Finishing - July-August 2022

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BCF conference gathers in Birmingham
Over 150 senior decision-makers
from the UK's paints, coatings
and printing ink sectors gathered
in Birmingham for the annual
British Coatings Federation (BCF)
Annual Conference.
The opening keynote from the
UK Government’s Business
Department (BEIS) highlighted
the government’s growth drivers
and Net Zero ambitions for
energy, chemicals and coatings.
The Bank of England outlined
the latest economic forecasts for
the UK – the economy will be
stagnant for the next four years
with inflation peaking at 10% this
autumn. The good news is that
it will drop back closer to 3% by
the end of 2023. The
Conference also heard from DIY
expert Steve Collinge, who gave
an overview of how the sector is
navigating the post-Covid
economic climate.
On sustainability, the
conference heard about the first
global coatings industry’s
sustainability report, to be
published later this year by the
World Coatings Council,
followed by MAKE UK, who
outlined the vision for achieving
Net Zero in the manufacturing
sector.
This was followed by an
intense panel discussion on
leftover paint recycling and
Packaging Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR), featuring
paint recyclers, metal and plastic
packaging suppliers and experts
on packaging and waste policy.
The panel answered many of the
audience’s questions surrounding
the challenges and opportunities
for paint recycling, and markets
for leftover paint. On Packaging
EPR, brand owners are faced
with a new regime from 2024
which will move the cost of
household waste collection and
processing to brand owners.
The keynote speaker, Claire
Lomas MBE, told her inspiring
story of recovering from a horseriding
accident in 2007, which
left her paralysed from the chest
down. Determined not to give
up, she made worldwide
headlines in 2012 when
completing the London
Marathon in a pioneering
robotic suit taking 17 days and lit
the Paralympic cauldron for
London 2012. Her positive spirit,
raw honesty and zest for life
made a huge impact on all
present. The Conference closed
with BCF CEO, Tom Bowtell,
taking to the stage to outline
BCF’s highlights of the last year,
and the challenges facing the
sector.
The evening dinner raised
over £3,000 for the event’s
charity partner, Community
Heartbeat Trust, which has
installed over 700 lifesaving
defibrillator stations in red phone
boxes across the UK, with paint
provided by BCF member
companies.
BCF president Guy Williams
commented: "The topics of this
year’s conference were highly
appropriate for the challenges
the industry is facing today –
really tough economic conditions
but a huge focus on
sustainability, with paint recycling
and Net Zero being key themes
for the future of BCF’s work, as
well as working with the UK
Government to improve the
regulatory landscape."
Almetron participates
at Qualicoat
conference
In June Almetron was pleased
to participate in the Qualicoat
conference “Future proofing of
Facades” held in the Building
Centre London. The conference
focused on sustainability in the
aluminium finishing sector.
As a long-time UK member
and supplier of Qualicoat
approved alternative
technologies the conference
has given us an ideal
opportunity to discuss the
excellent performance of our
alternative and more
sustainable pre-treatment
technologies.
By using our technologies
the applicator can achieve
significant cost savings and
significant benefits across the
whole of his operation
including effluent disposal.
Almetron‘s team of
technologists is always on hand
to discuss the potential savings
and advise on the best
technologies to fit your
processing needs.
The use of our UK
developed technologies puts
the users very close to our UK
based Technology and
Manufacturing Facilities which
means we have a quick turn
around on deliveries as well as
providing the most rapid of
technical support including onsite
visiting, laboratory analysis,
accelerated corrosion testing
and surface analysis including
XRF.
Resource microsite
AkzoNobel has created a new dedicated microsite and resource centre
for customers and specifiers of functional powder coatings to guide
them through the selection process and learn how a Resicoat solution
can support transformational change in scenarios where protection
defines success.
Customers can discover how new and emerging technologies
including single layer, dual layer and multi-layer powder coatings can
be used for projects where failure to any degree is simply not an
option. They can learn how different Resicoat products can address
very specific needs, such as on the inside and outside of pipelines to
protect the integrity of drinking water, or to insulate electrical systems
on the latest generation of electrical vehicles (EVs).
They can also discover how combinations of coatings can be used
to provide the highest levels of corrosion protection, reduce ongoing
maintenance costs, and ensure the safe and efficient performance
during the Engineered Design Life (EDL) of each project.
Functional powder coatings can be used to protect against extremes
of hot and cold and an excess of pressure. They protect oil, gas and
petrochemical pipelines from chemicals and corrosion, and provide a
smooth and sealed surface to the valves and fittings that regulate the
flow of water in our modern distribution networks. They insulate the
rotors and stators to keep vehicles and electronics running safely, and
deliver the ultimate insulation to the busbars an electric vehicle relies
upon. Whether insulating small components such as capacitors and
magnetic cores or providing corrosion resistance to massive structures
using reinforced steel, Resicoat powder coatings perform in the most
challenging conditions.
Finishing – July/August 2022