Second place for Tubex in “DIE OBERFLÄCHE 2015”
Every year Fraunhofer IPA honours innovative applications and technologies in the field of surface technology with “DIE OBERFLÄCHE” (THE SURFACE) award. The research institute announced the winner of the “OBERFLÄCHE 2015” on 20 July. The winner is the firm Sto SE & Co. KGaA, which has developed an intelligent facade paint, modelled on the head-stander beetle. Second place was awarded to Tubex GmbH in Rangendingen, with an environmentally friendly method of coating the interiors of aerosol cans that is excellent for development and industrial application.
In a research collaboration Tubex GmbH developed an energy-efficient method of coating interiors of aerosol monobloc cans that is also efficient in terms of material usage. Not only is this innovation distinguished by its economical and ecological benefits, but also its very good processability. In the powder can coating method conventional paints, some of which contain aggressive solvents, are replaced by powder coatings.
A key technology here is the thin film application (15-25 ?m), which allows a high degree of flexibility and precision as well as optimum use of materials. It is applied in continuous automated operation, with output of up to 200 units per minute. Powder coatings have a shorter curing time, which has a positive effect on energy consumption. Another ecological advantage is that no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are emitted when working with the power coatings, and the CO2 footprint is smaller in the manufacture and processing of powder coatings. Technically, they offer numerous benefits, such as good resistance to chemicals and virtually pore-free layers.
Jury member Riester is impressed with the environmental friendliness of the method: “Implementing the internal coating of the can using powder in mass production will result in a considerable reduction in solvent emissions compared to conventional internal coating using solvent-based wet paints,” says the expert.