Industrial news

Article Type: Industrial news From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 62, Issue 5

Metallisation launches online shop

Metallisation Ltd, a leading manufacturer of thermal spray equipment, has launched its new online shop providing 24-hour access to its vast array of system spares, accessories and consumables.

Metallisation equipment has been designed for a wide range of uses, from engineering and surface modification coating applications using high-tech, fully automated laser cladding, through to corrosion protection of steel fabrications using arc or flamesprayed coatings. The coating systems are widely used across many sectors, including aerospace, steel manufacture, automotive, oil and gas, construction and many other general manufacturing industries.

The new online shop has been launched as part of Metallisation’s commitment to its global customer base to deliver excellent customer service every time. Now customers can access their account online 24 hours a day, no matter what time zone they are in. Customers simply log in to their business account to gain access to the stock list, stock availability, a detailed price list and system manuals. The customer account area also enables customers to manage their accounts, view their order history and track current quotes and invoices.

The online shop, which is accessed via the Metallisation Web site, has been designed to be compatible with all devices. The site has quick access menus, which are subdivided to enable simple and efficient navigation. To assist users in the identification and selection of the correct part, detailed explosion diagrams have been used to show them in situ in common system structures. Good-quality pictures of each item will reduce the chance of customers ordering the wrong part.

A “quick add” feature allows a simple, swift addition of any required part to the user’s basket if they know the part number. A safe secure check out allows customers to pay via their account or through a secure credit card transaction. Once an order has been placed, full shipping costs and details are also provided, which enables customers to follow their order and know exactly when it will be delivered.

Stuart Milton, Sales Director, says:

    The aim of the online shop is to make life easier for our direct customers, resellers and our mutual end users. We are totally committed to delivering excellent service and work tirelessly on our customer experience. We have distributors and users in over 30 countries and need to make sure they have access to system parts and consumables around the clock. The new site is safe, secure, simple and easy to use and we are delighted to make it available to potential new distributors, resellers and customers in regions where we are not currently represented.

The Metallisation team is committed to providing its customers with the high level of aftercare service it prides itself on. As well as the new online shop, Metallisation is still contactable by telephone or email for any detailed technical questions, equipment queries or application advice.

More information is available from: http://www.metallisation.com

AkzoNobel and McLaren automotive continue to push technical boundaries

AkzoNobel has signed an extension to its agreement with McLaren Automotive which will see the company continue to provide high-performance coatings, working as a technical partner.

The two parties – who first began the collaboration five years ago – will continue to work together to develop and create the colors for the range of McLaren models in the Super Series and Ultimate Series of road cars, as well as the newly launched Sports Series.

Commenting on the announcement, Conrad Keijzer, AkzoNobel’s Executive Committee member responsible for Performance Coatings, said:

    We are delighted to extend our technical partnership with McLaren Automotive. Both companies share a passion and commitment to customer service and innovation and we are looking forward to seeing the results of our collaboration on the latest series of McLaren cars.s

Added Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive:

    At McLaren, we pride ourselves on the highest levels of quality at every step during the production of each of our groundbreaking models. We have a close relationship with each of our technical partners and suppliers to ensure every component is optimized. The relationship with AkzoNobel is key to presenting every car at its best, working together to produce a range of striking colors that showcase the models in the best possible way, but that are also true to the brand”

    The relationship with AkzoNobel is a very strong fit with McLaren Automotive, with both companies pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and with a shared pursuit of perfection. Every car produced by McLaren is painted by hand to ensure that the quality and finish is of the exacting standards our customers have come to expect.

AkzoNobel also recently extended a supplier partnership with McLaren Racing, which first began in 2008.

More information is available from: http://www.akzonobel.com

Premises expansion increases stockholding capability and signals ongoing success for Indestructible Paint

With almost 40 years’ experience in the production and supply of specialist coatings and paint systems, Indestructible Paint is now announcing further expansion of its stockholding capability at its Birmingham premises. The company, which supplies a long list of blue chip customers around the world, has acquired an adjacent 29,000 sq. ft. warehouse – increasing its existing facility by some 60 per cent.

“The move is built on our continuing success and optimism for the future,” says Brian Norton, Indestructible Paint’s Managing Director:

    As a supplier to leading-edge sectors such as aerospace, defence and marine engineering, as well as general manufacturing, it is vital that we create a stockholding system that enables us to react quickly to customer orders irrespective of required volumes. This is an important step towards enhancing our service and skills further still.

More than doubling the size of Indestructible Paint’s stockholding capability, the new unit optimizes the link between sales and dispatch across the range of products that the company manufactures. The move, which also includes a new collection area and counter, is designed to both streamline and enhance the handling process and also expands the company’s ability to source and to stock independently-supplied products, often in line with the needs of individual customers.

“We have developed a reputation for sourcing and stocking a range of special performance products – from oils to sealant compounds – including many that are often considered ‘difficult to find’,” adds Brian Norton:

    Now, with more storage space available, this part of our service can be developed further, enabling us to offer an increasing range of performance coatings and paints to our customers from a single source.

The development marks an important enhancement of Indestructible Paint’s well-established reputation for product innovation, testing and problem-solving. With ever-increasing performance demands from the marketplace, the company continues to demonstrate specialist skills that can bring key benefits to many of the most challenging manufacturing environments worldwide (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Views of the current stockholding capability at Indestructible Paint’s Birmingham premises – now being extended through the acquisition of an adjacent 29,000 sq. ft. warehouse

More information is available from: http://www.indestructible.co.uk

NACE international signs MOA with US Commerce Department to address corrosion in the Asia-Pacific region

Bob-MOA ImageThis week NACE International CEO, Bob Chalker, and Margaret Hanson-Muse, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and Regional Senior Commercial Officer – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Houston, Texas, to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The purpose of the MOA between the International Trade Administration (ITA), US Department of Commerce represented by The US Commercial Service in ASEAN, and NACE International is to further programs to advance research and use of best practices and state-of-the-art technologies to prevent and control corrosion, and to encourage US businesses interested in exporting and foreign businesses interested in investing in the USA to seek the assistance of the ITA.

Each party has agreed to take on numerous responsibilities including sharing quantitative and qualitative research; providing tools and resources such as State Opportunity Reports and the FTA Tariff Tool for NACE members; providing ITA speakers for NACE events and NACE speakers for ITA events; co-hosting events (e.g. seminars, workshops, training sessions); and more.

“This agreement is an important achievement for the corrosion industry”, said Bob Chalker:

    Corrosion control is vital to every industrialized nation. The more we can do to work with governments to raise awareness, improve the business environment, and facilitate the use of corrosion control technology and expertise worldwide, the safer our world will be.

More information is available from: http://www.nace.org

Hempel earns accolades from Frost & Sullivan for its comprehensive anti-corrosive product line, HEMPADUR AvantGuard

Based on its recent analysis of the protective coatings market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Hempel with the 2014 European Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation. Hempel’s AvantGuard® technology-enabled HEMPADUR AvantGuard® range of products addresses customer demand for superior protection of structures. The technology has pulled ahead of its peers by offering three types of protection – barrier effect, inhibitor effect and galvanic effect – in a single system.

The HEMPADUR AvantGuard product portfolio, comprising the HEMPADUR AvantGuard® 550, HEMPADUR AvantGuard® 750 and HEMPADUR AvantGuard® 770, are engineered to protect structures in tough environments. It ensures reduced corrosion, improved performance in extreme temperatures and superior mechanical strength to protect iron and steel structures. Additionally, it lowers maintenance costs and increases maintenance intervals. Hempel is also developing products that can be applied on components that need to be transported to other regions for installation.

“The AvantGuard® technology has the ability to significantly integrate hollow glass spheres with a proprietary activator to activate more zinc and enhance the anti-corrosive properties of the coating”, said Frost & Sullivan Senior Research Analyst Soundarya Shankar. “This effective utilization of zinc also offers considerable cost-savings, as zinc is an expensive metal”.

The AvantGuard® technology’s first layer of protection involves the formation of zinc salts throughout the surface to minimize water permeability. The second layer has the galvanic effect in the coating, which protects steel by preferential corrosion of zinc metal in the coating. The activation of the zinc makes the galvanic protection more efficient compared to conventional zinc epoxy coatings. The third corrosion prevention mechanism captures chloride ions, thereby protecting the surface.

Hempel has demonstrated a keen focus on maintaining high standards of quality, especially, as it functions in a market with stringent regulations. Hempel follows a strict quality management system that complies with the ISO 9001 standard, as well as the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) regulations for maintaining product quality standards.

AvantGuard® conducted the salt tests in compliance with ISO 12944 to ensure maximum anti-corrosion capabilities, while the cyclic corrosion test was aligned with the ISO 20340 standard to test for lower rusting mechanisms than is possible with AvantGuard-free coatings.

“Apart from designing an enhanced product portfolio, Hempel delivers a seamless customer service experience”, noted Shankar:

    Acknowledging the need for different types of protective coatings in different regions of Europe due to varied climatic conditions, the company customizes its solutions to suit specific customer needs. Designing a global solution and tailoring it to suit customer requirements is Hempel’s USP.

Hempel is striving to boost its brand value by concentrating on five major segments of business: technological innovation, supply chain optimization, human resource management, operational efficiency enhancement and fund management. The effective implementation of its product development strategy to develop breakthrough solutions for specific customer requirements has poised the company for even greater success in the future.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which, in turn, increases customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

More information is available from: http://www.hempel.com/avantguard

Combining cathodic protection with aluminum coatings to reduce the external corrosion of hot risers

A new joint industry project has recently started to demonstrate the technical and financial benefits of the combined use of thermally sprayed aluminum (TSA) coatings and cathodic protection (CP) when applied to thermally cycled risers and hot hydrocarbon transportation pipelines.

Although TSA coatings are widely used to reduce the corrosion rate of offshore facilities, there are very few published data covering the simultaneous use of TSA coatings and CP when applied to subsea hot risers and hydrocarbon transportation pipelines. As a result, little consideration has been given to the interaction of TSA with anodes or impressed current CP systems in international standards (such as ISO 15589-2 and DNV-RP-B401) with the result that guidance is limited.

With many fields under development involving the installation of remote, deep-water facilities and the extraction of higher-temperature hydrocarbons, it is expected this project will generate significant benefits to the oil and gas sector including:

• generation of environment-specific CP design data, providing increased confidence in the long-term reliability of TSA coatings in inaccessible, deep-water service;

• longer design life with reduced maintenance costs for facilities in remote locations; and

• the opportunity to reduce significantly the anode mass on subsea structures.

The project work scope includes measurement of the effects of representative environmental conditions (oil temperatures up to 130°C) on TSA coating and anode behavior when subject to both constant elevated temperature and thermal cycling. An important output of the project will include interpretation of the project results and implications for offshore structure CP design.

This project is currently sponsored by BG, ExxonMobil, Petrobras and Total.

More information is available from: http://www.twi-global.com