Coating line certified to QUALICOAT Class 2

The vertical powder line now holds Class 2, which is the threshold most facade specifications in Australia and the Gulf are written against.

The vertical powder coating line at Binh Duong was certified to QUALICOAT Class 2 in June, following two years at Class 1.

The practical difference is weathering. Class 2 requires two years of Florida exposure at 45 degrees with at least 50 per cent gloss retention, against one year for Class 1. Specifications in Australia and the Gulf are commonly written to Class 2 or to AAMA 2604, and until now those enquiries had to be answered with a PVDF quote whether or not the project needed one.

Pretreatment moved from chromate to a chrome-free zirconium process at the same time. That was not required by the certification, but it removes a hazardous waste stream from the plant and is increasingly asked about in tender documents.