Finishing - July-August 2023

8 NEWS www.finishingmagazine.co.uk
REACH reset?
The British Coatings Federation
(BCF) has called for a “reset” in
the development of a UK
REACH system that supports UK
businesses amid growing
concern that a workable solution
remains a long way off.
Speaking at the BCF’s Annual
Conference, held on Thursday
25th May, Chief Executive Tom
Bowtell said: “After years of back
and forth, it is becoming
increasingly clear that the
Government’s plan for
establishing a UK REACH
regime is not going to be
successful as industry requires.
We welcome the current pause
applied to the REACH
registration deadlines but work
on an Alternative Registration
Model also seems not to be
addressing many of the concerns
that led to that pause in the first
place.
“The Government knows that
a sub-optimal application of UK
REACH could cost UK industry
billions of pounds but we are
not currently seeing the
application and creativity
required to find a solution that
works. The ongoing uncertainty
is bad for business planning and
investment and yet we are no
nearer a position of clarity.
“There is time to get the right
solution for the UK coatings
industry, but to achieve that
outcome we believe there needs
to be a fundamental shift in
approach and a reset of the
process. We are committed to
upholding high standards of
environmental and human
health and safety while also
aiming for a manageable and
efficient regulatory set up that
supports – rather than
suppresses – business. If
genuine progress is not realised
quickly, there is the risk of
irreparable damage not just to
the UK chemicals sector but to
downstream users and
formulators of chemicals, like
those in the coatings sector, who
have to use thousands of
different substances in their
products, as well as to UK
manufacturing more widely.
“BCF looks forward to
continuing to engage with Defra
towards initiating that reset and
finding a workable solution to
the UK REACH problem.”
Digital platform launched
AkzoNobel has launched My Interpon Portal, an extended digital e-
commerce platform with enhanced features and functionalities to give
customers fast, easy access to the information and products they need
to keep their powder coating lines rolling and stay one step ahead of
the competition.
My Interpon Portal is much more than an online shop for
customers to buy Interpon products. Instead, it is a central online
resources platform to help coaters not only discover the world’s
leading range of Interpon powder coatings, but also see and
experience how a multitude of colors and textures will perform
through a 3D lightbox color visualization tool. Intelligent features and
functionality enable customers to easily navigate the site and search
for, find and compare hundreds of Interpon products, all at the touch
of the button.
Administration has also been made easy, to manage new, ongoing
and repeat orders. A Track and Trace feature enables customers to
see how their order is progressing, while past and present invoices
can also be accessed, reviewed, printed, and filed.
Ordering has also been made simple: users can instantly see
what’s in stock and how quickly they can get the powder coatings
they need, with the corresponding technical specification data which
can be downloaded to help them make the right decision. Customers
can also quickly re-order products that they use most often.
QUALICOAT members meet in Cork
As the Association covers both the UK and Ireland, the second
members council meeting of the year was held at Architectural &
Metal Systems (AMS), based in Cork, who kindly offered their
meeting room facilities for the event which was attended by thirty
members.The meeting took place within the AMS offices,
overlooking the ‘Lough Mahon’ on Little Island and despite the
warm weather outside, the meeting was opened by Chair, Angus
Mackie, who welcomed everybody to the meeting and thanked
AMS for their hospitality and assistance in organising the meeting.
Following a round table delegate introduction, the Chair
welcomed two new member companies at the meeting, Ross
Hartshorn & Eddy Webb from Garnalex and Declan Deane from
Deane Roofing. Both companies were awarded their licences in
early 2023.
After matters of business were covered, the Members discussed
the upcoming Surface Live Show at the NEC on the 4th & 5th of
October and attendance at the ZAK World of Facades in London
later in the year on the 8th November. The Surface World Live
show brings people together from all the surface coatings
businesses and associations to discuss and review the Industry.
Supporting the event, QUALICOAT Members will be present to
discuss the benefits of membership of the Association.
The ZAK World of Facades event, which takes place in London,
brings together the complete facade supply chain including
specifiers who are working on projects in the UK and overseas.
QUALICOAT is taking a tabletop stand at the show and will be
on-hand during the conference break-outs to offer guidance on
specification of architectural powder coatings which adorn the
majority of facades around the globe.
Most UK & Ireland members are now using chrome-free
pretreatment systems and the Members were reminded that the
use of hexavalent chromate in the UK for pretreatment will be
banned by the HSE from September 2024 due to its carcinogenic
properties. Pretreatment systems Members confirmed that their
products will be withdrawn for sale in the UK at that time but that
the product will continue to be used in other countries around the
globe as it remains within QUALICOAT approval.
Two further companies applying for QUALICOAT application
licences are very close to being awarded. One UK systems
company in the West Midlands and an applicator business in the
South East. Both companies have recently cleared initial
inspections, with these two companies in membership later in the
year, twenty eight of the UK’s leading architectural powder coat
applicators will be QUALICOAT approved licensed applicators.
Training for the members laboratory technicians, which takes
place once a year and is obligatory for members to attend at least
once every two years, will be held in the Midlands on the 21st
November and be run by the independent German test house
IFO. More information will be available on the website prior to the
event.
On the technology, front there will shortly be a further appendix
added to the QUALICOAT Specification. The new appendix will
cover post forming of powder coated profiles. As technology in the
metal curving world has advanced allowing specifiers freedom in
design, there has been little research undertaken to determine the
life expectancy of the coatings on the profiles that have been
shaped after powder coating.
Finishing – July/August 2023