

manufacturers to accelerate the development

Extra-Ordinary project.

thanks to a range of advanced technologies

of high performing energy-storage solutions

At a time when everything is strongly

and products – from glues and sealants,

for the cars and commercial vehicles of the

influenced by this undoubtedly complex

protective and rust-proof paints, to

future. PPG proposes paints suitable for

situation, PPG is at Italy’s side with products

decorative paints. Both the automobile

different substrates and colour technology

that enhance the combination of quality and

industry and our customers are guiding

to reduce the overheating of the interior in

beauty to guide automobile manufacturers

two major steps forward: electrification

summer and the energy consumption for

and Italians towards the future of colour for

and autonomous driving, areas where PPG

air conditioning. In the second case, this

automobiles.

intends to be present and active. In the first

means introducing formulation principles that

The automotive sector has always been

case, this means providing painting and

enable the creation of colours compatible

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

with radar and LiDAR sensors as required by

our goal “We Protect and Beautify the World1”

customers, began ten months ago, and PPG

assisted driving, and painting products for

because we want to bring beauty and quality

will continue to work on it, even enabling

infrastructure that facilitate safe autonomous

to the different sectors we work in and to the

new colour projects to be experienced ‘at a

driving, such as road signs.

everyday world in which people live,” says

distance’.

As well, we could not forget a third line, that

Rodolfo Saporiti, PPG Global Account Director

“We are very proud of this new digital

is, car sharing, which, especially in light of the

FCA & Automotive Market Director, Italy.

project, which we have been working on in

health crisis and with particular attention for

concert with the global team for more than

safety, will lead PPG to expand new horizons,

The digital project

considering paints with antimicrobial power

With constant research, a capacity for

forced new ways of working. This is proof

to be an important objective to which PPG

innovation, and attention to modern needs,

once again of the great research work and

Research & Development technicians are

PPG combines global expertise with the

tendency towards the future that forms part

dedicated.

potential of digital tools to introduce a

of the group’s DNA. For each new colour,

“We are happy to be a part of Color Show

project that allows colours to be shown

we have created a digital version so that it

again, which on this occasion is being held

three dimensionally, creating involving

can be easily rendered by our customers

in a new, digital format. In such a particular

experiences increasingly close to reality. PPG

on their vehicle models,” explains Federico

year even for the automotive sector, we

has developed a digital car model where the

Menta, PPG Global Director Automotive

would like to remain close to industrial

colour is visualized on concave and convex

OEM Coatings. “This is just the beginning

players and support them in addressing new

forms, corners, and rapidly changing slopes.

of an ambitious project. Our vision is to

emerging requirements, working together to

PPG paints are read directly and scanned to

leverage digital tools to increase cooperation

anticipate the needs of the future. The group

generate files that can be used to paint the

with customers and support them on the

aims to contribute by continuing to deliver

virtual model and render the colour over the

path towards excellence and continuous

innovation, digitization, and creativity through

entire shape.

quality. Innovation is, in fact, the heart of

the introduction of a new colour range, the

The project, which translates into a tool

our group strategy, and this is exactly what

result of our profound dedication in terms of

to support both chromatic design and

explains our commitment, which translates

ten months, even before the pandemic

studies, analysis, and value for the automotive market. We combine research capacity with

into a continued investment in Research & “We protect and beautify the world” is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

1

Development”.

© PPG Industries Inc

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

15

© PPG Industries Inc

The colour palette The PPG project is inspired by five thematic areas that guide people’s daily lives: awareness, ‘so conscious’ of being an active part of changes; ethics, ‘so ethical’, viewed as a daily attitude that interweaves modern life understood as sustainability and attention to waste with a glance towards the future, which for cars cannot overlook electrical mobility; normality, ‘so normal’, a concept that never more than this year is new and resonates with resilience; beauty, ‘so beautiful’, which should not and cannot be missing in life and which enhances the specifics of the genius loci as a trademark of excellence; and finally audacity, ‘so bold’, a push to view the future optimistically in spite of adversity.

“The colours we are launching are the outcome of studies and analysis that involve the modern era and aim to transmit emotions. We are convinced that for such a particular and emotionally demanding year the keyword is ‘brightness’, a theme symbolizing the hope that we all nurture. Light that also shines through in the deepest tones and which makes the colour unique in all areas, with a common thread that we call ‘ONE PPG’, representing a unique, coherent path between the automotive industry, architecture, and all sectors in which we operate,” says Daniela Nicolelli, PPG Styling Center Manager Automotive, Italy.

Extra-Ordinary PPG lists five concepts yielding 80 colours that express brightness in a game of shimmers, accentuated shadows, and liquid metallization and allow for new and unexpected nuances. Amid these colours, warm tones (browns and oxides) predominate, ranging from decided accents to coloured neutrals and also lending warmth to medium-dark grey with copper shades and the interference of indigo blue. There is room for dusty pinks tending towards warm shades, and blues and reds explore terrain between pink and orange.

Unavoidable, white also takes on different finishes.

In detail, these are the shades pertaining to the thematic groups: • So conscious: medium or medium/light tones and ‘limiting’ shades. Metallic or ceramic finishes with evident flop are available. The tones are mostly warm and desaturated, and accompanied by dusty blues. The neutrals are coloured in medium and medium/light variations and are found on average in petroleum, copper, and bronze.

• So ethical: brown, terracotta, pinkish sand, and ochre have a place in this palette; green is warmer and tends towards yellow. The finishes range from metallic to pearl, which serve to recreate the colour, diluting its density for a more modern look.

• So normal: the colour areas are equally divided between warm and cool tones with medium saturation. The two main colour groups are warm naturals and greyish blues, both characterized by a surprising brightness.

• So beautiful: the colours range from green tending towards yellow, coloured liquid with a ‘lacquered’ effect, to deep blue, bright, metallic orange, and a decidedly shimmering, elegant mallow colour.

• So bold: saturated tones deriving directly from the primary colours, red (orange flame or classic), yellow, and blue (from classic to aqua). An outsider is black, which draws strength with holographic effects in the highlights and an intense background depth. Bright and lively tones are an expression of optimism and positive energy.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

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SAT | Surface Aluminium Technologies Srl | Via Antonio Meucci, 4 37135 Verona | Italy | ph +39 045 8280601 | info@sataluminium.com GEMA SWITZERLAND GMBH | Mövenstrasse 17 9015 St.Gallen | Switzerland | ph +41 71 313 83 00 | info@gema.eu.com

BRAND-NEW

New Coatings for Plastics will Prevent Transmission of Hospital-acquired Infections The MOBACT project is developing bio-based solutions as an environmentally sustainable alternative to metal in order to fight the current major public health problem of hospital-acquired infections.

N

ot only COVID-19 pandemic, but

cleaning. In order to solve this problem, a

of microorganisms on healthcare surfaces

also other public health problems

consortium made up of AIMPLAS - Plastics

near patients as a means of reducing up to

continue to be of high concern for

Technology Centre in Paterna (Valencia,

one-third of the burden of these diseases,

the European Centre for Disease Prevention

Spain), the Institute of Materials Technology

which represent a health risk that calls for

and Control (ECDC), such as hospital-acquired

of the Universitat Politècnica de València, the

considerable public spending.

infections caused by microorganisms and

companies Lamberti and Industrias Tayg,

The project aim is to prevent the

transmitted through contact surfaces.

and the La Fe Hospital Health Research

accumulation and proliferation of

Depending on their nature and environmental

Institute are developing the MOBACT Project

microorganisms thanks to the development

conditions, these surfaces can host

with funding from the Valencian Innovation

of new materials based on active substances

microorganism colonies for several months,

Agency (AVI). The goal is to develop a

with bacteriostatic or bactericidal capacity

even after what might appear to be proper

technology capable of curtailing colonization

to add in furniture surface coatings or in injected parts mass-produced. Another goal is to ensure that the materials are environmentally sustainable: the project team is working with compounds of renewable origin as alternatives to metal compounds, traditionally used because of their resistance to the high temperatures of different transforming processes.

The new bio-based compounds will be encapsulated in polymer matrices, so they can be used as water-based coatings.

Research findings will be validated in a real hospital environment to check their functionality and compliance with current legislation.

This project is in line with the United Nations’ Strategic Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 3 on good health and wellbeing, SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.

For further information: © AIMPLAS

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www.aimplas.net

BRAND-NEW

Kolzer, an Italian company specializing in designing and manufacturing vacuum coating machines, presents its PVD metal coat machines for 3D-printed parts.

T

o provide a solution to common 3D-Printed

elastomers) and metals (titanium, stainless steel,

mould and part problems, reducing the

aluminium alloys, nickel super alloys, kovar, etc.).

impact of wear, friction, harsh chemicals and

“Surface preparation, cleaning and handling is key.

materials, or heat, Kolzer has developed PVD metal

Metals are a lot easier than nonmetals, as they

coat machines for additive manufacturing systems

do not absorb oils and are not as porous as the

which can increase mould life and performance,

nonmetals, so there is no trapped air, for example.

without knocking the part out of engineering

Plastic parts are more porous and take longer

tolerances.

time for cleaning and preparing within the vacuum

3D printing processes (SLA, SLS, MJP, CJP and DMP)

process chamber”, explains Antonio D’Esposito,

are revolutionizing the way to design, produce and

Kolzer’s CEO. “The union between the KOLZER

use many components, both in polymer and in metal,

PVD metal coat machines and 3D print systems

for applications in industry and in everyday life.

guarantee a better future for all.”

www.cmautomazione.it

hi-tech

Kolzer Presents its PVD Metal Coat Solutions for Additive Manufacturing Systems

conveyors

By this technology it’s possible to print quickly 3D parts, based on customized designs, of plastics

For further information:

(PA11, PA11, composites, other polymers and

www.kolzer.com

© Kolzer

CM AUTOMAZIONE srl - FA Ganci

Via Monte Bianco 20 - 20833 Giussano (MB) - IT p. +39.0362.314075 - f. +39.0362.861222 info@cmautomazione.it

BRAND-NEW

Spray Galvanising as Essential for Motorist Safety Numerous accidents have been caused by the corrosion of bridge and tunnel support structures.

Hot spray galvanising is a useful protective solution that ensures that both structural and non-structural elements have a service life of more than 80 years.

T

he death of a truck driver in the Lehigh tunnel in Pennsylvania (USA), occurred on February 21, 2018, was caused by

the detachment of a lighting fixture from the vault due to the breaking of a corroded support bracket. The analysis conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) confirmed that the PVC coated bracket was completely corroded. Subsequent inspections found that other similar support systems were corroded and these were immediately replaced.

It is worth noting that spray galvanising is the most effective corrosion protection system in such highly corrosive environments, not only for structural elements, such as the iron reinforcements of reinforced concrete, but also for non-structural ones, including lighting systems, sign posts, gutters, etc. Indeed, spray galvanising is the only system that enables to apply zinc coatings up to 300-500 microns,

© Wikipedia

guaranteeing a service life of more than 80 years before first maintenance is required.

For further information: www.colimet.it

Top: The entrance to the Lehigh tunnel in Pennsylvania (USA), where in February 2018 a lamp broke off causing the death of a truck driver.

© Motorionline S.r.l.

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Bottom: In December 2019, a part of the ceiling of the Berté tunnel along the A26 motorway in Italy (Genova-Gravellona Toce section) collapsed, fortunately without consequences for the drivers of passing vehicles.

BRAND-NEW

Lesta and Cabycal Sign a Distribution Agreement of Lesta’s Painting Robots in Spain Last July, after having worked for several months in the presentation of the robots in the Spanish market, Lesta and Cabycal have signed a collaboration agreement for the distribution of Lesta’s painting robots in Spain.

L

esta and Cabycal have signed a collaboration agreement for the distribution and business development of the paint application robots of the Italian company in Spain.

Cabycal will be in charge of the commercialization and sale of Lesta’s painting technology in Spain. Based

on a joint commercial strategy, this agreement seeks to open, develop and consolidate business opportunities in the area of paint application robots, and will allow for Lesta to enter the Spanish market, consolidating its presence in Europe.

For its part, with this collaboration Cabycal intends to make the automation of the application process accessible and affordable for industrial painters, which will allow them to carry out competitive developments, reducing labour costs and short-term payback of robots.

For further information: www.cabycal.com and www.lesta.it

© Cabycal

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

BASF Releases its Color Report 2020 for Automotive OEM Coatings BASF’s Coatings division Münster (Germany)

joerg.zumkley@basf.com

BASF has released the BASF Color Report 2020 for Automotive OEM Coatings unveiling a wider range of chromatic colours used by the world’s OEM automakers.

B

ASF released its Color Report 2020 for Automotive OEM

The emergence of some new colours such as blue and yellow made

Coatings. The report shows how the automotive colour palette

the overall spectrum wider than in 2019. Achromatic colours like

is shifting in unconventional ways, unveiling a wider range of

white, black, silver and grey still coated the majority of the vehicles

chromatic colours as demonstrated by the world’s assembly lines’

produced, with white being the most popular colour.

choices in terms of colour.

© BASF

The automotive colour Parolis Purple by BASF.

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HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Automotive colours around the world EMEA: In 2020, about 11% of new vehicles in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) were coated in blue, making it the most popular chromatic colour. Violet is a newcomer to the market, increasing diversity even more.

In the achromatic spectrum, white is still on top at 28% of the market, followed by grey and black.

“Colour variety changes with size. For example, where violet has a unique home in mid-size SUVs, it does not appear in great numbers in smaller or

© BASF

The automotive colour Nation Tide.

larger SUVs,” said Mark Gutjahr, head of Automotive Color Design, EMEA. “The opposite is true with yellow, which shows up in both the very small and the very large, but not the middle. These are specific and unique colour positions that appear and disappear throughout the segments.”

North America: Blue gained more popularity as an automotive colour in North America. In fact, shades of blue are seen as more elegant, and buyers who may have chosen beige or brown

© BASF

in the past seem to be moving to blues or greys.

The automotive colour Billowing Blue.

“Just as we predicted three or four years ago, blue is having a moment in the sun, and we’re using some beautiful effects and pigments that advance the possibilities of hue and texture in this important design space”, said Paul Czornij, head of design, The Americas.

Asia Pacific: Asia Pacific’s preferences mirror global data, and its bright colours reflect the awakening that chromatic colours are experiencing elsewhere.

White is still the most popular colour in the region and black and gray continue © BASF

to improve. While the total numbers aren’t huge, brown, green, and violet are

The automotive colour Dark Seltzer.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

23

all consistent in colour popularity.

favourite, covering about 39% of OEM vehicles. The popularity of grey

“People in Asia Pacific really enjoy choosing colours for their vehicles.

and silver is higher than in other regions, with 18% for each. Black

Colours are very human-oriented, flexible, and free, showing the

has the smallest preference among the achromatic colours, with 12%.

diversity of the region and its people,” said Chiharu Matsuhara, head

Altogether, the achromatic colours command an 87% share.

of design, Asia Pacific.

“Trends that are popular in other parts of the world are slower to catch on in South America. While this is a continent with many

South America: The South America market highlights its love

colourful aspects of its culture, people tend to be more conservative

for achromatic colours. In fact, South American car buyers have

with their cars,” said Marcos Fernandes, Director Regional Business

historically chosen more traditional colours. White is so far the

Management, Automotive Coatings South America.

© BASF

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New New 2021 2021

COMING SOON

IMEL SpA – Via Divisione Julia 10 – 33033 Codroipo, UD – Italy – T +39 0432 908578 – info@imelspa.com – www.imelspa.com

BRAND-NEW

Datacolor Launches the Spectro 1000/700 Series Datacolor® has launched Spectro 1000/700, a high-efficiency benchtop spectrophotometer series.

D

atacolor has launched Spectro 1000/700, a close-tolerance

for digital exchange of colour data has increased. Datacolor set out to

benchtop spectrophotometers series designed for high

develop a family of high-efficiency spectrophotometers designed to

efficiency and confidence in colour formulation and quality

meet the industry needs of today while also staying ahead of tomorrow’s

control in a wide range of industries.

trends,” said Albert Busch, President and CEO. “With the Spectro

The new series features the high inter-instrument agreement to ensure

1000/700 series, users can feel confident their instruments are ready

uniform colour assessments across various instruments and multiple

to take advantage of future product enhancements, allowing for remote

locations throughout the supply chain.

service and data analytics thanks to internet connectivity.”

The systems are designed to increase productivity and improve workflow

The Spectro 1000/700 series also features the ability to capture the

efficiency through high measurement speeds and seamless backward

temperature of samples measured in order to allow those who work with

compatibility with other Datacolor benchtop instruments. The Spectro

materials that need to be within certain temperature ranges to assure

1000/700 family is optimised for the future of colour management,

accurate colour measurement.

featuring internet connectivity for upcoming remote services.

“Heightened by the pandemic and remote working trends, the need

© Datacolor

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For further information: www.datacolor.com

BRAND-NEW

© KRÜSS

KRÜSS Launches a Completely New Website KRÜSS has completely renewed the company’s website, with new, engaging content, optimized mobile use and diverse navigation aids for newcomers to interfacial analysis.

W

ith the ultimate aim of providing its

visitors who want to remedy the lack of long-term

customers with a solution-oriented tool,

adhesion of a coating or the formation of lumps in

easily navigable by non-expert visitors as

a dispersion are not necessarily familiar with the

well, KRÜSS has completely renewed the company’s

relevant contact angle measurement techniques.

website, which can be easily accessed both from

The new website features also a classic menu

desktop and mobile.

navigation, which quickly provides orientation with

Through the new website, customers will also be

a clear structure and a variety of functions such

able to access useful content such as use cases,

as filters, bookmarks, or a comparison of selected

application reports, videos, products, background

products.

knowledge, and more, by simply selecting their

The new KRÜSS website was created in cooperation

material and/or their process.

with the Hamburg agency Elbkapitäneand and is

This new feature aims at providing support to

available in German, English, and Chinese.

newcomers to interfacial analysis who may not know that sometimes a certain behaviour of their product

For further information:

could be related to interfacial chemistry. For instance,

www.kruss-scientific.com

IN REVIEW

2020 in review Ilaria Paolomelo ipcm

®

2

020 has been a particularly difficult and unusual year. Perhaps

to expand and diversify our range of services and create new innovative

the most unusual ever experienced so far for most of us.

projects. We launched EOS Mktg&Communication new website, the

During the first months of the year we saw fading the possibility

company specialized in marketing consultancy, event organization

of attending the most important trade fairs and events of the sector,

and graphic design, as well as the publisher of ipcm® magazines. We

organising the sessions of the ipcm®_Academy training courses in

have also launched the new website of ipcm®_Academy, the division

person, as well as meeting and interviewing the protagonists of our

dedicated to the training of finishing technicians, and the “Beyond

reportages. However, if you have leafed through the pages of our

the Pandemic” interviews, a series of 20-minute video-interviews that

magazines over the past year, you will have realized that the work of

aim to bring you a real and unfiltered testimony of how the industry

ipcm® editorial staff has never stopped: we had to adjust and rethink

is experiencing this pandemic. Last but not least, “ipcm® on air”, an

workflows and methods to best adapt them to this new situation, with

exclusive television format dedicated to technological innovation in the

the aim of never ceasing to inform, create original content and show

coating and surface finishing sector, was born.

the best of the surface treatment industry.

The ongoing thrust of digital has certainly supported us in continuing

Scan the QR code to find out more about our 2020!

to offer the industry the same information service that has distinguished us for 11 years. Although we have always believed in the digital channels - which are an integral part of both our advertising and editorial offering and of our communication thanks to our social networks, newsletters and a web portal to deliver comprehensive contents and information - we realised that 2020 was the perfect year

© ipcm

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

Dradura’s Last Generation Coating System Optimises the Powder Coverage of Metal Mesh Intersections Monica Fumagalli ipcm

®

In the coating field, is it possible to combine maximum production capacity, adequate film homogeneity in the most critical areas, and maximum paint savings? For Dradura, a company specialising in the processing and finishing of wire for household appliance and furniture components, the answer is yes – thanks to a latest-generation coating booth developed by Wagner, a hanging system designed by Rostirolla, and the plant engineering solutions featured by its O.M.SA. line.

T

he shape of an object determines its aesthetics and functionality: the task of a coating process is to cover its contours, thus enabling the film to settle on its surface. One of the most common problems

related to the application of coatings is the inhomogeneity of thicknesses between edges and flat surfaces. In the case of three-dimensional components with complex geometries, in particular, the major critical issues are found in undercuts and concave areas. However, the coating application operation is even more complex when it comes to optimising the spraying process on products made of wire and characterised by large mesh size. Indeed, as well as identifying the best application technology to avoid paint waste, it is also crucial to design the most suitable system for applying the correct amount of coating on wire mesh intersections and obtaining a homogeneous layer with the minimum thickness needed to meet customer specifications. Dradura Italia

(San Donà di Piave, Venice, Italy), now belonging to German Group Dradura, specialises precisely in the processing and finishing of metal © ipcm

Baskets are among Dradura’s main current productions.

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wire, with which it produces components intended mainly for the household appliance and furniture sectors.

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

Dradura, a leading Group in the wire processing sector This Italian company’s history started back in the 1950s under the name of OMIM, a small manufacturer of iron boxes for milk bottles.

It then expanded its range to include grilles for refrigerators and, later, in response to the boom in the sales of household appliances in the 1960s and 1970s, plasticised iron baskets for dishwashers. “Most of our products,” states Dradura Head of Engineering, Maurizio Scalabrino, “are made with metal wires with different diameters and coated with different finishes to meet the requests of our customers, which include Bosch, Electrolux, Liebherr, and IKEA, just to name a few.

Dradura’s core business is the production of dishwasher baskets at most of the other plants of the Group, that is, the headquarters in Germany, another production site in Italy at Conzano nel Monferrato (Alessandria), one in France, one in Poland, one in the Czech

© ipcm

Republic, and one overseas in the United

The 6-stage pre-treatment plant installed by OMSA Srl.

States. Our production plant is the only one that devotes 50% of its activity to the furniture sector.

“This explains why we are also the only firm in the Group to have felt the need for a new coating line to meet our requirements of high production capacity and optimal wire coating. Besides the complex shapes that metal meshes can take on, we foresaw two main possible issues: uneven film thicknesses on wire intersections, which are the most difficult surface areas to coat, and excessive consumption of the powder coating sprayed in the empty areas of mesh. We were offered a solution to these doubts by Wagner (Valmadrera, Lecco, Italy), belonging to international Group J. Wagner GmbH and specialising in the design and construction of liquid and powder coating technologies, which provided us with a last generation application system called SuperCube, integrated with its powder management unit SuperCenter EVO.”

© ipcm

Baskets exiting the drying system.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

31

© ipcm

Endless finishing options Dradura Italia’s production process starts from pre-cut and processed wire stored in the Group’s warehouses or directly with a coil processing operation carried out through its 2D and 3D bending and CNC machines.

After processing, these complex-shaped bent parts are subjected to pre-treatment and finishing phases, with different characteristics in each factory. “All the production sites of this German Group,” says Scalabrino, “use different finishing processes depending on the technical requirements of the products to be treated, including polishing, barrel galvanising, chromium coating with NiCr or zinc, electropolishing, coating with any RAL tint also by cataphoresis, and powder plasticisation performed with different types

Wagner’s SuperCube coating booth and, in the foreground, the load bars specially designed for Dradura by Rostirolla.

of materials, such as polyamide, polyethylene, epoxy, PTFE, and polyurethane, both transparent and in different colours.”

© ipcm

© ipcm

The Dradura factory, in particular, is equipped with two galvanising systems and two plants for the application of epoxy, polyester, and polyurethane powder clear coats, because “galvanising alone is not enough to protect our grilles against the low temperatures or humidity rates of the environments they are intended for, such as refrigerators, toilets, or showers, and achieve the minimum 144-hour salt spray resistance value required by our customers,” indicates Scalabrino.

Some time ago, the firm received a few orders for the treatment of bath baskets. The progressive increase in requests for coated wire products by the well-known Swedish brand led Dradura’s management to install a new coating line: started up in October 2019, it is devoted exclusively to the coating of wire mesh baskets.

A flexible, future-ready line “As requests continue to grow, every solution adopted to intensify production is fundamental for us,” notes Scalabrino The booth is equipped with 8 guns per side.

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Metal wire intersections are among the most difficult elements to coat.

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

while describing the main features of the new coating plant. Dradura’s technical team

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

P25 column standard or customizable system to hang from the smallest parts to heavy 6-metre long bars

© ipcm

The Wagner SuperCenter EVO system.

developed and optimised it together with three

this case. O.M.SA pays close attention to the

partner companies: Wagner, which designed and

construction and manufacture of its equipment.

installed the application system, Rostirolla, which

For instance, the peculiar structure of our oven

took care of the hanging system, and O.M.SA. Srl

panels has been developed to guarantee a high

(Besana Brianza, Monza e Brianza, Italy), which was

coefficient of thermal insulation, as well as for easy

responsible for the coating line. Dradura already

transport and quick installation. Specifically, for

knew O.M.SA. because it was its long-standing

Dradura’s line, we developed a 6-stage multi-metal

supplier of both coating and wire plasticisation

pre-treatment plant, including degreasing, two

equipment. “Coping with the increase in our

rinses with mains water and one with demineralised

production volumes was the primary need that we

water, nanotechnology conversion, and a final

wanted to meet with this project,” says Scalabrino.

rinse with demineralised water.” After exiting the

“However, we were looking for a plant solution that

pre-treatment tunnel, the workpieces enter a drying

was not only able to meet our current needs, but

oven, followed by a cooling area located before

also to treat any type of component that could be

the coating booth and, afterwards, they reach a

commissioned to Dradura in future: our new line

conventional curing oven.

has fully achieved both of these objectives.”

The technological core of the line: the coating booth

“The plant,” explains O.M.SA. owner, Giovanni

“The booth we have supplied to Dradura,” says

Sala, “was installed very quickly, as the customer’s

Wagner Sales Manager, Venanzio Rosada, “is a

request was urgent. Indeed, the elements that

last generation SuperCube machine equipped

characterise the design and construction of

with 8 guns per side and a total of 18, including 2

O.M.SA.’s plants are quality, long-term reliability, and

guns for pre and post-retouching operations, and

the configuration of a specific layout for optimising

pre-arranged for quick colour change operations.

the production flow, as required by Dradura in

These are not needed for now – currently, there

HANGING SYSTEMS

COMPLETE SOLUTIONS FOR HANGING AND MASKING

www.rostirolla.it

© ipcm

The inside of the SuperCenter EVO with the two load cells for powder boxes.

© ipcm

The EPG S2 generators.

are only four colours used: two white shades, one black, and one grey

to avoid any risk of sintering, that is, powder agglomeration that can

– but, should they be required in future, they will be easily managed by

result in rejects. Constant powder levels translate into constant flow rate

SuperCenter EVO, the powder management unit 4.0 that is Wagner’s

reaching the guns through our high-density Venturi pumps, which use

flagship.”

less transport air than the previous Venturi system.

“Wire mesh,” says Scalabrino, “is certainly among the most difficult

“For gun control, the system is equipped with EPG S2 generators

elements to coat: these carbon steel baskets of about 30x40 cm are

operating in combination with the central management system, which is

characterised by little coatable surface and a lot of free space, so powder

fully automatic and able to store up to 200 recipes. Thanks to the booth’s

loss is high. Moreover, according to the customer’s specifications, the

scanning device, which detects the parts’ shape and arrangement on

film thickness must be 50 µm, and our main difficulty was obtaining this

the conveyor, the system can activate the guns needed to carry out the

result on the wire mesh intersections. Thanks to the system developed

application operation and deactivate those that must not operate. Finally,

by Wagner, we can obtain a homogeneous coating layer over the entire

the SuperCube machine features a twofold lateral suction device that

wire surface, by applying the correct amount of product and recovering

replaces the floor suction one. This avoids any depressions in the powder

any over-applied powder.”

applied in the central part of the booth: this further helps to effectively

The technological core of the coating plant is in fact its powder

optimise coating on difficult-to-treat products such as metal mesh, in

management unit, whose integrated weighing system does not only

terms of both performance and consumption.”

keep the powder level constant, but also enables consumption to be measured. “Our new SuperCenter is able to handle large production

The high productivity rate of the new coating line

batches and keep consumption monitored thanks to the integration of

Although this project was primarily aimed at optimising the company’s

two load cells, on which two boxes of powder at a time are placed and

coating process, a number of features that are usually considered of

weighed, and a fluidisation system, which mixes fresh and recovered

secondary importance in a surface treatment line, such as the position

powder,” explains Rosada. “This high-efficiency plant was also designed

of hooks and load bars on the conveyor, were tackled carefully. “For

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

by MODlFIED ALCOHOL

High performance modified alcohol cleaning machines

© ipcm

High pressure waterjet deburring and cleaning systems

Entry into the curing oven.

this aspect, we decided to rely on Rostirolla Srl, which specialises precisely in the production of hooks, load bars, and masks,” says Scalabrino. “Actually, they presented to us their project for a new load bar just when we were looking for a solution that would optimise our production capacity.”

Simone Rostirolla, the owner of Rostirolla Srl together with his brother Pierluigi, explains the client’s requests: “Dradura was looking for a solution to hang the pieces that was first modular, in order

Complete integrated in-house build automation

to optimize the efficiency of the system with products of different shapes and types. It should be also sturdy and durable and light to handle, at the same time. In addition, the support hook had to be easily replaced, so that it was not necessary to remove the entire bar daily. We proposed our P25 hanging system combined with the HB hook interlocking system. It is characterized by a central bearing rod called column and a horizontal bar with HB welded sheet metal boxes, which accommodate a Ø2mm metal wire hook.

DIVISIONS:

All the components used for the Dradura’s bar are standardized and tested over the years. They ensure a smooth functioning, despite numerous coating cycles. Of course, the measurements of

CLEANING

BLASTING

AUTOMATION

our systems (height and type of handle, useful height, distance and number of positions) can be customized”.

Automation!

Tel. +39 02 97289696

info@itfwashers.com www.itf.it

© Rostirolla

© Rostirolla

A detail of the P25 system’s comb.

The GHB hook with a diameter of 2 mm.

“Now, for each new part to be treated on our line,” explains Scalabrino, “we prepare a sample and we interface with Rostirolla and Wagner’s technical departments to identify together the optimal orientation and arrangement of the workpieces to guarantee the most efficient pre-treatment and powder application operations. For example, in the case of the baskets we are currently treating, we hung four of them at a time on each frame.”

Conclusions Maurizio Scalabrino concludes our meeting by emphasising that this line’s high production capacity has also had important consequences in terms of lean production: “The coating phase occurs between mechanical processing and automatic packaging, which is performed by wrapping robots with stretch film. We are currently implementing a lean production project aimed at optimising our production flow. Due to the high speed of the coating plant we still have a few small storage buffers after the curing station, accommodating about 10 baskets. Moreover, in terms of production control, the automatic coating management system provided by Wagner has enabled our coating manager to devote their time to other functions: in the event of a problem, the system has alarms to indicate any malfunction or that an empty powder box needs replacing.”

Since an important customer is very pleased with these finished products, Dradura has invested heavily in this project and it expects further orders, with impressive production volumes to be handled. “Based on our prediction, we have already designed a modification to our one-rail conveyor: we want to lower its chain in order to recover space and take advantage of a third level for hanging load bars. This will enable us to coat 33% more baskets and further increase our production capacity, also thanks to the high coating performance that our new line guarantees.”

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© ipcm

After coating, the baskets are sent to the packing area.

L’unica vernice in polvere rapida a bassa temperatura

The unique fast and low bake powder coating

Condizioni di cottura Curing Condition: Raggrinzato/ Fine textured: 3 min. @ 120°C Liscio / Smooth: 8 min. @ 140°C 14 min. @ 130°C 20 min. @ 120°C Caratteristiche tecniche Resistenza UV: 2000 ore

Resistenza chimica: paragonabile a un poliuretano Resistenza al graffio e durezza superficiali: non paragonabili a polveri attuali Nebbia salina: 700 ore (su ferro sabbiato)

Technical Features UV resistance: 2000 hours

Chemical resistance: comparable with polyurethane Scratch resistance and hardness: not comparable with existing systems Salt spray chamber: 700 hours on sandblasted panel

The Pulvercoat project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 825511

Pulverit S.p.A. Italia Via Carlo Reale, 15/4 20157 Milano-Italy Tel +39 02 376751 email: contatti@pulverit.it

Pulverit Polska Sp. z o.o. ul. Strefowa 16 43100 Tychy-Polska Tel. +48 32 329 14 11 email: biuro@pulverit.pl

Pulverit Deutschland GmbH Im Wert 3 73563 Mögglingen- Deutschland telef.: +49 7174 7193000 email: info@pulverit.de

www.pulverit.com

Pulverit Iberia s.l.u. c/ Caravis, 28, 1º 3ª 50197 Zaragoza Tel. +34 607163259 Email: iberia@pulverit.it

Š 3D Besa

Components printed by 3D Besa.

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

The Perfect Combination of 3D Printing and PVD Sputtering: From Prototyping to the New Frontiers of Additive Manufacturing Monica Fumagalli ipcm

ÂŽ

The additive manufacturing industry is expanding rapidly. In 2020, its global turnover reached $12 billion and it is expected to reach about $78 billion by 20281. The surface treatment sector must prepare for the new challenges that 3D printed components will present. This case study focusses on 3D Besa, the 3D printing division of Besafilm, and Kolzer, a company specialising in the design and manufacture of systems for the PVD sputtering coating of plastic and metal, which are developing together innovative finishing solutions that take us into the future of AM. 1

www.globenewswire.com/news-release/AM-Market-Forecast.html (15.01.2021)

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

I

n our collective memory, one the few positive and certainly most

Conceived for the prototyping of objects to be tested before starting

indelible moments of 2020, a year dominated by the pandemic,

mass industrialisation, AM is now widely regarded as the future of

relates to Cristian Fracassi. This young Italian engineer hit the

manufacturing 4.0.

national and international headlines because, thanks to the 3D

Youri Beltrame also believes this. He is the owner of Besafilm Srl

printing technology, he first created some respiratory valves,

(Colognola ai Colli, Verona, Italy), which in 2018 decided to diversify

desperately needed by his nearby hospital, and then had the idea

its production, centred on cutting and rewinding processes for plastic

to turn snorkel masks into ventilators for the many overcrowded

and paper materials for more than thirty years, by inaugurating a new

hospitals that were lacking the necessary equipment to overcome the

division for three-dimensional printing: 3D Besa. “When it comes to

health care crisis (www.newsweek.com/covid19-snorkeling-mask-3d-

diversifying production, the advice you hear most often is to keep your

printing). From small components to the entire structure of a

core business within your industry. However, Besafilm has reached a

6.5 m long boat (www.kuka.com/mambo-shipbuilding), there is a

level of expertise that is hard to match in the cutting and rewinding

feeling that additive manufacturing (AM), i.e. the digital production

fields. Our most obvious evolution could have been in the plastics

system based on the use of 3D printing for the creation of

moulding industry, where, however, competition is extreme due to

manufactured objects, has no longer any limits in terms of production

the large number of specialised companies and the relatively limited

and, if it still encounters one, it can overcome them quickly through

possibilities of innovating. Therefore, I chose to radically change and

the development of more and more advanced technological solutions.

focus on what I believe is the technology of the future, that is, additive

Š ipcm

The CAD design of a complex object.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

39

© ipcm

The industrial 3D printer with the Multi Jet Fusion technology.

manufacturing through 3D printing.”

ability to meet any type of request, even with unusual materials.

On the other hand, competition is increasing exponentially also in

These aspects make us almost unique in our industry. Our company

this sector, often characterised by an erratic approach to production

now aims to achieve the same goal with its new division, 3D Besa.”

and little attention to the numerous, delicate process steps involved

The adventure of 3D Besa began two years ago with the acquisition

in three-dimensional printing. “That is why I decided, once again, to

of an industrial Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) printer, which turns PA12

distinguish my company by offering end products manufactured

nylon powder polymers into a layer that is superimposed on

with a production cycle that does not stop with the printed object,

the previous one while this is still melted, in order to fully bond

but continues with its surface treatment thanks to a PVD sputtering

them. This machine was subsequently integrated with some resin

deposition system provided by Kolzer Srl (Cologno Monzese, Milan,

printers, which represent the evolution of wire printing. “The use

Italy).”

of AM technologies increased sharply during last year’s lockdown,”

A company that does not fear “business risks”

indicates Beltrame. “On the one hand, this has enabled to rapidly develop some technologies that were still linked to the prototyping

What distinguishes Beltrame’s management style is his far-sighted

of components. On the other hand, however, it has led many

and often nonconformist perspective. “This vision has enabled us to

companies to start working with them without yet having the

provide our customers with a complete service and it has given to

necessary skills to deal with their related processes.”

Besafilm both high flexibility in the management of orders and the

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

Efficient and reliable solutions for surface coating since 1988.

electrostatic systems for liquid painting

electrostatic systems and spraying booths for powder coating © ipcm

The inside of the additive manufacturing printer.

pneumatic systems for high-, medium-, and low-pressure painting

Finishing issues Beltrame’s initial business idea was to supply a finished product that was not only printed but also chrome plated and liquid

IR and UV drying systems

coated. “The main problem was that the first solutions we were offered for chrome plating involved a galvanic treatment process, which I did not want to perform. Then, I was fortunate enough to meet Kolzer’s engineers at a trade show. Their finishing technology

robot and reciprocators

seemed to match perfectly with the idea of rapid, flexible, and above all ecological production that I had in mind for 3D Besa: a solution that clearly breaks with the past and projects us into the future of additive manufacturing.”

Kolzer Business Development Manager, Stefano Lazzerini explains that “it is a strategic choice to opt for the PVD sputtering finishing of 3D printed products. In this way, it is possible to treat the plastic materials used in this technology (galvanic processes only allow coating chromium plating-ready ABS) and, at the same time,

www.cmspray.it

eosmarketing.it

obtain decorative finishes with many colours and deposits that

CM SPRAY s.r.l.

© ipcm

A bird’s eye view of the PVD sputtering machine.

are also functional, all while maintaining full control over the deposited metal thicknesses.

Of course, particular attention must be paid to the preparation of the 3D printed material before the PVD sputtering operation, due to the roughness levels inherent in the additive manufacturing process. 3D Besa, however, has successfully developed some dedicated procedures aimed at solving this critical issue.”

“I am convinced that, in the next few years, the PVD sputtering technology will be the finishing solution of choice for many AM components,” states Beltrame. “It will be necessary to move beyond the traditional view of this process, in order to improve it and learn how to prepare surfaces properly. At the same time, new finishing solutions will be developed and, in the end, this technology will become the optimum that no one will be able to give up. This is one of

© ipcm

the goals that the partnership between 3D Besa The liquid coating booth.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

and Kolzer aims at achieving.”

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

© ipcm

A detail of the Kolzer machine’s loading system.

Developments in PVD sputtering for 3D printed parts

in the lighting, electronics, automotive, marine,

The installed system belongs to Kolzer’s DGK 36

growth are very promising. We would also be

series. “This type of machines,” notes Lazzerini, “is

able to end the surface coating treatment with

characterised by simplicity of use and minimum

the PVD phase, without the need for the final

footprint, two elements that make it appealing to

layer of pigmented clear coat, which would

a company specialising in 3D printed products.

be an advantage in terms of both process

Compact design minimises operator movement

simplification and resistance to light of the

and simplifies machine loading.” 3D Besa’s

metallised surfaces.”

finishing process, which takes about 40 minutes,

and art sectors, where our possibilities for

includes primer application, coating through PVD

A new industrial culture

sputtering and/or PECVD (e.g. nano quartz), and

“Our collaboration with Kolzer,” says Beltrame,

clear coat application (optional).

“has enabled me not only to get to know a

“One of the needs that I am noticing and on

company with the same values that I consider

which I would like to continue to work with

fundamental for our production, such as

Kolzer,” says Beltrame, “is the possibility to mix

sustainability, but also to appreciate its

more metal targets than the current two. This

professional ethics in dealing with customers.

would enable us to increase the variety of hues

Users do not need a system supplier that,

offered to our customers, which mainly operate

however competent, ends the relationship once

© ipcm

Frames used for the metallisation of components.

© ipcm

Some finished plates with different chrome effects.

the machine is delivered, but a partner, almost a travel companion,

workpieces that will be delivered to us already printed.”

capable of growing together with them and, therefore, providing

Additive manufacturing offers several benefits, including speed,

them with the tools to gain a competitive advantage over the

as it allows moving from CAD design to printed products very

market. Kolzer is exactly this.

quickly, full customisation, and sustainability. However, it still

“We are now on track to optimise our process: the next six months

has a few disadvantages. The number of manageable batches is

will be critical. First of all, we will need to automate the surface

currently limited, although there is an increasing trend towards true

preparation phase after 3D printing, which is still done by manual

industrialisation in this sector, which will imply a new approach also in

sanding. Optimising our coating process will enable us to not only

terms of costs of raw materials and moulded components, which are

provide perfect end products to our customers, but also to offer, in

still too high. However, the future of three-dimensional printing and

a not distant future, a contracting metallisation service by treating

its related surface treatments has been mapped out.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

ROT

VER

New 2021 La nuova frontiera della verniciatura di massa

Luca Floreanini designer

La soluzione ideale Verniciare e/o trattare in modo automatico e veloce piccoli pezzi a lotti (metallici e non) quali ad esempio: bulloni, viti, molle, O-ring e molto altro.

Il nuovo processo Controllo automatizzato della portata e delle modalità di spruzzatura, che permette di ottenere una bagnabilità perfetta dei pezzi in ogni fase del ciclo.

La gestione del Centro di lavoro Rotover 4.0 Sistema di pianificazione lotti per una o più macchine facile e interattivo.

Data base cicli di lavoro accessibile da ogni macchina e facilmente aggiornabile: interconnessione in logica 4.0 La multifunzionalità Cestelli intercambiabili di varie forme, misure. e geometrie, pensati per diversi tipi di lavorazione e diversi materiali tutti con la .stessa macchina.

Dalla parte dell’operatore Un software di controllo facile e immediato.

Nuovo design Funzionale ed ergonomico.

Nuovo controllo temperatura Affidabile, preciso, economico.

Il Servizio Clienti Inviaci un lotto di prova e Imel ti preparerà il ciclo ottimizzato per la produzione.

Il Data Management Il nuovo Sw di controllo memorizza tutti i dati di processo per una misurazione accurata dei consumi, dei costi di produzione e per la gestione della manutenzione preventiva. .

Benefici fiscali L’investimento ricade nei benefici fiscali previsti dalla nuova Legge di bilancio.

Per saperne di più, scansiona il QR code per aggiungere ai tuoi contatti i riferimenti del nostro resposabile prodotto.

IMEL SpA – Via Divisione Julia 10 – 33033 Codroipo, UD – Italy – T +39 0432 908578 – info@imelspa.com – www.imelspa.com

ANALYSIS

A Look Back at the Great Crises of the Past to Overcome Fear Adriano Antonelli IBIX Srl - Lugo (Ravenna), Italy

C

adriano.antonelli@tecnosupply.com

urrent events as told by newspapers will soon turn into history

The crises of the 20th century

to be written in textbooks. For now, however, we are still

The economic crisis that immediately springs to mind, and which

wondering how we will get out of this and what price we will

is often used as a basis for comparison with more recent crises, is

have to pay in economic and social terms. Certainly, the past can offer

certainly that of 1929. After years of uninterrupted financial and

valuable teachings, especially to avoid repeating some mistakes. In

production growth, there was a sudden stop. Thursday, 24 and

particular, national economies will have to be shaken up before being

Tuesday, 29 October were the two “black days” that went down in

competitive again in international markets. So, how will they need

history. That crisis was the result of uncertainty about whether growth

to be organised and how will value chains change? Many industrial

was real and lasting or the economic bubble, as we would now call it,

districts are already transforming their structures and services.

was about to burst at any time. The overseas crisis quickly transferred

In general, the questions are manifold and the future economic

to international markets and especially to the European ones. Some

scenarios are uncertain and difficult to predict, but we can start by

countries already in difficulties, such as Germany, had the worst of it.

delving into how some past crises were overcome. © HangOn

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ANALYSIS

Then, in 1973, we found ourselves dealing

© HangOn

worldwide. In developing countries, chronic

with a crisis that was primarily political in

underinvestment in healthcare has surfaced,

nature. The members of the Organisation of

thus putting their entire systems under

the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

pressure. We should also note that lockdowns,

decided to increase crude oil prices by 70%.

a measure designed to contain the pandemic

Later that year, they doubled these already

and with which we are all now very familiar,

adjusted prices. Raw material exporting

in about two months have caused more

nations aimed at sending a message to

damage than the whole previous financial

importing Western countries, which had

and economic crisis. We can now expect

supported Israel’s policies. This turned out to

a worsening in the labour market, with

be a harsh punishment especially for countries

possible massive layoffs. Italy, like some

like Italy, which were and still are net importers

other countries, has also been damaged in

of raw materials.

its tourism, catering, and leisure sectors, with consequences on the entire supply chain.

The crises of the new millennium

In order to avoid an uneven and poorly

Also in this case, there is a date that got stuck

articulated restart, Europe should now plan an

in our memory: on 15 September 2008, the

inclusive recovery policy.

investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed.

The origin of this crisis was purely financial.

Optimising production capacity

Loans that were provided to potentially

Let us now delve into the effects and possible

high-risk individuals had been “unpacked”

measures for our market niche, by asking

and resold into other financial products.

ourselves how we can face these new

The bubble burst when debt holders could

challenges. HangOn has launched some

no longer repay. Banks found themselves handling a large amount of papers that had lost their value. The banking liquidity

new products (which in Italy are distributed Figure 1 - An example of a frame with a high hanging density.

crisis fell onto the real economy, where the

by Tecno Supply, a division of Ibix) designed to reduce masking and hanging times and maximise production capacity accordingly.

‘Quantitative Easing’ policy managed to stem the problem.

With hanging operations, in particular, it is important to have flexible,

Then, after a debt crisis in 2010, we had to deal with a crisis due to

non-specific frames available: as these are not assigned to any specific

the accumulated debt that had been needed to boost the depressed

workpiece, their cost is divided among different components and

economy. The question that arose was whether highly indebted

batches. The witness mark left by the hook must be minimised to

countries would be able to repay and honour their outstanding debts.

prevent corrosion from initiating and spreading over the entire coating.

From that moment on, speculation on public debt began, thus causing

The frames’ limited weight is also crucial for lower cleaning costs

the spread to rise, with all the consequences we know. This led Mario

and easier handling. Finally, another key aspect is hanging density.

Draghi to say his famous phrase “Whatever it takes”, which froze

Obviously while preventing the workpieces from “shadowing” each

stock exchanges and stopped any speculation attempts, since the

other, the possibility of hanging as many components as possible in

EU umbrella was too strong and wide to be undermined. The Italian

the available space is a decisive factor that guarantees a significant

GDP, which had been struggling to return to a positive growth trend,

reduction in costs. This can sometimes require off-line pre-application

reversed its course.

operations (fig. 1).

The current crisis

The main features of the HQL bar

And here we are in the present day with a crisis that originated in

HQL bars are produced fully automatically: this makes it possible to

healthcare, but that has also reduced the demand for consumer

sell them at a low cost, as well as using them as disposable products.

goods. The contraction in global GDP is substantial and it includes

In order to hang parts symmetrically, a double hook is inserted in the

double-digit figures for international trade. Unlike in the previous

bar, which has a diameter of 1 mm. For instance, the HQL 800X33

crisis, there are not specific industrial zones or districts affected,

bar features 46 hooks along a length of 800 mm. These bars can be

but rather the consequences are hitting almost indiscriminately

integrated into HCF universal systems. In this way, the system becomes

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

47

© HangOn

Figure 2 – The new HQL bar.

© HangOn

Figure 3 – Some new products in the HangOn range.

© HangOn

Figure 4 – A comparison between BH R58 and HQC frames and a single-hook hanging solution.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© HangOn

Figure 5 – The new metal adapter also allows inserting an H11B bar.

ANALYSIS

modular and it is possible to insert the bars according to the characteristics of the workpieces to be treated. The related HQL G6 cap, finally, does not compromise the electrostatic field.

Custom-built painting installations Macchine e impianti realizzati su misura

The benefits of using this bar type are therefore manifold: • time saving – up to 30 times faster than using single hooks; • minimised mark left by the hook; • use of harmonic steel hooks; • possibility to request bars with special hook configurations;

Shot blasting booths Cabine di sabbiatura

• functional packaging to reduce transportation costs.

New solutions to simplify the pre-application phase HangOn has expanded its range with several products always ready in stock for immediate use (figs. 2 and 3). The HQC series, for example, is a good, sturdier option (fig. 4). The bar accommodates 1.5 mm diameter hooks, but only on one side. The bar’s coupling can be inserted into a central hook with a diameter

Washing tunnels Tunnel di lavaggio

of 10 mm. The R 58 bar-holder guarantees the stability of the bar and the possibility to extract it in an easy way, also thanks to the use of the BH G 20 cap. The resulting frame is inexpensive and flexible, since any level can be skipped. The hooks have a distance of 50, 75, and 100 mm. This type of bar was also designed to avoid using single hooks.

Indeed, this dramatically reduces handing times, as a ready-to-use

Liquid painting installations

Impianti di verniciatura a liquido

frame eliminates the need to manage single hooks. Moreover, this frame ensures easy offline pre-hanging operations. Other advantages include the ability to use it for multiple workpiece configurations and the fact that the bar’s production technology enables it to cost almost as little as a single hook: therefore, purchasing this frame does not cost more than a standard hook.

Finally, in order to make it more versatile, a new metal adapter has been launched that allows inserting also H11B bars.

Powder painting booths

Cabine di verniciatura a polvere

In this way, using the same central hook, it is possible to accommodate bars for hooks up to 4 mm in diameter, for higher

Flexible frames: hanging anything from small parts to profiles Another flexible and economical system that can be used for

Curing ovens

Forni di cottura

hanging small parts and profiles is the HQS frame, with metal slats to allow hanging both single parts and profiles (figs. 6, 7, and 8).

The central 4 or 5 mm hook guarantees an overall resistance of the frame up to 100 kg. HQS frames feature various types of hooks, thanks to which each customer can find the best configuration for its specific use. The tree can be up to 2,400 mm in length, while the slats are 1.0 mm thick and 18 mm high. It is also possible to create different configurations: slats on one side only (i.e. sheared), zigzag-shaped, or bent from 0 to 180°. This type of bar

Eurotherm S.p.A. T +39 011 98 23 500 | M info@eurotherm.eu Eurotherm Lackieranlagen GmbH T +49 711 400 545 13 | M contact@eurotherm.eu

was also designed to avoid using single hooks. Again, the fact that Eurotherm France S.A.S. T +33 (0) 4 90 55 20 75 | M france@eurotherm.eu

www.eurotherm.eu

Made with passion in Italy

horizontal flexibility (fig. 5).

© HangOn

© HangOn

Figure 6 – Metal slats for HQS frames.

© HangOn

Figure 7 – A detail of the hanging system of HQS frames.

Figure 8 – Examples of HQS frames.

the frames are produced automatically guarantees a limited cost,

processes more efficiently. The flexibility of HangOn’s universal frames

equivalent to that of single hooks. Several new configurations have

has been extensively discussed in a few previous articles here on

also been launched for this product family, so that users can find the

ipcm®. The possibility to use interchangeable load bars, and, in some

most appropriate hook shape for their components. Another new

cases, accessories that can be inserted on them depending on the

feature is the adapter that allows extending the HQS frames by using

workpiece to be hung enables to significantly reduce the number of

any standard or currently available one. HQS frames can be applied to

different frame types required and, therefore, limit the space needed

different operations, including hanging small parts, more or less heavy

for the storage of the frames and their handling, as also described in a

components, and profiles.

previous article1.

Ad hoc solutions for different applications In addition to its automatically produced, standardised range, HangOn can build ad hoc frames, hooks, and systems according to customer needs. Trolleys also allow managing industrial treatment

© HangOn

A. Antonelli, “Whatever it takes!,” in ipcm® International Paint&Coating Magazine no. 66 (November/December 2020), vol. XI, pp. 168-172.

“Fill the line: a modern production philosophy to boost the efficiency of your coating line,” in ipcm® International Paint&Coating Magazine no. 65 (September/ October 2020), vol. XI, pp. 122-124.

1

© HangOn

Figures 9 and 10 – Examples of frames for cataphoresis coating.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

www.infragas.com

INFRARED RADIANT GAS SYSTEMS FOR THERMAL TREATMENTS

© HangOn

© HangOn

© HangOn

Figure 11 – A hanging system using magnets.

Figure 12 – The use of magnets guarantees fast hanging and solves the critical issues related to the absence of holes.

Figure 13 – Other examples of special hanging applications.

Here, on the other hand, we would like to dwell on the use of

protect any parts that do not need to be painted and not to create

cataphoresis universal frames (figs. 9 and 10). Their structure is

inefficiencies in downstream stations, especially in the assembly

the same, but the bars and accessories are different to guarantee

department. An assembly line cannot be stopped for a pin that does

maximum conductivity. Pre-welded bars with square hooks are

not screw in smoothly: therefore, all components must come out

available in the standard range, which minimise contact. For greater

of the coating phase in optimal condition. For this to be possible,

flexibility, hook-holders are available where square hooks can be

they must be carefully protected where necessary. This calls for the

inserted with protective caps at the top.

following characteristics of masks: speed in protecting the parts

Another interesting hanging application is the use of magnets (figs.

not to be treated, perfect seal, ease of insertion, and the ability to

11, 12, and 13). In cases where metallic coatings are not used and

remove the masking system and reclassify it for later use. Sometimes,

the presence of a non-coated area is acceptable, one of the two faces

moreover, one object may require the use of 50-60 masks, some of

of the metal workpiece can accommodate a magnet for hanging.

them similar to each other: the possibility to identify the right product

This technique guarantees fast hanging and solves the critical issues

at a glance is therefore of fundamental importance.

related to the absence of holes. The range includes several magnets,

Another aspect to consider is pre-treatment. In fact, sometimes,

to be selected according to the weight to be carried. The magnet is

masks must be inserted prior to pre-treatment. In the case of

always covered with a silicone mask to prevent it from getting dirty.

sandblasting or shot blasting operations, these must resist abrasion

The importance of masking

and prevent grit from penetrating into the holes and cavities of the treated products. Otherwise, the coated part will be considered non-

The other aspect that is gaining more and more attention in the

compliant. Other times, such as in the case of phosphodegreasing

coating field is that of masking, an operation performed in order to

applications, the inserted masks must be waterproof, otherwise

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

ANALYSIS

some functional parts of the machine may be damaged. Finally,

component. In the case of bushings with large through holes, good

there are several occasions in which components are treated with

results have been obtained with expanded silicone. SP expanded

a cataphoresis process, as it offers obvious advantages in terms of

silicone tubes, which can be cut to measure, expand into the hole,

corrosion protection. In these cases, the use of tight masking systems

thus creating a mask that prevents any shading and build up effects.

is essential.

Their maximum diameter is 60 mm. GBH caps also allow masking

A great variety of masks

large holes, although with a smaller diameter, as the cap has little silicone. HangOn has recently expanded this product family with a

Many ready-to-use products in the HangOn range can guarantee the

few additional sizes. GDM H cylindrical caps can also mask large-sized

achievement of the customer companies’ production objectives in

through holes up to 83 mm. These allow for proper masking and,

terms of time and methods, management of masks before and after

more importantly, protection of holes during sandblasting.

use, and, therefore, of final results. The silicone system line certainly

For pins, HangOn has designed non-standard caps such as the GAP

belongs to these high-performance products. It is coloured, and tint

and GAQ ones, which allow protecting pins up to 50 mm and with

consistency is guaranteed for each batch. For example, the M4 size is

variable lengths (fig. 14). GAP caps feature a ventilation valve to insert

white in all its various configurations, so that operators can recognise

and remove the mask without air resistance. Given the ever-increasing

and classify it easily and quickly. Colours can also be modified and

demand, HangOn has decided to expand the range with new sizes.

customised in order to match each device with a specific tint. Here are

GAQ caps, on the other hand, allow significantly reducing masking

a few examples of products included.

times thanks to their particular configuration.

GDM caps allow hermetically sealing through holes. The cylinder terminal part enables to tighten the nut’s flaring. This series currently

Masks in different materials

includes caps up to 83 mm in size. These caps are hollow for easier

As there is an increasing need for special, customised masks

insertion. QB caps are screw caps for blind holes, i.e. parts where

manufactured without long moulding times, let us now briefly analyse

depth is minimal and it is necessary to close a hole hermetically and

the currently available materials that can be cut and glued.

guarantee the mask stays still even during the movement of the

© HangOn

Figure 14 – The new non-standard GAP and GAQ caps allow protecting pins up to 50 mm and with variable lengths.

© HangOn

Figure 15 – Masks in magnetic silicone 1 mm and magnetic PVC 0.9 mm.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

53

© HangOn

© HangOn

Figure 16 – An MDF mask with magnets.

Figure 17 – Examples of masks in cork and cork with EPDM.

Solid silicone from 1 to 6 mm

pre-treatment because it would soak up water. It is less flexible and

Solid silicone has the same characteristics as the silicone (plugs and

therefore more difficult to clean. On the other hand, however, it is

caps) used in coating plants. It comes in sheets that can be die-cut

more economical and it withstands temperatures up to 200 °C, which

to measure. They can be glued on top of each other to increase

makes it also suitable for powder applications (fig. 16).

thickness and pull handles can be applied to them. The masks obtained can be cleaned like conical caps.

Cork from 2 to 25 mm Compressed cork is an inexpensive material designed for liquid

Silicone foam from 2 to 20 mm

applications. It withstands temperatures up to 150 °C and it can be

This material looks like a sponge. Thanks to its silicone nature, it can

glued to other materials. Magnets can be added in this type of masks

withstand high temperatures and it is also cleanable. Its softness

to provide more stability and better grip on parts. In order to improve

allows inserting the caps easily and provides an efficient grip. It can be

grip, it is also possible to add caps (fig. 17).

glued to solid silicone when required (fig. 15).

Such a wide variety of materials and options enables every company EPDM from 1 to 6 mm

to select the best masking system according to its production times

It is rigid and resistant to the abrasive action of mechanical

and methods. Masks must be chosen by considering, first of all, the

pre-treatments. It has a maximum heat resistance of 170 °C.

characteristics of the workpiece to be protected, the acceptable tolerance rates, the hanging system used, the level of simplicity

Magnetic silicone 1 to 2 mm

required in the masking operation, the product type, the durability

It has a magnetic power that enables it to stick to ferrous material,

performance, and the budget. These masking systems’ flexibility

thus eliminating the need for disposable taping systems. It withstands

is especially evident when it comes to quantity: since there are

a temperature of 250 °C and it can be easily cleaned and glued to the

no minimum amounts, HangOn can produce exactly the number

above materials.

of items needed. Moreover, if the technical department changed the dimension of the component to be coated, a new mask could

MDF

be manufactured with no fixed costs to bear. Even in the event of

Compared with the previous materials, MDF has a few limits. It can

damage or wear of some products, these can be replaced at no

be applied before mechanical pre-treatment, but not chemical

additional cost.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

eosmarketing.it

do you need a CHAIN CONVEYOR?

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© Zoer

© Zoer

ART WITHIN SURFACES

French Artist Creates a Colour Palette With 144 Automobile Models Solara is site-specific art installation by French painter Zoer, which features 144 automotive models recovered by one of largest scrapyard in France. With this project, the artist aims at creating an industrial heritage by saving automobile wreckage, while cleaning up metal-polluted soils.

Z

oer’s project links the heart of

years has arranged them throughout his

automobiles also reflect the collective

painting - the colour - to the

life. Each vehicle appears as a component

impact of consumer objects, underlining the

automobile wreck, by defining a

of an overall composition, a pixel with its

consequent global footprint issue.

palette on 144 automobile models.

own colour and brightness among all the

In fact, through this installation, the artist

The artwork title is a reference to a car

elements of an image.

wants to underline the necessity to save

model produced until 1981, the latest car

automobile wreckage not only as industrial

The Talbot Solara. This model is among the

Heritage and ecology: the aim of the project

144 painted cars that make up the colour

​To preserve the memory of these car

a successful crowdfunding campaign

chart. The title has been specifically chosen

wrecks, the artist has created a colour chart

to buy hyperaccumulating plants for

among all the industrial names because

in which the RGB reference is combined

phytoremediation of the French scrapyard

it etymologically refers to the solarization

with the collective imagination by renaming

and bring these wrecks to the museum.

phenomenon, a natural process of colour

each shade used with the name of the car

Symbolically, the artist would like that

alteration after a long exposure to the

model on which it was applied. This way,

for each car saved from complete

sunlight. To respect this phenomenon,

each colour carries with it the history of the

destruction and showcased in a museum

Zoer’s intervention focuses mainly on the

object, its use, and its personality.

or private collection, an agricultural plot of

hoods, roofs, and trunks of the cars.

By associating the individual aspect of

hyperaccumulating plants equivalent to the

The layout of these cars corresponds to the

the object with the infinity of possibilities

car’s size is planted.

way in which the scrapyard owner for 50

offered by the RGB system, all these

of Anglo-French car manufacturer Talbot:

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

heritage but also to avoid soil pollution.

To tackle both issues, Zoer launched

SUSTAINABILITY

AkzoNobel Develops A More Sustainable Way of Making Resins AkzoNobel, in collaboration with the Dutch Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC), has developed a more sustainable process of making resins, which employs bio-based monomers.

W

ith the aim of developing a more

release of active ingredients, or the ability to

so they can be made in a more efficient way

sustainable process for making

add new functionality during the lifetime of a

and on a larger scale. Estimates suggest it

resins, AkzoNobel has been

coating.

could be around five years before the first

working with the Dutch Advanced Research

“There’s no doubt we’re on the verge of

products start to emerge.”

Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium,

progressing to the next level of coatings

“We’ve still got a long way to go in terms of

with most of this research taking place at the

technology, thanks to this fantastic example

exploring the scope of the technology, but it

University of Groningen – where the team

of collaborative innovation in action,”

will almost certainly define the future of our

is led by professor in organic chemistry and

explains Klaas Kruithof, AkzoNobel’s Chief

products,” continues Kruithof. “By 2040 or

Nobel Prize winner, Ben Feringa, and PhD

Technology Officer. “We’re opening up a

2050, there’s also a good chance we might

student, George Hermens.

new future for paints and coatings by using

only be using bio-based monomers in our

The research conducted by AkzoNobel and

sustainable building blocks that will enable us

resin production, which will help us to reduce

the ARC CBBC has led to the development

to explore and develop some really exciting

the overall carbon footprint of our products.”

of a new process that uses bio-based

functionalities for our customers.”

A detailed explanation of the science behind

monomers to make the resins, rather than

“Faced with the challenge of developing

the development of the new process can

the traditional oil-based. Requiring just UV

the sustainable chemistry of the future – a

be found in a research article which has

light, oxygen and renewable raw materials,

major goal of the ARC CBBC – I’m extremely

just been published in the journal Science

patent applications have already been

pleased with these game-changing results,”

Advances1.

filed for resins and coatings made with

adds Feringa. “They show that a material

monomers derived from sugar derivatives

for coatings can be produced from biomass

For further information:

isolated from biomass.

using a sustainable chemical process. Having

www.akzonobel.com

This innovation could pave the way for the

started in 2018, the research project is still at

introduction of futuristic functionality, such

a relatively early stage and a lot of work still

as intelligent paint that uses controlled

lies ahead in order to optimize the monomers

The process uses bio-based monomers to make the resins. Biomass is cracked by using acid to produce the sugar derivative (furfural). Using light and oxygen and adding different alcohols, it produces monomers that can be polymerized into polymers which are used in coatings; the monomers can also be used in coating formulations which are cured by UV-A light.

1

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/51/eabe0026

© G. Hermens – P. Visser

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

57

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

Robust and Precise Mixing System for Up to Three Components Kristin Roth Dürr Systems AG, Bietigheim-Bissingen - Germany

kristin.roth@durr.com

With the EcoDose 3K, Dürr is growing its product family of paint mixing systems with a solution for three-component fluids based on the tried-and-tested two-component injection technology.

The mixing system boasts a number of features including high precision, long service life, and smart functions.

by hundreds of customers worldwide, the new EcoDose 3K from Dürr boasts

a long service life and ease of maintenance.

The new mixing system is used wherever three

© Dürr

L

ike the proven EcoDose 2K, which is used

temperature. The EcoDose 3K meets the high precision requirements with proven Dürr valve technology that enables injections in particularly short cycles.

shortly before application. Three-component

Robust valve technology for long service life

coating systems are popular in aviation,

Despite the high clock frequency of 5 Hz, the

woodworking, and yacht and boat building.

lifetime of the Dürr valve technology is second

components of a fluid need to be merged

Precise mixing thanks to injection technology

to none: the valves from the first series, which Dürr launched three years ago, have now completed over 10 million switching cycles

The EcoDose 3K is based on the same inline

without any maintenance at all and are still in

injection technology as Dürr’s established two-

operation today.

component mixing system. In an upgrade to

In addition, the clever valve design ensures

the EcoDose 2K, a colour changer, a measuring

that fluids cannot get into the valve’s pilot

cell, and a mixer have additionally been

air piston in normal operation, even in the

integrated into the system. The controller has

event of minor leaks. This prevents undesired

also been appropriately enhanced to enable it

reactions with the moisture in the air. If

to meter, merge, and mix all three components

maintenance is ever required, the valve can

fully automatically shortly before they are used.

be quickly replaced by undoing four screws –

This is done by monitoring the continuous

which means that the system is ready to use

flow of the first component using a measuring

again within just a few minutes.

cell. The other components to be injected are metered as appropriate to the desired mixing ratio by opening and closing valves. The metering quantity is also monitored using

Smart functions complement the EcoDose 3K

measuring cells to ensure the correct mixing ratio is maintained.

Dürr’s EcoDose 3K is complemented by a 7-inch colour touchscreen

Particular precision is needed for the third component, which

display. Users quickly find their bearings, since operation is similar

typically determines the viscosity. This is because only a very

to Dürr’s other controller-based products. The standard delivery

small amount of this agent is added, and it often has a very low

contents also include an Ethernet communication interface that

viscosity. Dürr uses Coriolis measuring cells in the EcoDose 3K as

can be integrated into the particular controller landscape. The

the most efficient way of dealing with low viscosities. These are

mixing system also has smart functions to minimize both detergent

maintenance-free, offer high measurement accuracy, and provide

consumption and fluid loss, and to significantly reduce the time

additional measurement functions, for example for density and

required for rinsing and loading a new medium.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

Salcomix è il marchio di AkzoNobel per un sistema di prodotti vernicianti industriali dal design modulare, che può essere utilizzato per fornire vernici per una grande varietà di applicazioni per l‘industria leggera, in modo rapido e flessibile. Questo è possibile grazie a un sistema di miscelazione che offre una superiore precisione del colore con la massima varietà di prodotto.

Salcomix is AkzoNobel's brand for a modularly designed industrial coatings system that can be used to provide paints for a variety of small-industry applications, quickly and flexibly. This is possible thanks to a mixing system that offers superior color accuracy with maximum product diversity.

www.akzonobel.com infosalcomix@akzonobel.com

0087–04019

www.salcomix.com

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

FASTER. A Turnkey Powder Coating Plant for Laboratory Fume Hood Components Francesco Stucchi, ipcm

®

During the “year of the Pandemic” – as 2020 will be remembered by future generations – only a few industrial fields could profit of the situation and increase (or at least keep steady) their production volume and turnover.

One of these industries was the laboratory equipment sector. Companies in this field could meet the growing demand for their products only if they were well-structured and well-organized at a production level. One of the key factors to succeed and to streamline the workflow was to have the coating stage integrated in the production process. This was exactly what allowed the Italian company FASTER to expand its offer and meet the demand: a brand-new powder coating installation designed by CMV Srl. © FASTER

Some of the fume hoods manufactured by FASTER.

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

© ipcm

The system designed and installed by CMV.

T

he COVID-19 pandemic affected the industrial world not only

of reaching a temperature of -80 °C, which are currently very topical

negatively, with a general decline in production due to the

because they are used for the conservation of the first COVID-19

contraction of consumption: some industries have actually

vaccines approved by the European Union during transport and

experienced a surge in demand, thanks to the new diagnostic,

storage. Thanks to the foresight of its management, which had already

treatment, and disease prevention needs. One of these is the

laid the groundwork in 2016 for an expansion that included powder

laboratory equipment sector, which has seen an increase in requests

coating, FASTER has been able to cope with increased production and

for instruments, chemicals, fume hoods, freezers, and even furniture.

meet the still-growing demand for chemical fume and laminar flow

DASIT Group is an Italian holding company that controls several

hoods. CMV Srl (Pesaro, Italy) handled the project for the insourcing of

companies operating in the laboratory field: Vitro Diagnostics (IVD),

FASTER’s coating operations.

CARLO ERBA Reagents, a well-established firm within the research and industrial laboratory sector, which produces chemical reagents and

A completely redesigned production flow

commercialises laboratory material on the Italian and foreign markets,

“FASTER employs about 90 people,” explains production coordinator,

and FASTER, which operates in commercial synergy with CARLO

Marco Benfenati. “Our production plant in Ferrara, which extends over

ERBA Reagents and it is a leader in the manufacture of high-tech

an area of about 10,000 m2, is of recent construction: we moved here

instruments for air handling, cold management, and laboratory space

in 2019, while maintaining our sales, management, and R&D offices in

and furniture design. Established in 1984, FASTER’s core business are

Cornaredo (Milan). The aim of moving to this location was to insource

laminar flow and chemical fume hoods, typically placed in biology labs,

all of the production processes that we previously used to outsource,

freezers, and laboratory furniture in general. In recent years, however,

particularly metalwork and coating. The main manufacturing phase of

it has begun to expand its product range in order to provide turnkey

FASTER’s products is the assembly of hoods, which has always been

laboratories. One of the latest additions have been chillers capable

carried out in-house. However, the time had come to rationalise our

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

61

© ipcm

The two-rail conveyor.

production flow for higher cost efficiency and to exercise greater quality control.

Insourcing all its production phases and, at the same time, moving to a new plant required a very significant investment for FASTER. We had to equip our metalwork department from scratch with laser cutting machines, an automatic warehouse for loading and unloading sheets, bending systems, welding robots and so on, as well as buying a powder coating plant, since our hoods’ bodies can be made of either stainless steel or coated carbon steel.”

“A professor from the University of Bologna supported us in the development of our new production flow,” indicates Benfenati. “He suggested that we also include a coating plant, as this would have improved delivery costs and times within our supply chain. More than one year after the installation of our in-house coating plant, we have already cut the supply of coated materials to our assembly stations by at least two weeks, whereas coating costs are already slightly lower than those charged by external suppliers are.

“The consultant who supported us in designing our production layout also recommended, among others, CMV as the potential supplier of our coating line. We followed his suggestion because, except for the powder application technology, CMV could supply a complete plant, including its conveyor, without subcontracting any components. Of course, insourcing our coating phase also required an investment in the training of specialised personnel. However, also thanks to the ease of use of the system designed by CMV, we have achieved good results within a year, while there is still some room for improvement in terms of quality and logistics.”

© ipcm

A box-type part to be coated.

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

© ipcm

The stainless steel pre-treatment tunnel.

Characteristics of the coating plant The system is designed for workpieces that are maximum 2 metres long x 1.5 meters high x 2 metres wide. The load bar has a maximum load capacity of 500 kg, as FASTER also coat box-type parts weighing up to 80 kg. The cycle time is 4 minutes per load bar. Designed and installed by CMV, the plant includes a two-rail conveyor with multi-station loading and unloading areas and two storage buffers in the ovens, one inbound and one outbound; a 6-stage cell pre-treatment tunnel; a multi-station drying oven with automatic doors and an air vein burner; a fully-equipped Gema Europe powder coating booth; and a curing oven with automatic doors and an air vein burner.

“The whole plant design was focused on saving energy for maximum coast efficiency,” explains CMV owner, Saimon Frati. “The pre-treatment tunnel has cells with return valves, prearranged to discharge waste water for disposal outside.

Completely made of stainless steel, the tunnel has a radiant burner for water heating. The cleaning cycle includes phospho-degreasing, two mains water rinses, one demineralised water rinse, and one final no-rinse passivation stage.

A demineralisation system is linked to the passivation and demineralised water rinse stations. The two-rail conveyor’s route includes some cooling areas after drying, with various stations created before the booth’s entrance. The powder application takes place in a last generation Gema automatic booth with a quick colour change system, 4 automatic guns, 2 manual stations for pre and postretouching, and a powder feeding unit with Venturi injectors.” © ipcm

“We paint raw or galvanised sheet metal with The Sherwin-Williams Company’s The powder application booth.

In the foreground: the post-retouching station.

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63

epoxy powders. We apply a single coat © ipcm

with a thickness between 100-120 microns, although the minimum thickness required is 80 microns. Currently, we try to organise a linear production flow during the day to avoid any colour change operations, but it can happen to apply three different tints in one day due to urgent orders. At the moment, our product range includes three colours, but we will soon keep only one,” says Marco Benfenati from FASTER. “Although we do not need it at the moment, however, we chose a quick-colour change booth to remain open to the future and not to preclude the possibility of expanding our tint selection, should our laboratory furniture and freezers range expand.”

“CMV integrated the coating system created for FASTER with all of the latest technologies to guarantee lower environmental impact and greater energy savings. The shape of the ovens, in particular, is very important

On the left, the entrance and exit doors to the curing oven and, on the right, the spray booth.

for saving energy,” says Saimon Frati. “These ovens are always hermetically sealed except for the passage of parts. At these times, a

© ipcm

hot air curtain is turned on to optimise heat retention inside the chamber and prevent heat loss. A control device prevents both automatic sliding doors from opening simultaneously, in order to further avoid an increase in heat loss during the passage of parts.”

“I can only confirm that we have relied completely on CMV to provide us with the latest technology available so that the plant reflected the philosophy of our company,” states Benfenati. “The plant is also Industry 4.0-oriented, with management software developed in synergy by CMV and FASTER. The software package takes care of the management and handling of products on the load bars, thus guaranteeing their traceability, and it is constantly in communication with CMV’s headquarters for remote technical assistance.”

Perfect timing The touch screen.

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“The plant has been in operation for one year. We started testing it in September 2019

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

and actual production began in January 2020.

Although we were new to coating, we did not

© ipcm

encounter any problems handling it. The system provided by CMV is exactly what we needed. The quality of the product and the project that they presented to us convinced us more than those of other competitors,” states Marco Benfenati.

“Operational almost five days a week, the coating plant fully meets our production needs and it enables us to cope with any increase in production by simply scheduling a few extra shifts. CMV’s plant has practically replaced two contractors, which were actually struggling to meet our needs. We were fortunate to have a fully operational plant available at the same time as demand for our products increased due to the COVID-19 emergency. Coating in-house, finally, enables us to maintain a higher, more consistent level of quality.”

Marco Benfenati (left) with Saimon Frati from CMV.

BRAND-NEW

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating Are the Colours of the Year 2021 Pantone Colour Institute presents the colours of the year 2021: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating.

A combination of two independent colours that highlights how different elements come together to support one another and infuse light, energy and a desire for balance.

P

antone Color Institute, the American academy that every year

time warming and optimistic, the marriage between PANTONE 17-5104

provides forecasts on colour trends, has decided on the colours

Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is an infusion of

that will accompany us in 2021. For 22 years, PANTONE has used

strength, hope and positivity”.

only one shade, but since 2021 will be a special year, the choice fell on

The combination of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-

PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating.

0647 Illuminating is a clear message of happiness that gives us hope. As

The first is a bright grey that recalls solid and dependable elements, which

stated by the Colour Institute: “The colour mix chosen for 2021 has strong

last over time and offer a solid foundation. It is the colour of the pebbles

references to introspection, innovation and intuition, as well as respect for

on the beach and of natural elements whose weathered appearance

wisdom, experience and intelligence, and inspires regeneration, pushing

highlights an ability to stand the test of time. Ultimate Gray discreetly

us towards new concepts and new ways of thinking”.

reassures, promoting feelings of composure, firmness and resilience. The

“In a historical moment in which people try, in every possible way, to

second is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming

find energy, clarity and hope to overcome this phase of uncertainty, the

yellow shade imbued with solar power.

colours that instil determination and courage respond to our quest for

“This union is designed to demonstrate that different elements come

vitality”.

together to support each other,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Practical and rock solid but at the same

For further information: www.pantone.com

© PANTONE

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HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Use and Reuse: MST CHEMICALS’ Sustainable Corporate Philosophy Alessia Venturi, ipcm

®

A laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art technology for analysis, research, and development. An industrial approach based on sustainability and the concept of resource use and reuse. A focus on the water purification industry in the metal treatment sector in general and in the aluminium one in particular, but a wide range of applications available for its products. Numerous patented or patent pending processes. In short, these are the characteristic traits of MST CHEMICALS, an emerging star in the field of speciality chemicals for ZLD waste water treatment processes.

R

eusing, that is, using materials or resources in the same

designed by CIE Srl. With thirty-nine years of experience, this company

production process from which they originate without

is a world leader in the design, development, construction, and

transforming them into something else, is one of the many

installation of water treatment plants, which allow completely reusing

sustainable industrial approaches on which circular economy rests.

waste water in their production cycle of origin. “With the development

MST CHEMICALS (San Zenone al Lambro, Milan, Italy) is one of those

of the ZLD technology, especially for the treatment of aluminium, we

companies that, thanks to the effective development of chemical

soon realised that CIE could no longer rely on the well-known and

products and processes, has made reuse, particularly that of a

widespread speciality chemicals available on the market. It needed ad

precious commodity like water, its foundation as well as its industrial

hoc products, with very precise, high-level chemical and performance

success.

characteristics,” states Franco Falcone, the patron of CIE and the

MST CHEMICALS was established in 2015 with the purpose of

founder of MST CHEMICALS, now successfully managed by Dafina

providing speciality chemicals intended for the zero liquid discharge

Ianchis.

(ZLD) water treatment plants included in the metal treatment lines

In December 2020, MST CHEMICALS moved to a new headquarters

© ipcm

MST CHEMICALS’ new headquarters and the illuminated panel that stands proudly at the entrance to MST CHEMICALS’ factory.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© ipcm

ST Powder Coatings S.p.A. Via E. Segrè, 46 36075 Montecchio Maggiore ITALY Tel.: +39 0444 165400 info@stpowdercoatings.com

ST Powder Coatings España S.L. C/Batalla de Brunete, 11 28946 Fuenlabrada - Madrid ESPAÑA Tel. +34 916 977 292 espana@stpowdercoatings.com

ST Powder Coatings Portugal L.d.a.

Rua R.B. Rodrigues, 210 4475-132 Maia - Porto PORTUGAL Tel. +351 220 944 229 portugal@stpowdercoatings.com

Barten S.r.o.

Porfesték Kft.

Ružová 307, Louky 763 02 Zlin CZECH REPUBLIC Tel. +420 573 332 198 barten@barten.cz

Szurdokpart u. 70 3200 Gyöngyös HUNGARY Tel.: +36 37 505 050 hungary@stpowdercoatings.com

www.stpowdercoatings.com Subscribe to our Newsletter

H I G H PERF ORM A N C E • HIGH D URAB ILI T Y • H IGH FAS TN E S S

T H E R M O - S E T T I N G P OW D E R C O AT I N G F O R A R C H I T E C T U R A L I N D U S T R Y Tribo/Corona application • Wide color range • Ideal for panels and aluminium profiles • Qualicoat class 2 www.stpowdercoatings.com Subscribe to our Newsletter

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

in San Zenone al Lambro, on the outskirts of Milan, which includes 1500 m2 of production area and laboratories and about 300 m2 of office spaces, with a super technological meeting room outfitted to hold webinars and host online technical events. “MST CHEMICALS was created in the form of a fully equipped, technological laboratory with staff dedicated to the research and analysis of materials aimed at formulating the speciality chemicals necessary for the operation of CIE’s ZLD systems, which are mainly manufactured here at our factory and partly by external suppliers,” indicates MST CHEMICALS COO, Dafina Ianchis.

“MST CHEMICALS works in close collaboration with CIE, but it also © ipcm

has an operational autonomy that enables it to produce speciality chemicals of a different type than those strictly necessary for CIE’s plants. Clearly, our main activity is to develop chemical processes

Clockwise from left: Alessia Venturi (ipcm®), Franco Falcone, Jessica Galeone, Dafina Ianchis, and Angelo Quaini.

for water treatment – for example PUR-ALL®, which guarantees the zero liquid discharge purification of waste water by chemical means only, without the use of evaporators or osmosis plants – that CIE than engineers for its plants. We also develop the products necessary to different depuration technologies to operate systems, such as ultrafiltration, osmosis, or evaporation plants, requiring special products for the cleaning and preservation of membranes or products for COD abatement, which are made with carbonbased additives, bentone derivatives, adsorbents, and more.

“Founded as an emanation of CIE for carrying out R&D activities on ZLD treatment processes, therefore, over time MST CHEMICALS has become an autonomous company, also active in sectors where CIE is not,” says Ianchis. “Ninety percent of our products are sold overseas, mainly in India and South Africa, thanks to the fact that MST CHEMICALS and CIE are leaders in water treatment applications both for coil and extruded aluminium finishing processes and for processes devoted to cans for soft drinks such as beers and sodas (called aluminium cans) – a category distributed worldwide.”

© ipcm

The ICP-OES plasma spectrometer.

The analysis laboratory: the flagship of MST CHEMICALS “Our lab is equipped with high-level scientific instrumentation that very few private laboratories can boast, and similar to those available to environmental protection and research or public health care institutes,” says Jessica Galeone, the research and development, analysis, and quality control manager. “For example, we can use the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) spectrometry technology, which enables us to perform both qualitative and quantitative analyses in order to identify the chemical composition of a liquid sample and simultaneously determine the presence of individual metals in concentrations as low as few micrograms/ Page 1 of 1 litre. Through the ICP technique, a liquid sample is injected and dispersed into micronised aerosol particles. Depending on the

© ipcm

From left to right: a thermostatic heater, a mixer, a spectrometer, and a centrifuge.

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69

emission wavelength of each ion already catalogued in the literature, we can assess its concentration in the sample analysed. This instrument guarantees the simultaneous analysis of all metals and cations in solution with a variety of parameters. It enables us to make a quick but very accurate screening of samples to verify the effectiveness of our processes. We have also already budgeted an advanced instrument in which we will insert an HPLC device, an ion chromatograph that will allow performing the same multi-parameter analyses on liquid samples, but for the detection of anions. With spectrophotometry, on the other hand, we analyse the elements generating COD and BOD to be cut down, reduced, or kept under control.

Our laboratory owns three spectrophotometers, one bench top and two field ones, with which we analyse all polluting © ipcm

elements (anions and metals) in a quick but A jar test instrument (left) and a vacuum filtration pump.

efficient way, to be generally used directly on the field. Finally, our laboratory is equipped with an ion-selective electrode analyser for fluorides, conductivity meters, pH meters, turbidimeters, stoves, thermoreactors, centrifuges, and a pilot plant that we use for pre-industrialisation process simulations.”

Aluminium treatment: MST’s sector of choice, but not the only one “MST is currently focussing on the R&D and production of speciality chemicals for the aluminium industry, especially the can sector,” states MST Chemicals Sales and Technical Director, Angelo Quaini. “However, we also develop processes for many other sectors, including stainless steel pickling, phosphating, steel and HDG, plastic cleaning, and food, for recycling water containing any processing waste. Finally, we are waiting for patents to be granted on two important innovations: a sulphate removal process for various applications and a hydrochloric acid recovery process from stainless steel and aluminium © ipcm

pickling baths. These also confirm our choice to The lab’s workbench.

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embrace the “use and reuse” philosophy”.

BRAND-NEW

Leipziger Messe Takes Over PaintExpo Leipziger Messe has taken over PaintExpo, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial coating technologies, from FairFair GmbH.

O

n December 1, 2020, Leipziger Messe took over PaintExpo

Leipziger Messe’s proven expertise in organising successful

from FairFair GmbH. The fair will keep taking place every two

international trade fairs and its strong service orientation will help

years in April at Messe Karlsruhe (Germany). The next edition

lead the way for PaintExpo’s future development. I am sure the event’s

will take place from 26 to 29 April 2022.

success story will continue”, says Jürgen Haußmann.

PaintExpo was established in 2006 by Jürgen Haußmann, Managing Director of FairFair GmbH, who will continue to play an advisory role.

About Leipziger Messe

Leipziger Messe is taking over the PaintExpo exhibition team and site

Leipziger Messe is one of the ten leading German trade fair companies

in Oberboihingen, Baden-Württemberg, and will continue cooperating

and one of the top 50 worldwide. It organises events in Leipzig and at

with its existing partners, JOT – Journal für Oberflächentechnik

various locations in Germany and abroad. With its five subsidiaries and

(Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH) and Messe Karlsruhe – the

the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL), Leipziger Messe is a comprehensive

PaintExpo venue.

service provider covering the entire chain of the events business.

Gerhard Ohmacht, Executive Director of the Trade and Industrial Fairs

Thanks to this offer, customers and visitors voted Leipziger Messe -

Division at Leipziger Messe, is now responsible for PaintExpo’s future

for the seventh time in a row - the service champion of the trade fair

development.

industry in Germany’s largest service ranking in 2020. The Leipzig

“PaintExpo is a perfect fit for us. I look forward to working with

fairgrounds comprise an exhibition area of 111,900 m² and an open-air

PaintExpo’s strong partners, the international exhibitors and visitors

exhibition area of 70,000 m². Every year, around 270 events take place

and the current exhibition team. With our extensive expertise in

– trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses – with over 15,500 exhibitors

industrial fairs, together we will continue to expand PaintExpo as the

and more than 1.2 million visitors from all over the world. Leipzig

world’s leading platform,” says Markus Geisenberger, Chief Executive

was the first German trade fair company to be certified according to

Officer of Leipziger Messe. “PaintExpo is now part of the Leipziger

the Green Globe standards. Sustainability is a recurring theme in the

Messe portfolio – this sends a strong signal. We want to take this

Leipziger Messe’s corporate activities.

opportunity to further strengthen our portfolio and market position, particularly at such a challenging time.”

“I am pleased that PaintExpo has now become part of Leipziger Messe

For further information:

and that this will ensure the necessary continuity for customers.

www.leipziger-messe.com and www.paintexpo.de

© Peter Hirth

© FairFair GmbH

Karlsruhe venue.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

Leipziger venue.

Top Quality Coil coatings Since 1978 coil coatings for building, industry, and packaging for

Aluminium closures

for

for

TAB stock

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for

for

Valve caps

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for

Pharma caps

• Antifinger for stainless steel • High gloss PE coating • Laminated system

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Outdoor • Anti-skid coating • Copper imitation • PE coating • PUR/PA cycle • PVdF cycle • Wood effect • Wrinkled coating

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

OMSO SpA: Innovative Process Solutions and Integrated “Green” Coating Technologies Alessia Venturi, ipcm

®

The world of coatings is a fascinating one because we all get our hands on at least one coated object every day. One of them – one of the most unexpected, to be honest – is the aluminium or plastic closure capsule of beverage and food bottles and packages. These capsules are actually decorated and coated with highly automated, digitalised, efficient, and sustainable systems. One of the leading suppliers of printing, decorating, and coating machines for this sector is Italian company OMSO, which has started a partnership with Verind, belonging to the Dürr Group, for the provision of their related paint application equipment. The results in terms of efficiency and paint savings have been highly satisfactory.

Closure capsules coated with OMSO machines.

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

N

ormally, food and beverage capsules are deep-drawn from

industries is OMSO’s core business. Established in 1952, its

aluminium foil that is pre-painted both externally and internally

primary objective has always been the continuous improvement

with a food-compatible finish. During the capsule deep-drawing

of the quality level of its direct printing results, by using innovative

operations, however, this pre-painted material is aesthetically damaged

technologies such as flexographic and digital printing alongside

at the stretching points. Therefore, the technological need of this sector

the more traditional ones, including silk-screen and dry-offset

is to post-coat these components to give them a better finish.

printing. With these techniques, OMSO can meet a wide range of

One of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of

decoration needs, from simple one-colour graphics to photographic

machines and lines for decorating closure capsules for the cosmetic,

reproduction. The experience gained over the years in the field of

pharmaceutical, and food industries is OMSO (Reggio Emilia, Italy). The

the decoration of food and beverage capsules now enables OMSO

development of innovative solutions with integrated coating equipment

to present itself as a reliable supplier of technologies for this field,

for its target market was the completion of OMSO’s corporate vision

able to design and deliver any type of solution, from standalone

for sustainable business development. The company chose Verind

machine to complete lines.

(Milan, Italy), a part of the international Dürr Group, as its partner for

“Our MecapLine capsule decoration lines have been installed on

the supply of the coating application technology of its plants installed all

all five continents, thus giving rise to a wide range of combinations,

over the world.

with dry-offset machines combined with upstream and downstream accessories such as glazing and coating machines, upsetters, or head

About OMSO

printing systems, capable of meeting the most diverse decoration

Building machines for decorating containers with different shapes,

needs,” states OMSO Engineering Manager, Massimo Verona. “We

materials, and sizes for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical

certainly are among the world leaders in this field and we export 96-

© OMSO

© OMSO © OMSO

Metallic effect capsules and a capsule with a matt effect coating.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

75

97% of our equipment. Our customers include all the major players of

quality of the film applied with OMSO’s equipment is a plus that

the cosmetic, food, closure capsule and corks sectors.”

distinguishes this company on the market. This result has been obtained thanks to innovative plant engineering choices such as:

Debut in the coating field

• stop-and-go conveyors;

“We entered the coating world occasionally a few years ago, in order

• Cartesian systems with multiple axes for the handling of automatic

to offer turnkey solutions to our most loyal customers,” says Verona.

guns;

“One of our most long-standing customers, for which we are the

• application of 2K water-based coatings;

primary supplier of decoration machines, was particularly important

• electronic dosing systems for 2K coating with flow control tools;

in pushing us in this direction: their need for a tailor-made coating

• 30% reduction in paint consumption compared with other solutions

system, together with the will to maintain a single technological

available on the market;

partner for all their capsule decoration and protection requirements,

• improved environmental conditions and reduced emissions, waste,

led them to turn to OMSO.”

and energy consumption;

Now, three years after the installation of its first coating line, the

• high surface finishing quality.

© OMSO

A completely automatic decoration and painting line manufactured by OMSO.

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

The origin of a partnership Normally, for post-coating plastic or aluminium capsules, solventbased liquid coatings, UV coatings, or water-based two-component coatings are used alternately. Although these are sound technologies, they have all different needs in terms of dosage, fluid management, mixing, catalysis control, and most importantly, spraying methods. When it entered the world of coatings as a supplier of specialist machines for capsules, OMSO aimed at finding a partner capable of handling all the coating pumping, dosing, mixing, and application technologies required. Verind, belonging to the international Dürr Group, was the company chosen by OMSO as its technological partner for the design of its coating systems.

“A company like OMSO looks for partners that offer the most current technologies, meet high standards of equipment reliability, and have a “green” approach, that is with a view to circular economy and sustainability,” notes Alessandro Soba, the New Business Sales Manager of Verind Spa. “For them, having an

© ipcm

Massimo Verona of OMSO in the middle, with Alessandro Soba (right) and Marco Assorgia (left) of Verind.

© Verind

The EcoDose 2k electronic mixing system.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

77

application technology available with all these characteristics is an important competitive advantage to differentiate itself from its competitors. Moreover, in general, Verind equipment is automotive-derived and benefits from the extensive know-how and R&D of the whole Dürr Group. The application concept includes the paints pumping systems, the EcoMCC3 automatic colour change system, the EcoDose2k electronic dosing equipment with PLC, the EcoFlow dome-loaded pressure regulators that control the paint flow rate, and the EcoGun automatic spray guns”.

Characteristics of the application systems “We have created a flexible and modular concept for OMSO’s plants. This combines an application system with highefficiency EcoGun mini automatic guns with an automatic dosing and mixing system for 2K coatings, featuring the gear or Coriolis technology,” indicates Marco Assorgia from the © Verind

Application Technology General Industry – Sales department of Verind. The EcoDose 2K machine is an advanced electronic

The EcoMCC3 automatic colour change system.

plant for the dosage and mixing of 2K solvent-based, waterbased, and high-solid paint products.

The main technical characteristics guaranteed by the Coriolis technology are as follows: • function control through an industrial PLC and an operator panel; • catalysis ratio from 1:1 to 30:1; • possibility of storing over 1024 programs; • dosage tolerance lower than 1%; • Direct Injection Technology (DIT) with two channels (A and B); • independent cleaning circuits for component A and component B; • consumption measurement of coating and cleaning products; • modular and expandable automatic colour change system for paints and catalysts; • graphics pages displaying data on real flow, program consumption, and total consumption values; • data transmission to the supervision system for the analysis and printing of real-time and previous data; • density or temperature measurement for the A and B channels; • absence of stress on coating products; • advanced management of the pot life parameter; © Verind

The EcoFlow LPF regulator that controls the paint flow rate.

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• push-out function in the automatic colour change

made

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

in Ita ly

FOR. . TEC SRL

Senza titolo-5 1

22/01/2014 12:08:51

© Verind

The EcoGunAsAutoMiniFS automatic spray gun.

• operations for consumption optimisation; • closed-loop flow control; • predictive maintenance on all components.

Application examples “Over the past years, we have installed coating plants in China with UV coating application at a Chinese leader in the closure capsule field,” says Massimo Verona from OMSO. “The same we did at several European factories of the world-leader company manufacturing closure capsule in more recent times. One of the latest applications is a water-based technology with IR drying and very accurate control of the polymerisation curve: the resulting plant guarantees a coating process with near-zero environmental impact. Another important project was completed in Ukraine for a client requiring a very special coating line, using a solvent-based paint that must withstand post-coating mechanical processing.

This coating requires a polimerisation time of 60 minutes. This feature of the coating system forced us to design a huge oven

PAINT STRIPPING OVENS Forni pirolitici per termosverniciatura e...

with an anthropomorphic robot, which picks up the capsules exiting the painting booth and loads them on load bars housing 32 capsules each. These bars convey the 32 capsules across the oven at a very low speed so to reach the dwell time needed. The polymerization chamber of the oven houses a total of 12,000 capsules as the takt-ime of the line is 200 p/min”.

Sverniciatura bilancelle

Sverniciatura serbatoi gas

Rigenerazione motori elettrici

Pulizia estrusori

Restauro carrozzerie

Hooks paint stripping

Gas tanks paint stripping

Electric motors regeneration

Extruders cleaning

Body work restoration

For. Tec. Forniture Tecnologiche S.r.l. – Waste Incinerators Manufacturer Via Nazionale Appia Km. 186,900 - Francolise (CE ) – ITALY Tel. +39 0823/88.11.05 Fax. +39 0823/88.28.89 P.IVA. 02913520611 – REA 205421

mail: info@fortec-inceneritori.it web: www.fortec-inceneritori.it

© ipcm

The small museum at the entrance of OMSO Headquarters.

The innovative contribution of OMSO and Verind in the coating of closure capsules

superior result than painting a moving object.”

“What OMSO has done in terms of coating equipment is highly

significant number of variables involved,” says Verona. “It is through

innovative, because our customers appreciate the concrete possibility

innovation that we maintain our technological competitiveness. We

of savings offered by our plant solutions,” explains Massimo Verona.

are committed to ensuring that all our new products and solutions

“In order to achieve this, we have deployed several technologies that

contribute to lowering unit production costs by increasing efficiency.”

we already used daily on our decoration machines, including the “stop

“The joint work between OMSO and Verind has enabled us to develop

and go” technology for the handling of workpieces on our lines during

innovative and “green” industrial solutions that meet the market’s

both pre-treatment (typically performed with deionisation and flaming

needs,” notes Alessandro Soba. “These include environmental

processes for both plastic and aluminium) and coating. Briefly, the

sustainability, safety of the working environment, reduction of

guns only spray when the conveyor brings an item to be coated in front

transformation costs, energy efficiency, high quality levels, and

of them. This results in 30% paint savings compared with traditional

digitalisation of products and systems.”

continuous coating methods. Less consumption also translates into

“Our collaboration with Verind has been so fruitful that we have already

less waste and less overspray, for huge cost savings. The finishing

created ten coating lines together and, during these years, we have

quality also benefits from this: painting a stationary object provides a

never sought any alternative partners,” states Massimo Verona.

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“The surface painting and coating process is very complex, given the

AXALTA COATING SYSTEMS

The SuprAnodic Collection Alesta® SuperDurable

The Alesta® SD SuprAnodic Collection offers the appearance and colour shades anodised finishes with all the benefits of a powder coating in a super durable quality.

The perfect mix between future colour trends and today’s demands in the architectural and design segments and are all formulated according to the highest Axalta bonding standards.

It’s part of the premium range formulated in super durable polyester quality designed to endure the most severe weather conditions in terms of UV exposure and humidity and ensuring gloss retention and colour fastness.

Developed for aluminium and steel architectural components, such as window frames, façades, cladding and doors. It is also intended for urban furniture, garden furniture, lighting and more.

The major advantage is that a wide range of substrates can be treated including aluminium and steel profile extrusions, cladding or sheet panels.

Architects Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés | Photographer Stefan Tuchila

Expect a much better colour consistency than traditional chemical anodisation on different materials and between different batches and can hide the surface defects on aluminium profiles.

The powder coatings don’t carry any health or environmental hazard pictograms and the final cured coating does not emit VOC. Qualicoat Class 2 and GSB Florida 3 certified and meeting the AAMA 2604 requirements.

For more information and to order a colour card or fan deck visit www.axalta.com/supranodic

Axalta Powder Coating Systems GmbH Uferstrasse 90 CH-4057 Basel Switzerland powdercoating@axalta.com +41 61 40 44 00

SUCCESS STORIES

Tenfold Increase of Tooling Uptimes and Improved Process Stability with the Drag Finishing Technology To date the voestalpine Rotec GmbH, a global leader in the manufacture of precision steel pipes and tubes, has been using a manual process to place a radius on its stamping tools. Within the framework of its continuous process optimization program the company replaced this manual operation with an automated Rösler drag finishing system R 4/700 SF. With the single piece dry drag finishing process the usable life of the stamping tools can be at least doubled. For some tools the uptime can even be increased by a factor of ten. For this reason, the return of investment period (ROI) is well below two years.

W

ith eleven manufacturing locations

edges. Frequently the edges were reworked

in Europe, North-America and Asia

by hand. But this did seldom extend the

Cost-efficient dry processing in a drag finisher

the voestalpine Rotec is a globally

usable life of the tools. With around 50 million

Edge radiusing of the tools is an ideal

operating company that is specialized in the

manufactured components per year tooling

application for the drag finishing technology.

manufacture, refinement and marketing

supply was a significant cost factor. Therefore,

This unique mass finishing system allows the

of precision steel pipes and tubes. Since

it was not surprising that the process

precise, targeted surface finishing of high-value,

the company belongs to the internationally

optimization specialist was looking for an

complex work pieces. Exactly defined process

operating steel and technology corporation

automated, repeatable edge radiusing process

parameters guarantee absolutely repeatable

voestalpine, the customers have direct access

for prolonging the service life of the tooling.

finishing results. “From my previous occupation at a supplier of motor sport components I knew

liquification to the complete pipes and tubes.

that Rösler Oberflächentechnik builds such

The development of innovative products and

equipment. That is why I contacted Rösler first.

manufacturing technologies takes place in

Of course, we also contacted other suppliers

four divisions. Within the corporate structure

of mass finishing equipment and asked them

the voestalpine Rotec, headquartered in

to run processing trials for us”, continues

Krieglach, Austria, belongs to the metal

Hannes Winkler. In the end the customer

forming division. At this location the company

chose the R 4/700 SF system, because Rösler

manufactures primarily belt tensioning tubes

was the only supplier, who could offer a dry

for the automobile industry. The complex

finishing process for the tools. Hannes Winkler

manufacturing equipment for making pipe

adds: “The dry solution eliminated the process

and tube components is also designed and

water cleaning system required with the wet

built at the same location. Hannes Winkler, assistant to the plant manager at voestalpine Rotec and responsible for process optimization, explains: “To be able to make our products at internationally competitive costs, our company is utilizing continuous improvement processes”.

© Rösler Oberflächentechnik GmbH

to comprehensive knowhow ranging from steel

processing solution. This reduced not only the capital expenditure but also resulted in lower operating costs. Of course, the quality and long service life as well as the high availability of the Rösler equipment also played an important role in our decision”.

Cost reduction by increasing the usable life of tooling Even before wear became visible, stamping tools like arbors and die plates had to be replaced because of minor fracturing at the

82

Automated finishing that is perfectly adapted to different tools The compact, universally usable drag finisher R 4/700 SF is equipped with a carousel with four rotating spindles.

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

At the heart of the compact, plug-and-play drag finisher is a carousel equipped with four rotary spindles, each spindle allowing the mounting of

three work pieces. The carousel and the rotary spindles are outfitted with separate drive motors allowing the setting of totally different rotary speeds for carousel and spindles. The processing bowl is filled with processing media, which in this particular application consists of crushed walnut shells and aluminium oxide. A vibratory motor mounted below the processing bowl ensures the optimum mixing of the processing media. Required bowl changes can be quickly carried out with a forklift truck.

For the actual process the tools to be finished are manually mounted to specially designed work piece fixtures, which in turn are attached to the spindles equipped with quick-connect couplings. To facilitate this operation, the operator moves the spindles to the load/unload station with the touch of a button. This allows quick, ergonomic and simple loading/unloading of the work pieces.

Once the respective processing program, stored in the programmable system controls, has started, the carousel with the spindles is lowered so that the rotating spindles are immersed in the processing media. Carousel and spindles are moving clockand anticlockwise at the defined rotary speeds. At the midpoint of

This is the work of your best painter

PAINTING ROBOTS

Articulated robots for every painting need!

the processing cycle – depending on the tools to be finished, the total finishing time varies between 15 and 45 minutes – the rotary

Lesta srl

direction is usually changed. This guarantees an even radiusing of the tool edges on all sides.

Continuously growing work piece spectrum shortens the amortization period Initially it was planned to use the drag finisher for five frequently

Lesta srl

Lesta Srl

Via Damiano Chiesa 42 20036 Dairago Mi Italy

+39 0331 430817 info@lesta.it - www.lesta.it

used tool types. Hannes Winkler reports: “The new mechanical drag finishing system produced such good results that the usable life of these components could be practically doubled. And in some instances it could even be increased by a factor of ten. Since commissioning the drag finisher about six months ago, we have increased the spectrum of work pieces to be finished mechanically to around 20 different tool types. This helped reduce the amortization period to well below two years. By continuously adding additional work pieces, the amortization time will decline even further”. This positive experience led the voestalpine group of companies to list Rösler as the exclusive supplier for this particular finishing application.

Besides the mechanical edge radiusing of additional tool types, the process optimization specialist is also considering a polishing application. Hannes Winkler concludes: “At the moment we are conducting processing trials. If the results are as we expect, we will purchase a second processing bowl with the required processing media. A key advantage of the Rösler drag finisher is that processing bowls can be easily exchanged allowing us to quickly switch from one application to another”.

So is this

LESTA IS SIMPLE LESTA IS NIMBLE LESTA IS FAST

LestaSrl

© Axalta Powder Coatings

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

Axalta on the Sustainability of Super Durable Powder Coatings in the Architectural Segment Markus Koenigs Axalta Powder Coatings – Wuppertal, Germany

markus.koenigs@axalta.com

Axalta Coating Systems gives new impulses to architectural and design applications with the SuprAnodic Collection.

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C

limate changes are affecting all corners of our globe. Warmer

Alesta® SD series

and more UV intensive periods alternate during the year.

Alesta® SD is part of the premium range formulated in super durable

This not only affects our day to day lives, but also the way we

polyester quality designed to endure the most severe weather

build, our housing, our sun protection. Architecture itself craves for

conditions in terms of UV exposure and humidity. This range of products

sustainability and we need durable, long lasting products to increase

is based on a super durable polyester resin system, incorporating higher

the life expectancy of architectural structures and objects. Prestigious

grade pigments and stabilizers with outstanding exterior durability.

buildings are built to last for many years and harmonise with the

All products have a quality certified by the Qualicoat Class 2 and GSB

surrounding areas. Reliable materials with outstanding properties and a

Florida 3 (Master) quality labels and meet the AAMA 2604 requirements.

respect for the environment are of paramount importance.

The Alesta® SD powder coatings don’t carry health or environmental

We see in trends and demands from the market, is that powder coatings

hazard pictograms. In addition, the final cured coating does not emit

with a super durable quality are no longer just a demand in countries

VOC.

closer to the equator, but this demand is now slowly moving up north.

Axalta has been a reliable partner, with years of experience in the

The SuprAnodic Collection

development and production of super durable quality powder coatings,

The product marketing department is closely monitoring trends in

under the product group Alesta® SD.

terms of quality and sustainability, where the colour experts, on their

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

85

© Adrian Lambert Photography

turn, keep a close eye on colour, finish and effect trends in the architectural and design market.

Over time and especially over the last years, chemical anodization has become a popular finish for aluminium building components.

This popular finish however has certain drawbacks. The biggest drawback of chemical anodization is colour consistency between different batches or the qualities of aluminium, which can lead to major claims during the delivery of a project.

The choice of colours is rather limited as well as the possibilities for application on other metal substrates than high quality aluminium. The finished metal objects are vulnerable to acid and base substances, like for example mortar that can heavily affects an anodized surface, and repair is only possible by replacing the parts on site.

Axalta labs have been working to recreate the anodized look and finish in the formulation of new super durable powder coatings.

The SuprAnodic Collection is the new result of their development.

They are the answer to the demand of super durable, longer lasting powder coatings and offer colour versatility. A new collection of twenty-two colours with an anodized look and all the benefits of a powder coating.

The SuprAnodic Collection’s features Colour uniformity Due to the high-standard bonding technology at Axalta, the products ensure batch-to-batch colour consistency and the colours have a low sensitivity to conditions during application.

Freedom in substrate and colour Vita, Manchester, UK 5 Plus Architects Manchester, Adrian Lambert Photography.

The SuprAnodic product line can be applied on aluminium and steel, hiding the extrusion lines and have the ability to hide imperfections. Maintenance and repair are made easy, because damages can be repaired on site by the use of liquid touch-up paints.

Sustainability In addition, the powder coatings don’t carry health or environmental hazard labels and pictograms, and the final cured coating does not emit VOC. The application process is environmentally friendly & nonhazardous, offering versatility in the use of substrates. This unique and trendy colour offering comes with a reliable supply and service and a high manufacturing quality.

© Stefan Tuchila

Agora CHU de Poitiers, France Architects Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés, Photographer Stefan Tuchila.

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eosmarketing.it

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

From Craftsmanship to Contract Coating: the Metamorphosis of a Contractor through Targeted Investment in Technologies 4.0 and Human Resources Monica Fumagalli, ipcm

®

Building a large-sized contract coating company is the objective of HVL Color, a business specialising in powder surface treatments that hit its own turnover record in 2020, thanks to a revamping and industrialisation 4.0 project involving its whole production plant and careful training of its employees.

C

hanging mindset is never easy, especially when it comes to

skilled human resources.

work routines and systems that are customary not only within

“The economic crisis of 2008,” recalls Antonio Olivieri, partner and

one’s own factory, but throughout the industry. HVL Color

General Manager of the company, “was a clear dividing line in the

(Italy) specialises in the contract powder coating of components

history of HVL Color, founded only ten years earlier. Until then, our

of which 80% are intended for the air conditioning, heating, and

production was limited to meeting the demands of a small number

electrical switchgear fields. A few years ago, it began a process of

of customers and remaining competitive thanks to reduced costs.

enhancement and improvement of its operational structure that has

When our customers turned to other suppliers to cope with the crisis,

led it to make the decisive transition from a small craftsman business

we found ourselves in difficulties. Therefore, we decided to change

to a structured industrial company. What made a difference was its

perspective by aiming at raising the quality of our production and by

targeted investment in plant technology 4.0, automation, and highly

leveraging the relationship with our new customers, among the world

The headquarter of HVL Color in Casalmaggiore, Cremona (Italy). © ipcm

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

© ipcm

Overview of the new powder coating installation designed and installed by Silvi Srl.

leaders in the HVAC sector, which have always believed in us and have

in drying station, which has enabled us to properly pre-treat and clean

supported us in this growth phase. The high technical specifications

our components. This was also the starting point for developing the

and quality performance levels required for the components

concept of our new coating line, which is now equipped with a 6-stage

we coated gave us the motivation to continuously improve over

multi-metal pre-treatment plant. The cycle, designed by Chemetall,

time. Once we achieved a good level of customer satisfaction, we

includes an alkaline stage at the beginning and a final nanotechnology

thought of offering a complete service by integrating our production

passivation from the Oxilan range. Chemetall’s process enables us to

departments with assembly and packaging operating divisions. The

treat a wide variety of materials, from iron to hot-dip galvanised and

resulting significant increase in our business volume then led us

electro-galvanised steel, with excellent performance.”

to reassess our whole plant structure, which we found inadequate

Also as regards the coating application systems, HVL Color chose to

in terms of performance and in need of an upgrade and possible

continue working with the same provider as before, Gema Europe,

replacement of older machines. This explains the huge intervention

which installed two booths – one in 2015 with Venturi application

project that we started in 2018.”

pumps and the other in December 2020 with the dense phase

The strategic improvement of coating equipment

technology. Each booth includes a double manual post-retouching station and an automatic pre-retouching one, each of which is fitted

HVL Color is currently equipped with two coating systems, a static

with a robot provided by Lesta Srl, a company designing and building

semi-automatic and a fully automatic one, which was installed

articulated robots specifically for coating applications.

more recently. The semi-automatic line was revamped during the

“On the occasion of the purchase of our second booth, in the

renewal project and it is now used for special processing and to treat

framework of the Industry 4.0-oriented reorganisation project that

oversized products with maximum dimensions of 6000x2000x2000

was concerning our whole production plant, we involved Gema

mm.

Europe also in the revamping of our already-existing booth. The

“About three years ago,” says Olivieri, “when we decided to install

aim was integrating a last generation powder management system

a pre-treatment plant on our coating line, we turned to Silvi Srl,

and interfacing it with the software package that controls our

a company specialising in the design and installation of surface

entire production flow. We took the opportunity to revise its casing

treatment systems. It supplied us with a 3-stage machine with a built-

and dimensions as well, thus complying with all safety standards,

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© ipcm

© ipcm

© ipcm

expanding it and making it harmonious with the other booth, also in order to create enough space to avoid the potentially dangerous proximity of operators to the robots during the pre-retouching phase.

The overspray filtration system was also automated: both Gema booths can perform the automatic withdrawal of waste, which is conveyed to a big bag with a weighing system.

This also gives us an accurate figure for powder coating waste, which we did not have before.”

The new coating line built in record time Silvi’s team was responsible for the design and installation of the 6-stage spray pre-treatment tunnel, the coating plant (except for the two booths), the air-vein drying and curing ovens, and the switchboard. “We Top left: The loading station.

Top right: The entry of the pretreatment tunnel (on the left), the drying oven (in the middle) and the curing oven (on the right).

The pretreatment tunnel is totally made of AISI 304 – 316 stainless steel with vertical pumps.

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are very proud of the work done for HVL Color,” states Silvi Srl owner Daniele Fumagalli, “not only in terms of quality and efficiency of the installed structure, which is totally made

© ipcm

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

of AISI 304 – 316 stainless steel, but also because the entire line was built in just one month’s time, from 13 December 2019 to 13 January 2020, including masonry work and the dismantling of the previous installation: a record-breaking timeframe for any coating contractor.”

The project also included the recovery of some parts of the old plant, such as the one-rail box-type conveyor built by Se.po.

(Olginate, Lecco, Italy), which, thanks to a new towing unit, can now handle 150 load bars/hour with a pitch of 800 mm or 38 load bars/ hour with a pitch of 3200 mm and a speed of 2 metres per minute.

The pre-treatment tunnel includes the following stages: • alkaline degreasing • 2 rinsings with mains water • rinsing with demineralised water • nanotechnology passivation • rinsing with demineralised water • final blow-off.

“Both the drying and the curing ovens are equipped with a series of electric fans with inverted blades of our own design for heating air circulation,” explains Fumagalli. “A plenum is located on the entire base of the oven for uniform distribution of hot air directly onto the workpieces to be dried. Suction adjustment is achieved through adjustable shutters placed on the bottom of the machine.”

© ipcm

© ipcm

The inside of the pretreatment tunnel.

Application of the powder coating with dense phase technology.

says Olivieri, “have proven highly efficient and practical. The pre-

HVL Color’s Industry 4.0-oriented approach: perfect harmony between human and machine

treatment tunnel is heated by a stainless steel-plate heat exchanger,

“As happens in every company,” notes Olivieri, “when we started looking

which prevents the formation of scales through its direct exchange

at the possibility of integrating robots into our production flow, we could

operation: after one year of operation, the machine is in fact

sense the concern of our employees. Personally, I have never thought

completely free of them. For our curing oven, along with Silvi’s staff, we

that an artificial mind and arm could replace human ones. Instead, I am

opted for the total recirculation, air-vein combustion technology with

convinced that the optimum is reached through their perfect harmony.

two 300,000 Kcal/h burners: a solution that definitively breaks with

Indeed, the number of booth operators has remained the same as when

the past. The ovens’ air distribution system with no direct channelling

we were coating manually, but now they have more time to spend on

to a single point, as was the case with the previous plant, guarantees

process management and control, rather than on practical operations.

uniform and adjustable air diffusion according to our needs. This is

The robots and, in general, the machines we have chosen to achieve an

an advantage in terms of consumption, thanks to the guarantee of

organisation 4.0 are self-managing: once trained, they continue their

constant temperature.”

work unattended. That is not a minor benefit at a time of generalised

“The air diffusion and modulation systems developed by Silvi,”

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FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

health risk such as this one, when it is possible that labour may be

HVL Color also invested heavily in its general management software.

lacking for even long periods.”

The whole production flow is digitalised, paperless and traceable, and

Unlike some of its competitors, HVL Color has chosen to optimise its

outgoing material labelling and order scheduling have been implemented,

pre-retouching phase with Lesta articulated robots to avoid, where

with the ultimate goal of offering a perfect and efficient service to

possible, having to intervene on the workpieces already coated by

customers.

the reciprocator. “This is due to the type of parts we treat,” explains Olivieri. “They are mainly panels, whose inner edges are the most

The flexibility of the application system

critical areas in terms of coating application. Moreover, the presence

Not many coating contractors embrace both application technologies

of a robot in the pre-retouching phase allows avoiding any human

currently available on the market, i.e. Venturi pumps and dense phase.

errors due to excessive coverage, which causes cosmetic defects

“Although these two systems are usually opposing,” says Olivieri, “for our

such as build-up and dripping. Automatic application guarantees

production they are complementary. In case of emergency, we can use

consistency and uniformity and, managed by a control PLC, it

either one booth or the other without having to stop production, because

integrates seamlessly into the entire line’s system 4.0. Together with

they both have management software that can interface with our general

the commercial flexibility of Lesta, which offered us flexible purchase

software program.

options, this was one of the factors that convinced us to invest in this

We have implemented Gema’s dense phase application system OptiSpray

automation intervention.”

AP01.1 with SIT technology (Smart Inline Technology) only recently and

© ipcm

© HVL Color

One of the two powder centres by GEMA and, on the right, the articulated robot by Lesta for the pre-retouching installed at the entrance of the dense phase coating booth.

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MILAN, IT

ALLIANZ TOWER

© ipcm

The second powder coating booth equipped with traditional Venturi technology and a second articulated robot for the pre-retouching operations.

we are now starting to appreciate its excellent results in terms of finishing and consumption.

PERFECT SINERGY » ITALIAN FACADE CONSTRUCTION » AUSTRIAN SURFACE SOLUTIONS » ANODIZED EFFECT POWDER COATINGS

“The main difference we immediately noticed compared with the Venturi technology provided by the same company is the more uniform film distension all over the panels, which results in a completely different aesthetic outcome. In addition, dense phase pumps operate with a very low transport air flow, which guarantees optimal powder coverage and higher particle penetration capacity due to the absence of rebound effects. Certainly, dense phase

© Southbank Place

pumps are ideal for treating large batches: the applied thickness differs by only a few microns from one spot to another of a panel.

Better distension, in particular, jumps to the eye with glossy finishes, ensuring higher aesthetic yield.”

The team of a large-sized company The last step of the quality leap that has enabled HVL Color to transition from a small business into a structured company was the search for new employees capable of coping with the innovations brought by this Industry 4.0-oriented revamping project. “We aim at becoming a large-sized contract coating company and, in

www.tiger-coatings.com

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

WHEN IT HAS TO BE order to do so, we need to choose the right people for the right roles. This is something that is usually tied to contingent needs, in

PERFECT

small firms. HVL Color has strived to overcome this limitation and invest in qualified personnel not only at the top of the company’s organisational chart, but also in its production departments. This factor has also contributed to improve the quality of our production in both the coating and the assembly and packaging departments, which has also been appreciated by our customer base. This, in turn, is growing so much that we plan to increase our work shifts from a 12-hour one to two 8-hour ones in the near future. We are among the few contractors to have a sales manager and a supply chain manager: this is also a choice made to improve quality and customer satisfaction. The areas dedicated to the production process are very large to ensure our customers storage service and flexible deliveries: we work on a 10,000 m2 are, of which 5,500 m2

HIGH

PERFORMANCE POWDER COATINGS

are covered.”

Growing together with its partners The new coating line has increased HVL Color’s throughput by 25% and reduced its defect rate from 4 to 1.3%. Consumption is

www.tiger-coatings.com

© ipcm

similar that of the old system, despite the increase in the number of heat pumps from 3 to 6 and the installation of 3 thermal electric-power stations. “Thanks to the complete automation of the line, well-devised plant design, and the working teams created by both us and our partners,” states Olivieri, “we can now offer to our customers not only optimal results – in our laboratory, we currently obtain salt spray resistance values of 720 hours for iron products, and even higher values for galvanised steel, HDG steel, electro-galvanised steel – but also the peace of mind guaranteed by a production line that never stops. During the early 2020 lockdown, we have been among the few companies in the sector that never stopped production within the limits imposed

The dense phase pumps.

by the law to permitted activities: our customers who © ipcm

could continue working did not have to stop their business due to a missing key link in their supply chain.

This was very important and the results obtained are proof of this: in 2020, HVL Color achieved record turnover since it has been in operation.

“We have also been fortunate to be joined by several professional partners, ready to take immediate action either in person or remotely, no matter how small the problem may be. Their help has been fundamental to get here and their collaboration will be the lever to strengthen our presence not only in Italy, but also abroad, particularly in France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, where companies such as ours, designed to become contract coating hubs, are highly valued.”

The PLC of the coating line.

© ipcm

Scan the code to view the timelapse of the plant’s construction

Antonio Olivieri, partner and General Manager of HVL Color, with Daniele Fumagalli of Silvi.

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BRAND-NEW

© Wörwag

PPG to Acquire Global Coatings Manufacturer Wörwag PPG announced the acquisition of Wörwag, a global manufacturer of coatings for industrial and automotive applications.

P

PG has reached a definitive agreement to acquire coatings manufacturer Wörwag. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

“Wörwag’s industry expertise in powder and liquid coatings for industrial and automotive applications is highly complementary to PPG’s business, and will help to further expand our product offering,” said Rebecca Liebert, PPG Executive Vice President. “The addition of Wörwag will also enhance PPG’s waterborne, direct-to-metal, liquid and powder coatings offerings, and allow us to further expand current customer distribution in key geographies.”

About Wörwag Wörwag is a family-owned company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, founded in 1918. The company employs about 1,100 people globally and its full year 2020 revenue is expected to be approximately 220 million euros. The company specializes in developing sustainable liquid, powder and film coatings. Wörwag operates locations in Germany, the U.S., China, South Africa, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Poland. © Wörwag

For further information: www.ppg.com

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© Arzuffi

Using reactive sputtering to obtain the required colour.

INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

Arzuffi Fast-Met Metallising Systems for an Unlimited Range of Colours Thanks to Reactive Sputtering Massimo Galbiati Arzuffi Srl – Bernareggio (Monza e Brianza) - Italy

T

info@arzuffisrl.it

he last issue of ipcm®_International Paint&Coating Magazine1

The Fast-Met machines are high vacuum metallising equipment with

included an article presenting the characteristics of the

sputtering and reactive sputtering process. This technology allows

metallising plants belonging to Arzuffi’s Line-Met product

achieving a “colour coating”, or coloured metallisation effect. Their

family. The subdivision of Arzuffi’s production into families is

structure is modular and it can be changed according to customer

necessary because each plant line can be tailored to customer needs,

needs: for example, the metallising chamber can have two doors

while maintaining the processes and technologies of its family. This

or one double-sided door, the magnetron cathode can be rotating

article, on the other hand, delves into the characteristics of the plants

or planar, the piece-holding fixtures can be double or single. The

belonging to the Fast-Met family.

cycle time of this family’s machines is short: from 4 to 9 minutes, depending on the required treatment. Moreover, especially in the

D. Arzuffi, Line-Met: the new, revolutionary concept of metallising plants created

by Arzuffi Srl, in ipcm® International Paint&Coating Magazine no. 66 (November/ December 2020), Vol. XI, pp. 94-96.

1

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presence of a double-sided door, the process can be automated

© Arzuffi

A Fast-Met system with one double-sided door and two fixtures.

through the addition of a robot. This solution allows optimising time

example. The main feature of the sputtering process is the possibility

and space by having a single loading and unloading station. Whichever

to control the thickness of the deposited films based on the required

version is chosen, however, the Arzuffi machines always guarantee the

results. Consequently, it is possible to obtain completely metallic or

compactness and ergonomics that distinguish them.

translucent surfaces and even “play” with these decorative aspects

The metallisation process of Fast-Met plants

depending on the application field.

Alongside conventional sputtering processes, however, Fast-Met is

The Fast-Met systems perform the following process steps: ionic

also an optimal solution for reactive sputtering applications. With

discharge (glow discharge), needed to activate the surfaces for

this technology, it is possible to obtain numerous different hues,

improved adhesion of metal; plasma polymerisation (HMDSO), which

ranging from the typical “aluminium grey” to darker grey obtained

can be carried out before or after the deposition of metal (usually

by depositing chromium, steel, or titanium, up to golden-coloured

aluminium), in order to guarantee anti-corrosion properties; AHC

metallisation obtained by copper alloy deposition. The reactive

(Arzuffi Hard Coating) to change the substrate’s surface tension with

process results from the injection of gases in addition to the standard

the aim of increasing its hardness, thus reducing the amount of scrap

metallisation one (typically argon), aimed at obtaining a series of

parts due to improper handling; and sputtering or reactive sputtering,

colours ranging from gold to red to blue. The most requested effects

which we will discuss below.

by Arzuffi’s customers include “black chrome”, a dark grey tint similar

Sputtering process flexibility

to anthracite, and “gold rose”, one of the latest trends for home decor and electronic devices.

The sputtering technology allows depositing not only aluminium,

Usually, the colour range achieved with metallisation is given by the

which is the typical choice as it is optimal for obtaining reflectivity

material of the metal target used, but with reactive sputtering it is

effects and for decorative purposes, but also several other metals,

possible to obtain different hues, which could not be created with the

from titanium to steel, from copper to gold, from silver to alloys,

deposition of a metal alone. Reactive sputtering is therefore an actual

in order to achieve different effects and hues while enhancing the

additional finishing process, in which the amount of gas injected in a

surfaces with much brighter results than those given by painting, for

given period with a specific vacuum value must be well regulated.

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The deposition process: Arzuffi’s full support

cycle or to quickly switch from one target to another over the course of

The Fast-Met systems’ operation is similar to that of Arzuffi’s PVD

cycles, thus providing incredible process flexibility. A “flipping” system,

sputtering machines, considered among the most reliable in the

exclusive to Arzuffi, enables to replace the target quickly, ergonomically,

market based on the high quality components installed and the

and without the use of forklifts, cranes, overhead cranes, and so on.

advanced software developed by the company’s R&D team. Thanks

The simplified maintenance of Fast-Met systems thus saves time and

to the experience gained over the years, Arzuffi’s technicians and

money.

engineers can offer all their expertise in the surface treatment field to their customers. In the case of reactive sputtering applications, in

The main advantages of Fast-Met systems

particular, Arzuffi supports its customers in finding the most suitable

• High productivity;

gas mixture to achieve their required finishes. In the framework of

• Fast cycles;

a process which is already largely known to the market, Fast-Met

• Process flexibility;

offers a key benefit: the ability to make the final results uniform,

• Treatment homogeneity, uniformity, and repeatability;

homogeneous, and repeatable, guaranteeing the same shade on all

• Customisation options;

the pieces loaded on the fixture.

• Compact layout;

The machine can be equipped with one or more magnetron

• Ease of maintenance;

cathodes. This latter solution is increasingly demanded by the market

• Advanced human machine interface;

because it enables to sputter more than one metal during the same

• Competitive price.

© Arzuffi

A Fast-Met system with two doors and two fixtures.

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INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

© Arzuffi

The main target markets The sectors interested in this technology are mainly the automotive industry, for the creation of logos, lights (car body lighting field), and coloured car exteriors and interiors; the lighting industry, where there is a demand for semi-transparent or coloured effects; the cosmetics industry for tubes, creams, perfume caps, and so on; the fashion industry for buttons, buckles, heels, etc.; household appliances and electronic devices; and the furniture industry for decorations and furnishing accessories, but also chairs, mirrors, and frames.

Manual or fully automatic?

Dürr supplies pre-installed and perfectly matched solutions for a wide range of painting tasks – from spray guns to robot systems. www.verind.it

© Arzuffi

The “flipping” target replacement mechanism devised by Arzuffi.

BRAND-NEW

Scientists Develop Antimicrobial and Anti-Reflective Coating

by Studying Insects’ Eyes Scientists from Russia and Switzerland have developed a biodegradable nanocoating with antimicrobial and anti-reflective properties by studying the nanostructures covering the corneas of the eyes of small fruit flies

S

cientists from Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU, Russia) and

and complex functional nanocoatings.

from University of Geneva, The University of Lausanne, and

The scientist explains that the mechanism underlying the formation

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich teamed up to

of the protective nanostructures on the corneas of Drosophila flies is

conduct an interdisciplinary research project during which they were

a self-organizing process, described by Alan Turing back in 1952 as a

able to artificially reproduce the nanocoating of the corneas of fruit flies

reaction-diffusion mechanism. That is consistent with the mathematical

(Drosophila flies) naturally designed to protect the eyes of the insects

modelling performed during the research. This mechanism is also

from dust particles and shut off the reflection of light.

responsible for the patterns forming, for example, on the fur of a

By investigating these flies, the team learned how to produce a

zebra or a leopard. The nanostructures that protect the corneas of

biodegradable nanocoating with antimicrobial, anti-reflective, and self-

Drosophila eyes are the first established example of Turing patterns at

cleaning properties in a cost-effective and eco-friendly way.

the nanoscale.

How the study was conducted

In the course of the research project, scientists made a detailed characterization of the properties of retinin, as this protein has been

Scientists managed to rebuild the corneal coating of small fruit flies

little studied so far. It turned out that this initially unstructured protein

via direct and reverse bioengineering methods. First, they took the

forms a globular structure when interacting with corneal waxes. Thus,

protective layer apart into its constituent components, which turned

scientists took a look deep into the biophysical nature of the self-

out to be retinin (protein) and corneal wax (lipids), and then reassemble

organization abiding to the Turing model, highlighting an important

it under room temperature conditions, covering glass and plastic

molecular process likely at the core of the self-organization: the

surfaces.

initiation of the protein structuring.

According to Vladimir Katanaev – the head of the research and Head of the Laboratory of Pharmacology of Natural Compounds in the

Fields of application of the new nanocoating

School of Biomedicine of FEFU – any other types of materials can be

This coating might find applications in diverse areas of economics

nanocoated too. Combinations with different types of wax and genetic

including medicine, nanoelectronics, automotive industry, and textile

manipulations of the retinin protein allow the design of highly diverse

industry.

© Wissenschaft

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© Bioengineer

It can wrap up any flat or three-dimensional structure, and, depending on the task, give it anti-reflective, antibacterial, and hydrophobic properties, including self-cleaning.

The self-cleaning property, for example, is a very important feature

Get more from water

for expensive reusable overnight ortho-k lenses that correct the eyesight. Similar anti-reflective coatings – which are being used on the panels of computers, glasses, painting in museums – are created by more complex and costly methods.

“We are able to produce the nanocoating in any required quantity given that its design is more cost-effective compared to the modern methods of manufacturing similar structures. The work with natural components requires no special equipment nor significant energy consumption and constraints of chemical etching, lithography, and laser printing,” explains Vladimir Katanaev. “The development has broad applications. For example, it could be the structural dying of textiles that would change the colour depending on the angle of view. It is possible to create a disguise coat based on metamaterials, an antibacterial layer for medical implants, and a self-cleaning coating for contact lenses and windshields. We also believe that if we

Turn key solutions for industrial wastewater treatment Design and manufacturing of plants and chemicals for industrial wastewater treatment Chemical-physical plants Sludge treatment and compactor systems Ion exchange demineralization systems and reverse osmosis systems Oil separators Filtering systems

reinforce the nanocoating, it might be utilized as a basis of flexible

Batch type systems

miniature transistors prototypes designed for modern electronics.”

Flotation units

What comes next?

Professor Vladimir Katanaev started studying the structure of the eye of Drosophila fly about 10 years ago.

Chemicals and spare parts for water treatment Technical service, support and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants

According to the scientist, the first data were obtained almost impromptu by means of atomic force microscopy. During collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Igor Serdyuk from the Institute of Protein Research (Russian Academy of Sciences), it was discovered that the surface of the corneas of the flies was not smooth but was covered with beautiful patterns of pseudo-ordered nanoscale outgrowths. As it turned out, nanocoatings of this kind were described back in the late 1960s on the surface of the eyes of moths, larger insects to whom these structures also provide an antireflex function, reducing the reflection of incident light to zero and allowing to optimize light perception in the darkness.

At next stages, the research team aims at developing a model of three-dimensional nanostructuring (with nano-funnels, nanocolumns, nanorolls within the layer of the coating), also based on the Turing mechanism. This work would lie at the very frontier of modern scientific knowledge and can have promising fundamental and technological consequences.

In over 15 years, WaterEnergy developed its proved and consolidated industrial water treatment technology specifically designed for chemical and mechanical engineering area

Beware of imitations, buy the original!

The study by professor Vladimir Katanaev and his team was published on the journal Nature.

For further information: www.dvfu.ru/en/

info@waterenergy.it

www.waterenergy.it

SUCCESS STORIES

© J. Wagner GmbH

By means of a laser scan, the workpiece contours are recorded before powder coating.

The gun distances in the booth are optimized accordingly by the automatic gap, height and depth control.

Solutions for Efficient Powder Coating at Wandel GmbH Wandel GmbH, a German company specialising in electrostatic powder coating, choose the automatic systems by WAGNER to increase its throughput and meet the customers’ requirements for increased surface quality and higher coating efficiency also on complex workpieces.

T

he company Wandel GmbH in the German city Rottenburg

In the beginning, Wandel used equipment for manual powder coating.

has specialized in electrostatic powder coating since 40 years

In the course of time, the customers’ requirements for surface

ago. Today, over 60 employees work in 2-shift operation on

quality increased and the workpieces became more complex. Wandel

an area of over 5,000 m². The chemical pre-treatment of workpieces

required reliable coating systems with which the company can react

as preparation for powder coating is just as much a part of the

flexibly to different customer orders. They invested more and more in

company’s activities as complex masking work. Customers include

automated systems - the choice fell on WAGNER.

international suppliers from the mechanical engineering, electrical

After Wandel had already had good experience with WAGNER guns

appliance and automotive industry. The coating spectrum ranges from

and controls, the company decided on automatic systems with the

flat metal parts to various pipe and wire geometries.

plastic booths PrimaCube and SuperCube. These meet the increasing

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SUCCESS STORIES

requirements for speed and number of colour changes and offer a high coating quality.

The automatic gap, height and depth control records the workpiece contours and optimizes the gun distances. This results in a high application efficiency with minimized powder consumption. By using a robot, the degree of automation of the coating process could be increased in most cases so that manual coating is no longer necessary. However, the system has been designed in such a way that a recoater can be used if it is necessary for particularly complex shapes.

During colour change, the injectors, powder hoses and guns are automatically cleaned. The booth can be blown out quickly and easily.

PXS powder centres are used as the central powder supply and colour change system. During colour change the operator is guided through the process

© J. Wagner GmbH

The workpieces are coated in a highly automated process to meet Wandel GmbH’s increasing requirements in terms of speed and number of colour changes.

on the touch screen. Short suction distances, fluidization with vibration

© J. Wagner GmbH

and integrated ultrasonic sieving allow an optimal powder preparation. The innovative injector technology from WAGNER meets the high-quality demands of Wandel with its low-air feeding and high coating efficiency. The change of the long-life collector nozzle is possible in a few seconds and minimizes maintenance time considerably.

By the increasing automation of the production with the coating systems and innovative injector technology from WAGNER the company Wandel sees itself very well positioned to master the challenges of the future.

For further information: www.wagnergroup.com/en/industry/ customerreferences/wandel/ WAGNER’s injector technology enables low-air powder feeding with high coating efficiency.

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ART WITHIN SURFACES

The Lively Spirit of Steel in Viktor Mácha’s Photography Through his photos Viktor Mácha explains us the charm of an industrial production that he feels to belong to the past: are we really among the last generations to have had the privilege of admiring the cold steel transformation into a warm and lively material?

H

ephaestus, the god of fire, is often depicted in ancient art while working on white-hot metal inside his forge, between sparks and gushes. Our minds frequently recall these evocative

images when talking about steel mills, maybe because these factories make it possible to “tame the devil”, as photographer Viktor Mácha says. ipcm® has interviewed this peculiar artist, who has been documenting the innermost aspects of heavy industry for years.

Viktor Mácha was born in 1984 in Prague (Czech Republic). Fascinated from an early age by these “rusty monsters”, where the descendants of Hephaestus and his cyclops work and power such huge plants, since 2006 he has been travelling around the world at his own expense, portraying heavy industrial sites such as iron works, steel works, rolling mills, forges, foundries, and coke plants. Currently, his archive comprises several hundred mills, stretching from the American Midwest to the Asian part of Russian Urals (www.viktormacha.com).

The only aim of these photographs is to objectively document the technological processes linked to steel making and shaping, because it is possible that our generation will be one of the last to experience the fascinating world of dark, rumbling factories, where the reflections of white-hot metal on surfaces reveal the warm and lively soul of cold steel.

You define yourself as an industrial photographer. What made you to choose such a special (and perhaps unprofitable) subject as the industrial sector?

Actually, that self-definition is not correct. It works for public relations managers to get permissions, but to be honest I do not feel like a photographer. Photography is not even my hobby at all. I just fell in love

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© Viktor Mácha

ART WITHIN SURFACES

with the steel industry when I was a child.

It was somewhen in the late 1990s that I found out that the heavy industry would inevitably become part of my life. I was 15 and my parents took me to the Beskid Mountains for the summer holidays.

Thanks to some road works and detours, we suddenly ended up in the town of Trinec, with big dark mill rising above the riverbank. Even though I had not the slightest idea what was that rusty monster on the other side, I knew from the very first moment that this was it. It was just something completely different. That smell, the smoke, the rumbling sound, everything. Few years passed and the landscape begun to change, the time of the steel dinosaurs had come. And I simply could not let the good old mills fade away so easily. So, I bought my very first camera in 2007 and without any photographic education or skills I walked into the nearest plant to document it. And that is what I have been doing until today, only travelling much further and spending way more than I did before. I have completely lost control over it.

I cannot tell you why I chose the steel industry, there is no rational explanation. All I can tell you is that every time I see a blast furnace on a far horizon, I am getting butterflies in my stomach immediately.

What is the relationship between art and industry and how do you translate it into your creations?

Creations... I do not create anything. When I enter a mill, all scenes are ready and perfect. All I need to do is pressing the camera shutter. It is that easy.

But what is the relation between art and industry? There are not many © Viktor Mácha

© Viktor Mácha

questions that I find so difficult, congratulations! Without any doubt, art is the universal language. Even if you cannot speak that language, you can understand it at least a bit when you listen carefully. On the other side, there is the steel industry. The true art of steel making and shaping. Giant factories with miles of pipes, cables, dust, heat, and tiny ant-like workers operating the chaos. Not fully understandable on the very first sight. Simply too many things are happening together. I am way too far from calling myself an artist, but the duty of those who are more talented than me is to step in and start making the industry understandable.

The process of iron and steel making is utterly fascinating and beautiful, but after years spent acting secretively, the steel industry has become suspicious. And what is suspicious has no place in common society.

The beauty of steel must be rediscovered. Art has the power to make it happen.

Viktor Mácha and some of its photos showing the fascinating world of steel mills.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

109

Among your works, there is a specific and important project

absolutely overwhelming, it is the archetypal process of creation, the

addressed to the steel mills. What fascinates you about this

taming of the Devil. You can clearly witness the process of material

world?

transformation. Is this not fascinating enough?

You probably mean The Beauty of Steel project...

Well, what fascinates me the most is the fact that this beauty is still

What catches your attention and makes you decide the right

almost completely ignored. Common society has learned to live with

moment to take the photo?

the popular prejudice that the industry is ugly and needs to be wiped

After almost thirteen years of continual documentation of the world’s

out by all means. That is partly understandable. All that most people

heavy industries, I am not visiting the mills for some spectacular shots.

see are just some weird, dark factory halls from the outside. Not many

My approach is strictly typological, so I am taking more or less the

have had the privilege to step inside one of them.

same photographs in every plant.

I still remember my very first visit to an active steel plant. When I

It is the search for the ideal form of a blast furnace, an oxygen

entered the grey cast house, the furnace was just being tapped

converter, or a rolling stand. The only important thing for me is the

and the whole hall was flooded by an intense orange glow. That

action, the orange glow. When the blazing piece of steel is formed by

liquid sun changed the scenery completely. It was not just a boring

the cold steel machinery. That is the spirit. Shutdown plants never

factory hall anymore. It was a real temple of work. Steel making is

interested me.

Š Viktor Måcha

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ART WITHIN SURFACES

OptiCenter® All-in-One Outstanding application performance

Can you point out a particular work or artist that has inspired you?

As a big admirer of industrial art, I definitely need to mention Czech painter and graphic artist Josef Drha (1912-2009).

He devoted himself to industrialisation in Ostrava and made some extraordinary paintings capturing the basic industrial processes. However, his legacy is still waiting to be discovered by vast audience. Or Ukrainian artist Yuri Sergeevich Komendant (1926-2009), who created many fabulous paintings inspired by the heavy industry in Donbass without the typical pathos of socialist realism.

Among the photographers, I cannot forget the famous couple Bernd and Hilla Bechers, A. Aubrey Bodine, or Czech industrial photographer František Krasl.

© Viktor Mácha

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HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Walther Trowal Expands in the United States Georg Harnau Walther Trowal GmbH & Co. KG, Haan - Germany

g.harnau@walther-trowal.de

Walther Trowal has significantly expanded the facilities of its subsidiary in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA), that was founded in 2005. It now offers its customers in North- and South-America just-in-time delivery times for the mass finishing media and compounds. In the substantially upgraded Process Development Lab experienced and knowledgeable application engineers assist the customers to optimize the surface finishing solutions for their work pieces.

W

ith the move into a substantially larger facility the Walther

their work pieces in Walther Trowal machinery and, jointly with the

Trowal LLC in Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA), has now

company’s application engineers, improve their finishing processes.

eliminated the disadvantages of two separate physical

The lab is not only equipped with mass finishing and shot blast

locations. With a total area of more than 4,000 m² all the company’s

machinery but also coating systems for mass produced small parts.

business functions are now under one roof: Sales, service and

In the Tech & Training Centre Walther Trowal offers application and

administration and a threefold larger warehouse area for machines,

training seminars, which are primarily attended by distributors but

compounds and media.

also by customers from the automobile, machinery building and

Walther Trowal has also expanded the Process Development Lab

aerospace industry.

that is now equipped with a variety of different finishing machines. It

With the new facility Ken Raby, Vice President and General Manager

allows the American customers to quickly run processing trials with

of the Walther Trowal LLC, can now serve his North- and South-

© Walther Trowal

All Walther Trowal business functions are now located under one roof on an area of more than 4,000 m².

In the Tech & Training Centre Walther Trowal offers a wide range of application and training seminars.

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HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

© Walther Trowal

The Process Development Lab allows the customers to quickly run processing trials with their own work pieces in Walther Trowal equipment.

American customers even better: “We have significantly expanded

coating equipment, as well as compounds and plastic media, at its

our warehouse capacity. This enables us to ship standard media and

headquarters in Germany. Ceramic grinding and polishing media are

compounds to our customers from Grand Rapids just-in-time. In

still produced in Great Britain at a facility in Stoke-on-Trent.

addition, we are stocking numerous mass finishing machines, which can now be shipped instantaneously.

About Walther Trowal

Several application and sales engineers at the Grand Rapids office

Since 1931 Walther Trowal has been developing and producing

support the already existing nine distributors in the United States and

systems for the refinement of surfaces. Initially focusing exclusively on

Canada, including the subsidiary company in Queretaro, Mexico. At

mass finishing – the term “Trowalizing” originated from the company’s

this location the Walther Trowal LLC founded the Walther Trowal S.A.

cable address “Trommel Walther” – Walther Trowal has continuously

de C.V. in January 2020. With initially three employees this office has

expanded its product portfolio.

also a test lab and a sizable stock of Trowal products.

Over time the company has developed a broad range of machinery

Christoph Cruse, general sales manager at Walther Trowal in Haan

and systems for mass finishing, shot blasting and coating of mass

(Germany), explains why the company is further expanding its

produced small components.

presence in the Americas: “We see a continuously growing flow of

With the invention of new systems like, for example, drag finishing

customer enquiries and purchase orders from North- as well as

and the development of special finishing methods for 3D printed

South-America. Both markets are undergoing a steady growth. With

components, the company has proven its innovative capabilities again

short response times, a large warehouse capacity and intensive on-

and again.

site technical support, our American customers have perceived us for

Walther Trowal develops and implements complete surface treatment

quite a while as a local player in the field of surface finishing”.

solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into linked production

Walther Trowal produces all its mass finishing, shot blasting and

systems existing at the customers. This includes the entire process

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

113

technology, perfectly adapted to the specific surface finishing requirements of the work pieces: Equipment and the respective consumables always complement each other in a perfect manner.

Each individual work piece and each manufacturing process must meet special technical requirements. That is why the experienced process engineers in our test lab, in close cooperation with the customers, develop the optimal process technology for the finishing task at hand. The result: work piece surfaces that meet exactly the required specifications with short processing times and a high degree of consistent, repeatable results.

Walther Trowal is one of the few manufacturers who develops and produces all machines and mass finishing consumables © Walther Trowal

in-house including ceramic and plastic grinding and polishing media as well as compounds.

In the Process Development Lab the customers have the opportunity to test the Walther Trowal equipment with their own work pieces.

The company’s equipment range also includes all kinds of peripheral equipment

© Walther Trowal

for handling the work pieces like lift and tip loaders, conveyor belts and roller conveyors, in addition, special driers for mass finishing applications and, last-but-not-least, systems for cleaning and recycling of the process water.

With its exchange program for wear items like work bowls, which are part of a continuous recycling program, Walther Trowal conserves valuable resources and, thus, makes a significant contribution towards sustainability in the field of industrial production. Quick technical support and the global repair and maintenance service ensure high uptimes for our equipment.

Walther Trowal serves customers in a wide range of different industries all over the world, for example, automotive, aerospace, medical engineering and wind power.

The Process Development Lab is also equipped with machinery for the application of coatings on mass produced small parts.

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ZOOM ON EVENTS

COVERED by ipcm®

The First Digital Conference of ipcm®: Architecture and Design of the Future.

Natural vs. Engineered Materials On 2 December 2020, ipcm® held its first fully digital conference on a topic of great interest to the finishing sector, aimed at a target group that has been among the readers of ipcm® since its inception: architects and specifiers.

W

ith the title “Architecture and Design of the Future. Natural

finished aluminium, composite materials, and powdered finishes) are

vs. Engineered Materials”, the conference presented

deceptive.

a series of cutting-edge technologies for sustainable

The conference saw the participation of a large number of speakers

architecture and design solutions.

from both the paint and coating sector (Marco Misani from Salchi

Imitating means exhibiting characteristics similar to those of another,

Metalcoat, Guido Pozzoli from Stardust, Klaus Karner from Tiger

usually more precious object or product. This term can have both

Drylac Italia, and Andrea Perelli from Pulverit) and the academic,

a positive and negative connotation but, in the construction sector,

architecture, and construction worlds (Arch. Massimiliano Mandarini

the negative one often, and wrongly, prevails. This happens due to a

from Biophilic Architect, Andrea Brotini from Marcegaglia, and Prof.

“clash” between natural materials (such as wood, marble, copper, and

Eng. Stefano Rossi from the University of Trento).

iron) and artificial, chemically engineered materials: in architecture

Lots of interesting topics and suggestions were discussed, including

and design, the latter are asked to imitate the finishes of the former,

the need for harmony between nature and engineering, for dialogue

which are considered more precious precisely because they are

between old and new, and for innovation aimed at improving our

natural.

quality of life both indoor and outdoor.

Contemporary construction and design, however, have to take into

The half-day conference was also attended by users from the metal

account numerous demands that are not compatible with the use

architecture sector as well as from the architecture, engineering, and

of natural materials, successfully used up until today, but not always

urban planning offices of a few Italian provincial capitals.

able to meet the current criteria for sustainability, anti-seismic

The talks authorised for broadcasting are available on the YouTube

construction, energy efficiency, durability with no or little maintenance,

channel and the social pages of @myipcm.

and, therefore, cost efficiency. Furthermore, in both design and architecture, engineered materials enable very important functions to be added to surfaces.

It is the duty of the architecture and design sectors of the future to use sustainable materials, with a lower environmental impact than other products in their category, produced with lower levels of pollutant emissions and energy consumption, with the lowest possible amount of toxic chemicals or pollutants, and devised to ensure easy disposal and recycling of their raw materials. Finally, they have the task of offering additional functionalities, meeting the needs of their times (anti-microbial, photocatalytic, anti-graffiti), in an effective way.

The aim of this conference was exploring the potential of new materials in architecture and design for energy-efficient, sustainable, lightweight, earthquake-resistant buildings and for hygienic and smart furniture, devices, and components, thus dispelling the idea that these new materials (such as pre-painted metal, sublimated and imitation-

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Scan the code to access our playlist with the available talks

Š eos Mktg&Communication Srl

THE MARKETING CORNER

Social Media Trends 2021: The Ultimate Guide Barbara Pennati eos Mktg&Communication Srl

info@eosmarketing.it

By analysing the Hootsuite and Hubspot/Talkwalker reports, we have identified 10 key trends that will guide 2021 social content and strategies and that brands will need to take into account to set up an effective communication with their audience.

W

hen we talked about the digital trends of 2020 last year, no

one would have imagined such a leap in the use of these tools,

one could’ve imagined what 2020 had in store for us.

caused by the need to stay in touch when the word of order was

The pandemic and the consequent economic crisis, the

social distancing.

rampant social protests, the pressing climate situation - all these

Surely Covid-19 more than any other factor has acted as a catalyst

factors have not only influenced the approach of companies to digital,

for many ideas, events and initiatives that perhaps would not have

and in particular to social networks, but also how social networks

occurred otherwise, and we must expect that some dynamics

adapted to cope with new needs.

and repercussions generated by this situation will also have an

For instance, although a stronger growth in video content and an

impact in 2021.

increase in Live or Stories usage were already expected last year, no

Like every year, global platforms such as Hootsuite, Hubspot and

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THE MARKETING CORNER

Talkwaker analyse the market situation, collecting interviews and

would not want to find our brand. Most people use social media to

feedback from marketers and industry experts in order to publish

find fun content and to inform themselves. Also, Hootsuite lets us

reports and projections on what awaits us in 2021.

know that 68% of people don’t think brands or companies are sharing

In this article, we present 10 key points to consider when setting up a

interesting content.

social media marketing and communication strategy in 2021.

Brands that wish to stand out in 2021 will have to find creative ways to

1 - The socially conscious new generations

plug into the conversation instead of trying to lead it, creating content that breaks through the wall of indifference.

Contingent events such as Covid-19 and social rifts have led many

Adopting conversational marketing strategies can help go from

brands to take a stand, adopting specific policies.

theory to practice, by building relationships based on personalized

Issues of common interest such as education, society, politics, equity,

one-to-one content, adopting a more conversational and human

the climate are important to the younger generations and are widely

tone, combining artificial intelligence with a more empathic form of

discussed on social media. These topics also guide the purchasing

communication.

decisions of these generations, which are growing and will soon enter

In 2021 it is reasonable to expect a greater commitment from brands

the working world, increasing their spending capacity.

and platforms to connect more with consumers, also thanks to the

Goal-oriented companies will need to take these factors into account

use of artificial intelligence. Promotions will become less forced

and take a stand accordingly. But be careful: adopting a socially

and will derive more from listening to the audience, from natural

conscious marketing strategy is not something that can be falsified,

conversations and consolidated relationships with consumers.

imitated or built overnight. Giving in to social pressure has led many

Brand-wide, it is good to review your performance metrics, keeping

brands to be defined as hypocrites, especially when compared to

in mind the normal behaviour of users. In fact, most people on

brands like Patagonia that have made social and environmental

Facebook share 1 post every 30 days on average. This should make

responsibility their USP.

us understand how likes and shares do not always represent the real

Therefore, if the company does not have a strategy that is truly

interest of a user. In this sense, reach and engagement are more

oriented towards these goals, any marketing effort will be useless and

realistic metrics, especially if the engagement is later translated into

above all harmful to the company’s reputation.

concrete actions, such as the request of information.

Social media can help us to listen to what consumers ask, want and consider important when it comes to purchasing decisions.

3 - The continued importance of customer experience

But the decision to take a stand in this regard must come from the

Listening to your audience also means focusing once again on

company’s management, which must define a functional strategy,

customer experience.

oriented towards the goals. This strategy should not be made of mere

In fact, in recent years we have witnessed a shift in focus from

statements, nor impromptu but it should carry real meaning and be

improving the customer experience to seeking a higher ROI. However,

as authentic as it gets.

transactions do not make a brand memorable or lead to long-term

What to do then? As we specified when talking about LinkedIn

growth. Moreover, today more than ever, it is necessary to recreate

(www.eosmarketing.it/en/linkedin-business-2020), the first step

on social media the costumer experience that has been lacking in

is to create behavioural policies for social media, an even more

physical touchpoints due to social distancing and closures imposed by

fundamental tool in times of crisis. If these policies already exist, a

the pandemic.

review of them will make employees and in particular the social team

This will not only raise the social value but will also help differentiate

more prepared and confident in managing interactions with the

our products and services from all other advertisers (which are

audience – an audience that we should listen to. And this brings us

growing, by the way).

directly to the next trend.

A success story on this matter is presented by Clarins, a company of

2 - Social listening

skin care products, forced by the pandemic to close all its physical stores – which traditionally represent the number one source of sales

As already mentioned, when the pandemic broke out, many brands

and profits – shifting its focus on e-commerce.

rushed to change their communication strategies, focusing all

To make up for the lack of support and purchase advice notoriously

attention on Covid-19 and related topics and ending up adopting an

available in-store, Clarins relied on her beauty coach Rebecca Jones

almost sentimental language, which became tiring in the long run.

who, directly from her home through Instagram Stories, shared advice

You cannot appear disconnected from reality but neither can you

on beauty products and routines, based on types of skin and the most

forcefully insert yourself into conversations in which consumers

common needs. The home-based and DIY nature of these stories

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

119

Š Mitja Kobal

Fridays for future.

allowed consumers to identify with Rebecca, leading to incredible

Despite this, the Boomers have often been excluded from the

engagement results.

communication targets. One of the culprits of this error is the

It is therefore essential to go back to the basics of social networks:

industry’s bad habit of chasing novelty rather than effectiveness. For

to stay connected, in this case with your customers. To do this in

example, TikTok has been one of the most discussed novelties and

a period in which in-store experiences are limited or will have to

while its influence is set to grow, Hootsuite lets us know that based on

be rethought, it is important to accompany the online shopping to

the opinions of its interviewees, TikTok ranks among the least effective

experiences similar to those that could be done in-store, in order

platforms at the moment.

to make the quality of the product more tangible. This can be done

So, how to fix this? As with any target, not everyone is necessarily

for example through Live on social media, employee advocacy and

interested in your brand. However, rather than excluding an entire

collaborations with influencers.

generation simply based on age (and stereotypes), it is better to opt for a specific, interest-based targeting that does not necessarily

The Baby Boomers case

include everyone but that does not exclude Boomers altogether

Speaking of customer experience and social listening, in 2021

either, since Boomers as well have hobbies and passions, just like

many marketers will have to abandon stereotypes and remedy a

everyone else.

mistake perpetrated for too long: the exclusion of the Baby Boomers Particularly active on Facebook, as every Millennial child will confirm,

4 - The four Cs that will guide the conversation tone on social media

this generation that groups those born between 1946 and 1964, has

The repercussions of Covid-19 will not end with the arrival of the

become over time more and more tech and social savvy. Moreover,

vaccine but will also affect the future. Our consumer habits have been

70% of internet users aged 55-64 say they have bought something

influenced and changed by the pandemic and will almost certainly

online in the past month.

never be the same as in the pre-pandemic situation.

generation from marketing targets.

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THE MARKETING CORNER

In light of this, according to the report by Hubspot and Talkwalker, the tone of 2021 will be determined by four Cs: Community, Contactless, Cleanliness, Compassion - words that have become trendy and widely discussed on social networks.

Consumers seek reassurance and information about their concerns from brands.

Brands will therefore have to be able to provide an answer to these concerns and requests for information- However, before becoming part of these conversations, brand should take into account the relevance of their communication in relation to the topic.

The four Cs will have to shape brand communication in 2021, adapting to changing consumer concerns.

Based on all the trends mentioned so far, brands will need to connect more with their consumers, listening and analysing their conversations to understand their concerns, and provide answers that allow them to address these issues more effectively.

5 - The power of (remixed) user-generated content The rise of TikTok has certainly given new shape to user-generated content, electing it as one of the most effective forms of digital communication.

What makes this new type of user generated content really a trend to focus on (and expect more from the future, also considering the success of the recently launched Instagram Reels) is the possibility for users to remix content, personalizing it in the most appropriate way to express themselves and their personality.

In fact, we no longer speak of a mere act of sharing a viral post: people’s contributions are taken up by other users, who make them their own, customizing the format and transforming a trend into something new.

This type of content was even more successful during the lockdown imposed by Covid-19, providing a way of connecting and

● ● ● ●

Conveyors Conveyor chains Special components Automations

communicating with other people, creating new content without having to leave the house.

Brands can fit into this context by providing new formats and templates on which users can base their content. This will allow for a more organic connection between brands and consumers.

Moreover, expect more and more apps and social channels to adapt to accommodate this type of content, while also offering VR and AR options.

6 - The commitment to stop digital disinformation The term fake news has entered everyone’s vocabulary. And as many already know, fake news, disinformation and conspiracy theories are widely spread on social media.

If we were already aware of the dangers and controversies related to fake news by social giants - with Twitter following the hard line

Se.Po. di Pozzi Sergio Via Concordia 43 23854 Olginate (LC) T.+39 0341605056 info@sepoitalia.it www.sepoitalia.it

to fight them and Facebook choosing a more cautious approach - the

forms of communication, especially among the youngest. In fact, it is

coronavirus pandemic has certainly given a boost to the efforts

estimated that 55% of people aged 13-25 exchange memes every week.

of both brands and social platforms to fight fake news and the

They are certainly a fun, sometimes irreverent, form of communication,

overall disinformation, as we discussed when we talked about

which offered a relief and a form of escapism from the situation

how the Coronavirus has changed the digital world

generated by Covid-19. However, as it often happens with the most

(www.eosmarketing.it/en/coronavirus-digital-world).

popular forms of communication, memes can also be exploited to

2021 (and we bet the years to come, as well) will be marked by this

influence online users with malicious purposes, especially when they go

continuous joint effort.

hand in hand with disinformation, which is growing rapidly.

All hot topics such as politics, the economy and Covid-19 itself are at

The Meme situation

risk of manipulation, even through memes. In the coming months and

Why do we talk about digital disinformation in correlation with memes?

years, we must expect memes to be used more and more to persuade

Well, memes have become one of the most powerful and popular

consumers.

The impact of memes does not only affect key issues such as those mentioned above but also brands. If on the one hand brands exploit memes to communicate with the language of their audience, also sharing those generated by the community itself, on the other, brands will have to pay more and more attention to minimize the propaganda potential of the medium.

While waiting for new regulations for this type of content (which also raises copyright concerns), let’s expect an ever-increasing monitoring of this format, both by the platforms and by the brands.

7 - The charm of nostalgia marketing How many of you born in the 90s like me like to think back to the hours spent playing Super Mario Bros on the Game Boy Color, the exchange of Pokemon cards, the hours spent listening to Spice Girls tapes with the Walkman?

Whether your tastes meet mine or your year of birth is different from mine, each generation has memories linked to moments, objects, customs of a certain period, which bring to mind carefree moments.

The last few years saw a rise of this nostalgia – just think of the several (and more or less successful) reboots of productions that have gone down in history or new tv shows such as Stranger Things, which gives a nod to an entire generation who misses the 80s and its customs.

In times of uncertainty and economic recession like the one we are experiencing, the resort to past memories and nostalgia is even more frequent and for many it represents an attempt to connect to happier times and distract ourselves from the current situation.

It should therefore come as no surprise that 2021 will see an increase in nostalgia marketing strategies, able to connect positive emotions to a brand, giving it a sentimental connotation.

Stories associated with the “better days” theme, content that revolves around classic elements, re-editions of now defunct products or content presented in “old school” style - the formats that brands can exploit are many.

Netflix-Meme.

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What we must keep in mind if we want to adopt similar strategies is that

THE MARKETING CORNER

nostalgia marketing only works for one generation at a time, precisely

through platforms such as Twitch or YouTube, players connect with

because of the close link with the historical period.

each other, sharing experiences.

In fact, Talkwalker lets us know that people who identify as gamers

8 - The return of traditional marketing

(citing this in their social bio) rose from 31.1 million in 2019 to 41.2

Those who read our articles know how many times we have

million in 2020, marking a + 32%.

mentioned that there is no perfect and always effective marketing

If on the one hand many companies have already understood and

strategy: the habits of consumers and online users change and adapt

exploited the potential offered by the gamer community (i.e. Warner

to trends and contingent situations and this is why it is important that

Bros, which launched the first trailer of Nolan’s latest film, Tenet,

our marketing strategies are flexible.

through the Fortnite game), on the other hand, many game franchises

We have already talked about how the Covid-19 pandemic has

will go beyond their origins, building and expanding their community

changed the habits of online users. Today we are given another fact:

more and more, even beyond the gameplay.

the more traditional marketing strategies – such as newsletters and

Even the social platforms themselves seem to be oriented in this

podcasts – have returned to fill an information gap.

direction: Facebook will soon launch Facebook Horizon

The conclusion that can be drawn from this is that brands will have to

(www.oculus.com/facebook-horizon), a virtual place in which users can

focus more on offering quality content, able to fill the aforementioned

meet, build their community, interact and play.

gap, focusing more on content rather than style.

10 - Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are here to stay

9 - Social media meet gaming

We often read about declining platforms (how many times have you

With the lockdown, more and more people have used video games

heard this about Twitter?) or about new platforms in full swing (does

as a distraction, also marking a strong growth in communities and

TikTok ring a bell?). However, the truth is that, if you analyse the data,

online forums. What may surprise you is that the keywords linked to

the platforms that after a decade and despite the different targets

these communities are not so much related to games per se, but to

continue to have no equal are three: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

the social relationships that derives from them, to playing together:

Part of the success of these three platforms is their ability to adapt

© Netflix Life

Stranger Things 80s nostalgia.

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123

Š youtube

Tenet movie trailer premiere in Fortnite Party Royale game.

to any situation, promptly responding to emerging user needs through

2021 also promises a return to basics under many points of view: not

new features and formats.

only will the importance of the consumer experience be rediscovered

So, even if they won’t be the same platforms we use today, let’s expect

with respect to sales and ROI (which will remain important in any case),

to see these three platforms dominate the scene over the next few

but more and more attention will also be given to the ability of a brand

years too, probably under different guises. What brands will have to do

to social listening and create a real connection with their audience. The

is know how to adapt each and every time to these new guises.

authenticity of the stand brands will take on social issues, as well as their ability to adapting to new formats and new consumer habits will

Summing up

be pivotal as well.

What we can deduct from these trends is that the leitmotiv of 2021 will

The year ahead will certainly not be easy and the feeling is that of

be Consumer is king: brands that will fully understand their consumers -

having to ponder our strategic choices with even greater attention. That

their motivations, needs, conversations - and take decisive actions based

said, a truly authentic, consumer-facing approach is likely to reward our

on these intuitions, will be the ones to survive the turmoil that awaits us.

efforts.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

26/28 May 2021 - Milan

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SPECIALIZED TRAINING

The Professional Training Courses of ipcm® Academy: The Opinion of a Trainee From an interview with Manuel Zecca Process Technologist at Verniciatura Industriale Srl, Piano di Follo (La Spezia), Italy

We continue our in-depth analysis of the training courses offered by ipcm® Academy with an interview to one of the first students to obtain the qualification of Industrial Surface Finishing Process Technologist, the new professional role recently included in the Framework of Professional Standards of the Lombardy Region.

F

or over ten years now, ipcm® Academy, the training division of

Technologist, now recognised at the Italian and European levels.

our publishing house, has been committed to filling the gaps

Manuel Zecca, Process Technologist at Verniciatura Industriale Srl

in the technical-professional training opportunities offered to

(Piano di Follo, La Spezia, Italy), has illustrated the peculiarities of the

the strategic sector of coating. After our interview to ipcm® Academy

course, emphasising that it is fundamental for an operator of our

director, Paolo Rami, for this article we have chosen to change

industry to find a training structure capable of addressing all technical

perspective by asking a few questions to one of the first students

aspects of the processes involved and conveying its instructors’ specific

to obtain the certification of Industrial Surface Finishing Process

skills in a way that is applicable in daily work activities.

© ipcm

Trainees during ipcm® Academy courses.

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

What features of the training course did

Were the covered topics easily

the world of work, after finishing a vocational

you most appreciate?

understandable?

school or a university diploma or degree

I have highly appreciated its structure,

The course was divided into 12 days for a

course.

conceived to guarantee easy and convenient

total of 100 hours of training. Each day covers

participation especially for those who, like

a specific phase of the coating process in

You hold the role of process manager

me, already work in a company. The choice

approximately 8 hours. Classes usually end

within your company. Have you had

to hold the lessons on Thursdays and Fridays

at 4:00 p.m. and, in the following hour, the

the opportunity to apply the concepts

has enabled me to organise my work by

teacher checks if the concepts explained have

learned in the course and, if so, how?

distributing it over the remaining three days of

been correctly understood. If this is not the

I am convinced that it is the duty of any

the week, without affecting my productivity.

case, there is still time for further clarification.

technical manager to frequently keep up-to-

Given the specificity of the topics covered

Generally, I never got home after class with

date on the operational aspects of the tasks

and the high degree of competence of

any doubts.

for which they are responsible. This enables

the teachers, I would say this is more than

Furthermore, not only does the course review

them to cope with the various issues that can

a refresher course, but rather an actual

in detail all stages of the surface treatment

arise in a paintshop, but also to interface with

vocational training school. Moreover, the

process, but every topic is also examined from

the increasingly demanding customers with a

choice of forming classes with a reduced

the basics to the most complex aspects, so

proper technological knowledge level.

number of participants favours direct student-

that even non-experts can fully understand

This is the reason why I decided to attend

teacher interaction, which, in turn, helps make

the subject matter. This is why I would also

ipcmŽ Academy’s training course: I wanted to

both teaching and learning more fluid.

recommend it to those who have just entered

use my increased expertise to present myself

UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE

065/2019

LMRX19RS1

with better, more complete know-how to all

visits, and preparing plant and equipment

who are just beginning to approach the

stakeholders, from colleagues to clients.

purchase documents.

world of work. As this is a completely new professional role, I find it difficult to grasp

My mindset enables me to acquire theoretical notions and apply them with

The Lombardy Region has officially

how this recognition will reflect on my career

ease in my daily work activities. The two days

recognised the new profession of

path, but it surely is further legitimisation of

of practical lessons included in the course

Industrial Surface Finishing Process

my expertise.

also offer the opportunity to apply in a real

Technologist. Therefore, you have had

Finally, also the preparation to the course’s

environment what you have learnt in class.

the opportunity to conclude the course

final exam has enabled me to better

The day devoted to the documentation

with a final exam that made you the

understand which topics were more difficult

that a technical manager must handle was

first to achieve this certification. What

for me and for which I thought I was better

another plus of this course, as this topic is

are your thoughts on this?

prepared: the exam is certainly the most

not always addressed in depth elsewhere.

This is certainly an added value for such a

effective way to take stock of all the work

In fact, the amount of documents we

complete course as that of ipcm® Academy.

done... which will not stop there. I am ready

have to manage in our companies is often

I had not planned to obtain this certification,

to take more ipcm® Academy courses in

overlooked, perhaps because it is considered

also because I was qualified when I had

future to keep up-to-date and delve into

a secondary aspect of our daily work. The

already finished the lessons. However, I

the strategic issues related to my job role. I

daylong lesson devoted to this issue even

think it can open up many opportunities

believe that continuous learning keeps my

includes a useful hands-on test of drafting

not only for those who are already active

mind sharp, a key aspect for facing my long,

control documents, simulating inspection

in our industry, but also for young people

exciting career path ahead.

About ipcm® Academy ipcm® Academy is the training division of the ipcm®_International Paint&Coating magazine, a specialised journal for the surface treatment field. It has been training industrial surface finishing specialists since 2011. Its classroom courses are held by highly trained teachers with many years of experience in the field of surface treatments, and they include both a theoretical and a practical part, where the trainees are involved in quality control simulations.

In June 2020, the Subcommittee of the Lombardy Region officially recognised the new profession of Industrial Surface Finishing Process Technologist and included it in the Framework of Professional Standards of the Lombardy Region. The recognition of this new professional role was obtained thanks to the partnership with the ASP Mazzini Institute (Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy), a well-established local professional training body, and to the active collaboration of Paolo Rami, a consultant, the director of the ipcm® Academy, and an industrial finishing expert, who defined the specifications and requirements of the role.

Who is this course for?

• coating operators; • department managers; • technical sales employees of paint manufacturing companies; • quality control managers; • unemployed people; • workers 18 years of age or older seeking a vocational specialisation.

For further information: www.ipcmacademy.com

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N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© ipcm

Manuel Zecca.

Co-Located with

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THE MARKETING CORNER

Disruption in Technical Communication: ipcm® OnAir, a Television Format Devoted to Technological Innovation Alessia Venturi, ipcm

®

When the background noise subsides, we become ready to listen.

with a format designed to capture the attention, but above all the

Nothing more than this sentence properly illustrates the

imagination of every company’s target audience, even if at a distance.

communication and visibility needs of companies at this time

An exclusive format, never before offered by any other magazine in

dominated by physical distancing. We are living in an era in which

our sector, which combines real and virtual elements in a 3D setting

all forms of “physical” brand promotion, such as events, trade fairs,

and offers the chance to interact with an audience, in-person or

conferences, open days, etc., are banned and the silence is deafening.

remotely.

The need for promotion, on the other hand, has far from ceased.

Quite the opposite is true: we need ventures that stand out for their

ipcm® OnAir – broadcasting innovation

originality, effectiveness, and innovation degree.

With its OnAir project, ipcm® aims at creating television shows

How can a company increase brand awareness, communicate its

focussing on the latest innovations in the surface coating and finishing

innovations, and promote its identity when all in-person events are

industry. The virtual meetings will be recorded in a soundstage in

cancelled, uncertainty reigns in the field of trade shows, and “live”

Milan, Italy. Here, an ipcm®-branded 3D virtual environment will be

exchange and networking events are prohibited?

created in which the sponsoring companies will be able to record

ipcm has found an answer in the spectacularisation of information,

a video of approximately one hour. The aim will be to present their

®

BROADCASTING INNOVATION. 130

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

THE MARKETING CORNER

Example of a virtual set.

technological content by exploiting the international prestige of ipcm®.

Tech-Talks: event features

The television shows will be then broadcast through ipcm ’s channels:

• 4 speakers with 40-50 minutes of time each

YouTube, website, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Individual

• 1 presenter/moderator who will introduce the event and the most

companies will also be able to use their own recordings on their

salient issues, present each speaker, and animate the debate and

®

channels and to extract short videos or video segments for later use,

interaction with the audience

in line with their own promotion strategies (e.g. at future trade shows

• Presence of 5 users in person and 2-3 remotely connected ones (pre-

and events or on their own digital channels).

recorded speeches)

Interested companies have two options to access ipcm _OnAir tv

• Involvement of a representative of a trade association related to the

format: by organizing an exclusive event on their own or to take part

theme of the day

to ipcm _Tech-Talks.

• Each company presentation will have a schedule that will include

®

®

audience interaction and, optionally, videos and Power Point

ipcm®_Tech-Talks

presentations.

Within the project of ipcm _OnAir tv format, ipcm _Tech-Talks

Do not let physical distancing keep you from communicating your

is a technological-content show, which leverages the television

company’s mission, vision, values, strategy, technology, and identity!

®

®

format of virtual meetings and digital broadcast channels to reach a professional, specialised audience. This will include a series of thematic days, each focussing on a different topic related to the surface treatment sector.

For more information about costs, technical details and to

Each Tech-Talk will be broadcast with a fixed frequency set by ipcm®.

participate to the project, please contact info@ipcm.it

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

131

STANDARD & LEGISLATION - UCIF Informs

The Year of the SCIP Database Marcello Zinno UCIF – Italian Surface Treatment Equipment Manufacturers’ Association, Milan, Italy

info@ucif.net

T

he Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL), performing consultancy activities

for the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), presented some updates on the SCIP database during the Group’s 37th meeting held last November.

The SCIP database is a database of Substances of Concern in Articles, as such or in complex objects (Products), active since January 5, 2021. During the meeting, the launch of Version 1 of the SCIP dissemination portal with basic functionality was defined. Once the EU Water Framework Directive has been transposed into national laws, the Member States’ competent dob

©A

authorities will be asked to ensure

ock

e St

uniform implementation of the SCIP obligations across the European Union and to further raise awareness of these obligations by promoting supporting materials and providing advice where needed.

ANIMA, the industrial federation representing the Italian companies

tools for submitting notifications, simplified

From January 2021, indeed, any company

in the mechanical sector within

notifications, and the use of references.

that produces, assembles, imports, or

Confindustria (the General

ECHA also provided a series of useful ideas

distributes products within the European

Confederation of Italian Industry),

for companies, from an invitation to consult

Union must submit item and product

invited all its members to participate

the supporting materials prepared on the

information to ECHA, with particular regard

in a webinar organised directly by

SCIP database to more detail suggestions,

to substances of very high concern present

ECHA to provide information on the

such as recommendations to present and

in concentrations greater than 0.1%

preparation and submission of the

structure information in a way that is clear

w/w. ANIMA Confindustria is available to

SCIP notification. During the webinar,

and understandable to all database users,

companies to provide information about

ECHA delved into the preparation of

to ensure correct identification of items in

these new obligations, which should help

notifications, focussing on requirements,

notifications, and to become familiar with the

regulate more effectively the management of

‘grouping’ and ‘hierarchy’ techniques,

tools available.

hazardous substances.

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

133

ZOOM ON EVENTS

SFCHINA2020 Closes with Positive Results Despite Current Difficulties Despite the difficulties of this historic period, SFCHINA2020 reports positive results for this year’s edition, which featured a hybrid format for the first time.

T

he 33rd edition of SFCHINA, which took

surveys, majority of visitors gave positive

strengthen brand or corporate image;

place from December 8 to December

comments:

• 92% expressed the exhibition could help

10 at Area A of the China Import and

• 94% affirmed the exhibitor mix was

consolidate existing sales channels;

Export Fair Complex (CIEFC) in Guangzhou,

comprehensive;

• 87% opined the exhibition was an effective

P.R. China, closed with reasonable results in a

• 94% expressed concurrent technical

platform for promoting new products or

year full of uncertainties, with a total of 4.011

programmes were of high quality;

services;

registered visitors, and 164 exhibitors from 13

• 94% agreed SFCHINA was well-organized;

• 84% agreed the exhibition could serve to

countries/regions. In addition, there were 33

• 93% opined SFCHINA was successfully staged.

develop new markets, find new customers and

new exhibitors this year.

“The exhibition represents the temperature

build relationships with prospects.

To meet the needs of overseas visitors

and wind direction of the industry. I visit

“Although the number of visitors attending

and exhibitors who were unable to attend

the show to allow myself to witness and

in person has decreased, most of them are

SFCHINA2020 in person, a virtual edition was

experience”, said David Zhou, Sales Director of

potential customers”, said Luo Yiming, General

launched to allow participants to meet online

Nordson Co., Ltd. (China).

Manager, Guangzhou Tongxing Industry Co.,

even after the Guangzhou Ground Show

Ltd.

ended. It includes all exhibitors who exhibited

What exhibitors said sbout SFCHINA

in Guangzhou Ground Show and will be online

Majority of exhibitors showed satisfaction to

Shanghai on November 16-18, 2021 at the

until February 6, 2021, providing an additional

the exhibition according to our survey results:

Shanghai New International Expo Centre

option for the industry to stay connected.

• 97% affirmed the exhibition was one of their

(SNIEC).

What visitors said about SFCHINA According to findings from our onsite visitor

important marketing activities in China and Asia;

For further information:

• 97% endorsed the exhibition could

www.sfchina.net

© Sinostar-ITE International Ltd. / SFCHINA Exhibition Ltd.

134

The 34th edition of SFCHINA will return to

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© Sinostar-ITE International Ltd. / SFCHINA Exhibition Ltd.

ZOOM ON EVENTS © AMAS

AMAS Announces New Dates for Surface Finishing Mexico 2021 The Asociación Mexicana de Industriales de Acabados Superficiales (AMAS), organizer of Surface Finishing Mexico (SFM 2021), announces new dates for the SFM 2021 Expo. The fair will count a virtual event in March 2021 and an in-person expo in October of 2021.

I

n light of the pandemic and taking in consideration guidance and

of friendship, fellowship and mutual assistance among its members.

restrictions from local authorities, AMAS has postponed the in-

Members of AMAS include applicators, suppliers, educational

person SFM 2021 Expo, scheduled to take place from March 8-10,

institutions, consultants, and related automotive and aerospace

to October 5-7.

associations who currently participate in the surface finishing industry of

To still provide the industry an opportunity of networking and

Mexico.

promotion of technical education within the industry, On March 2324, AMAS has planned a virtual B2B event, during which participants

For further information:

will have access to business-to-business meetings and technical

https://surfacefinishingmexico.com/

presentations.

About AMAS The Mexican National Association of Surface Finishing (AMAS) is a non-profit professional trade association dedicated to electroplating, anodizing, and all areas of surface finishing and coatings industry of Mexico. The mission of AMAS is to advance the science and technology of surface finishing through courses, workshops, technical programs, conferences and expos, while fostering a cooperative spirit

international PAINT&COATING magazine - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - N. 67

135

ZOOM ON EVENTS

Eastern Coatings Show Calls for Technical Papers Largest Coatings Show on the East Coast set for June 9-11, 2021 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City (USA).

T

he Eastern Coatings Show (ECS) is seeking submissions

criteria for presentations is now available on ECS website.

from academia, government, and industry, presenting novel

The ECS board members express their heartfelt best wishes to all

research results in all aspects of industrial coating technology

members of the coatings industry as they persevere through this

for presentations at its biennial conference which will be held June

coronavirus pandemic. The ECS is the largest regional coatings show in

9-11 at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City (USA). The goal of the Eastern

America.

Coatings Show is to further the advancement of coatings technology and offer educational and technical presentations to create a profound

About the Eastern Coatings Federation

understanding of the theory, science, manufacturing, and marketing

The Eastern Coatings Federation, Inc. is a corporation founded by the

of coatings to highlight the improvement of coatings performance and

Metropolitan New York Coatings Association (MNYCA), the Philadelphia

functionality beyond traditional expectations. Technical papers will

Society of Coatings Technology (PSCT) and the New England Society

be presented during show hours June 9-11, 2021. The ECS Technical

of Coatings Technology (NESCT) to serve the coatings industry on

Committee will be responsible for coordinating the agenda and logistics

a broader national basis exceeding their regional orientations. The

of all speakers.

Metropolitan New York Coatings Association serves coatings and allied

The ECS Technical Committee will review the presentations based on

industries in the New York Metropolitan area. The Philadelphia Society

their technical content and contribution to furthering the advancement

of Coatings Technology serves the coatings and allied industries in the

of coatings technology. The presentation format should be as close to a

metropolitan Philadelphia area. The New England Society of Coatings

short course as possible. Presentations providing educational insights

Technology serves the coatings industry in the New England states.

about emerging technology will be given priority. Although a company logo may appear on the slides, it is not appropriate for a presentation to

For further information:

be overly promotional or laden with trade names. All information on the

www.easterncoatingsshow.com

© Eastern Coatings Show

The venue of Eastern Coatings Show.

136

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

ZOOM ON EVENTS

SF EXPO 2021 in Guangzhou on 26 to 28 July 2021 The 14th SF EXPO in Guangzhou (China) will be held at Poly World Trade Center on July 26-28, 2021.

S

F EXPO has been held for 13 sessions

INDUSTRIAL, POTENCER, etc. The exhibits

The 14th Guangzhou (China) International

in Guangzhou and 4 sessions in

covered many fields, such as pretreatment,

Surface Finishing, Electroplating and Coating

Chongqing (Since 2014, SF EXPO

electroplating, paint & coating, rust protection,

Exhibition will be held at Guangzhou Poly

alternates annually between Guangzhou and

engineering design, detection, surface

World Trade Center on July 26-28, 2021. The

Chongqing). SF EXPO is deemed as the most

finishing, etc. SF EXPO covered an area of

exhibition always adheres to the industry

professional and rapid expanding surface

12,000 m2 with 20,639 overseas and domestic

development demand and leads the

finishing exhibition in China and approved

visitors, 20 purchasing groups. The degree of

surface treatment technology innovation

by UFI since 2012. SF EXPO is audited strictly

satisfaction of exhibitors reached 96.55%.

and industrial upgrading. Industrial coating

by UFI annually and it is considered that the

Meanwhile, concurrent events included

exhibitions and technical seminars will be held

proportion of international exhibitors and

The 5 International Summit on Surface

at the same period. Besides, the exhibition

visitors and the degree of professionalism

Finishing Industry Development, 2019

will add sections of intelligent manufacturing,

have reached a certain international level.

China (Guangzhou) Automotive Surface

environmental protection and safety etc.

SF EXPO 2019 was held in Guangzhou Poly

Anti-corrosion Seminar, 2019 Asia-Pacific

to bring together industry elites, corporate

World Trade Center on May 21-13, 2019.

International Powder Paint & Coating

executives and technical experts to discuss

The exhibition scale reached a new record,

Exhibition and Summit, Non-cyanide

industry focus and difficulties. Organizing

with 30.27% increase compared with the

Electroplating New Process, Technology &

surface treatment users in electroplating

last session. There were 413 exhibitors,

Progress Forum, Chairmen and President

factories, coating factories, surface finishing

such as EAN SHENG, UYEMURA, PAT, New

Expansion Conference of China Surface

parks, automobile & parts, hardware, plastics,

Power, QiXiangDa, Cienalo, JinYuanKang,

Engineering Association Paint of Branch,

sanitary products, aluminum, home appliance,

New Fortune, Sinpony, Mengde, Potencer,

The 13 Covna Salon Investment Promotion

lighting, communications, digital, IT, etc. to

Ching Feng, Mengde, DOMIN, Yuanrong, XIN

Session, 2019 South China Surface Finishing

visit and purchase through extensive publicity

LI GUANG, PENTATOMIC, Kimsun, WAGNER,

Products Promotion Technology Summit,

and promotion and one to-one visitor

NABRO, PARKER, Superb Buffing, Ching

exhibitors interview and visit. The number

organization.

Feng, ELECTRON COATING, SATA, SQ Robot,

of guests and professional audience

Solution, ONTOP, Universal Plating, GeYuan,

participating in the same period had

For further information:

Hao Sheng, Skyray Instrument, WONDER

exceeded 1500.

www.sf-expo.cn/en

th

th

© Sinostar-ITE International Ltd. / SFCHINA Exhibition Ltd.

138

N. 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - international PAINT&COATING magazine

© Sinostar-ITE International Ltd. / SFCHINA Exhibition Ltd.

Metalworking EURASIA

International Sheet Metal Processing, Metal Cutting and Metal Forming Technologies Fair

10 - 13 November 2021 Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center Istanbul Turkey

#wineurasia

Free ce Entran : Ticket .com

urasia win-e

Official Airline

Organizer

Supporters

Hannover Fairs Turkey Fuarcılık A.Ş.

Tel. 0212 334 69 00 info@hf-turkey.com www.hmist.com.tr

Destekleyen Dernekler

AKDER

AKIŞKAN GÜCÜ DERNEĞİ

Elektrik Tesisat Mühendisleri Derneği ‘’ Türk Endüstrisinin İtici Gücü ’’

THESE FAIRS ARE ORGANIZED WITH THE INSPECTION OF THE UNION OF CHAMBERS AND COMMODITY EXCHANGES OF TURKEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW NUMBER 5174.

UNIONE COSTRUTTORI IMPIANTI DI FINITURA

Eos Mktg&Communication srl www.eosmarketing.it - info@eosmarketing.it www.myipcm.com - info@ipcm.it Redazione - Sede Legale: Via Pietro Mascagni, 8 - 20811 - Cesano Maderno (MB) - Italy Tel. +39.0362.503215 - Fax. +39.0362.1794768

EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Felice Ambrosino:

Kevin Biller

Marketing

The Powder Coating Research Group

Prof. Massimiliano Bestetti: Department of Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico of Milan – Section of Applied Chemistry and Physics

Prof. Stefano Rossi: Material Engineering and Industrial Technologies, University of Trento - Product Design

Dr. Franco Busato: European environmental legislation and new technologies

Dr. Fulvio Zocco: Environment and quality

Prof. Paolo Gronchi: Department of Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico of Milan – Chemical Engineering Section

EDITOR IN CHIEF / DIRETTORE RESPONSABILE

The smart journal for surface treatments

ALESSIA VENTURI

®

ISSN 2280-6083

ipcm digital on www.myipcm.com

venturi@ipcm.it

2021

INTERNATIONAL PAINT&COATING MAGAZINE

12th Year - Bimonthly

N° 67 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR / DIRETTORE EDITORIALE

SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE - SERVIZIO ABBONAMENTI: Sale only on subscription - Vendita solo su abbonamento E.mail info@ipcm.it Subscription Rates 2021 - Tariffe Abbonamento 2021:

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FILTRAZIONE PER IMPIANTI DI VERNICIATURA FILTERING FOR FINISHING LINES

rotoli, pannelli e celle in fibra di vetro

rolls, panels and cells of glass fiber

celle filtranti per alte temperature

filtering cells for high temperatures

rotoli e pannelli in fibra sintetica accumulatore vernice “Columbus” filtri “Andreae” cartucce filtranti filtri assoluti applicazioni speciali

rolls and panels of synthetic fiber paint accumulator “Columbus” “Andreae” filters filtering cartridges absolute filters special application

FILTRO ALVEOLARE MAX PAINT distributori esclusivi per l’Italia

massima efficienza massimo accumulo di vernice massima durata

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minori costi di smaltimento minori costi di manutenzione

L’esclusivo design alveolare permette di trattenere quantità di overspray notevolmente superiori rispetto ai filtri oggi in commercio

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