The Green Solution for Protecting Automobile Bodies Before Delivery to Customer

Novacel, a leader in surface protection films, has introduced NOVAGUARD® 9377. This opaque white plastic film is designed to protect automobile bodies and parts against external aggressions (such as acid rain, bird droppings and tool marks) during assembly, transport and storage. The film and its packaging can be reclaimed safely.

Fully committed to a policy of sustainable development, Novacel has designed NOVAGUARD 9377 on the basis of polyolefins. Thanks to its solvent-free adhesive, no treatment of discharges into the atmosphere is necessary.

As long as it is not soiled during use, it can be reclaimed through incineration or recycled. In addition, all of the packaging materials and cores can be recycled or re-used. This film is 2.4 mil (60 µm) thick and is available in 656-ft. (200-m) reels, in widths ranging from 1.2 in. (30 mm) to 9 ft. (2,800 mm). It has a nine-month exterior weather resistance.

For more information, visit www.novacel.fr.

Spectrum Coatings Announces "Greener" Epoxy Primer

Spectrum Coatings Laboratories, a leading supplier of protective Coatings in Providence, RI, announced a new “greener” formulation of a high-performance, chemical and corrosion-resistant epoxy primer for military and industrial applications. Spectrum Coatings WE2K-720 provides a more environmentally friendly coating solution for use on treated and untreated metal surfaces such as military vehicles, antennas and ground support equipment.

This new formulation meets South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) regulations and has a lower VOC at 1.4 pounds per gallon than is currently required by the military specification, Mil-P-53030. The QPL approved primer’s corrosion resistance is comparable to the performance of aircraft primers exceeding the specification requirements of Mil-P-53030A. It is compatible with most industrial topcoats as well as the following military topcoats: Mil-DTL-64159, Mil-DTL-53039, Mil-PRF-85285, and Mil-PRF-22750.

The new epoxy primer is water-based, non-flammable and free of hazardous air pollutants (HAPS). It is lead and chromate-free and easy to mix and spray, making it a sound choice for all industrial and military uses.

For more information, visit www.spectrumcoatings.us/.

 



Soliant Wins 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Bumper Program

Soliant’s Fluorex® Paintfilm has been selected for the 2008 Jeep Wrangler Sahara front and rear bumper cover program. Soliant estimates the program will include 50,000 parts per year based on current published industry sales information and projections. “Soliant Fluorex Paintfilm is the icon in the paintless finishing market,” said John Cupstid, Director of Sales for Soliant. “The Jeep Wrangler is designed to be rugged and Soliant Paintfilm has proven its ruggedness on over 40,000,000 parts in the field over the past five years,” continues Cupstid. Fluorex provides a high-gloss Class A finish, with outstanding stone and chip resistance, weather resistance and enhanced impact resistance, giving automakers added value on exterior parts and components.

For this application, the paintfilm is being supplied as a thick sheet laminate for thermoforming. Bright Silver Metallic is the color selected for the Jeep Wrangler Sahara bumper covers. Soliant won the program over other “paintless” products being touted in the marketplace. Many of these highly touted “new products” have failed to measure up to the requirements in the industry.

Soliant’s paintfilm product is currently used on many programs at essentially all of the major OEM suppliers. They can match any color, including metallics and pearlescents, and have matched 1,400 different colors and finishes, including “chameleon colors” that appear to change from different light and angles.

Paintfilm Versatility Drives Cost Savings

In addition to offering greater durability, the Fluorex paintfilm is also driving major manufacturing cost savings. Paintfilms eliminate the expensive painting step and are not limited to specific resins or processes. They can be used with extrusion, thermoforming, injection molding and compression molding, enabling multiple parts to be processed with one film. The versatility of paintfilm also gives automakers the ability to achieve multiple looks and decorating options with the same tool and process. The biggest cost saving results in new plants as there is no need to install or maintain a painting facility, which can be millions of dollars, and there are also no environmental compliance issues.

Paintfilm Wins Environmental Award

Fluorex paintfilm is an environmentally sustainable technology. Paintfilms are thermoplastic and are recyclable, so any scrap can be reground into the resin stream. Soliant won the Environmental Award in the “Emerging Technologies” category at SPE-GPEC 2006 (Society of Plastics Engineers – Global Plastics Environmental Conference) for its paintfilm process. The company demonstrated a 98% reduction in VOC emissions based on an analysis of the production and use of their product compared to traditional vehicle painting. It also met all GPEC Award Criteria including leadership in plastics and the environment, generating significant economic value and creating new markets (paint alternatives) that will benefit the environment and the quality of life.

The environmental and consumer benefits of Fluorex paintfilm encourage the use of lighter-weight materials on automotive vehicles, which results in better fuel economy. The paintfilms and coatings are well known in the industry and have been in use for over 20 years. They are used in the automotive, heavy truck, appliance, recreational, consumer electronics, marine, architectural and signage industry on a variety of parts and components.

For more information, call 800/288.9401 or e-mail jcupstid@paintfilm.com.