Medway tackles the marine environment with new powder coating technology

Citation

(2009), "Medway tackles the marine environment with new powder coating technology", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 56 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2009.12856bab.001

Medway tackles the marine environment with new powder coating technology

Article Type: Methods From: Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Volume 56, Issue 2

Established as an experienced applicator of polyester powder coat finishes, Medway Galvanising company has invested in new technologies and processes to further enhance its offering to fabricators and construction industry specifiers.

Medway Galvanising has built its reputation on achieving exemplary standards of colour consistency and coating integrity on the widest possible selection of steel components. These include balconies, balustrades and railings, with textures as well as metallic finishes being amongst the options available (Figure 1). Now the company can achieve what was widely regarded as impossible, applying a coating capable of withstanding the aggressive marine environment.

Figure 1 External steel components coated with Medway new powder coating technology

While existing polyester powder coatings available to industry were subject to attack by the salts due to the porosity of the surface, Medway Galvanising will now offer guarantees similar to those available further inland. This will not only give specifiers more confidence, but also genuinely extend the working life of steelwork close to the sea.

Phil Roberts of Medway Galvanising explains: “You need the stability of the galvanising to protect the steel from corrosion,” but the idea then is to introduce a non-polyester powder coat which is essentially impervious to the salts as well as moisture. “On top of this can be applied any of the normal selection of coloured polyester powder coats which specifiers choose and these offer all the normal performance characteristics of resistance to ultra-violet light, chalking and physical wear”.

Medway Galvanising has also been making major investments in new immersion baths as well as mechanical handling gear for its core business. This means it has been able to increase capacity and ensure the anti-corrosion coating applied directly to the steel achieves the greatest possible standards.

More information is available at: www.medgalv.co.uk