Although the aeronautical paints market is small compared to other segments of the industry, it is gaining more and more strength in the Latin American area thanks to the importance given to it by companies that have interference in the sector. by Santiago Jaramillo H.
There is no doubt that one of the most demanding and at the same time unexplored markets in the painting industry in Latin America is the aeronautical segment, given its great specialty and often ignorance that surrounds it.
That is why the great interest it has aroused in a considerable part of the industry of the area that sees in this a good alternative of diversification for its portfolio of products.
Despite this interest, the market is still very small if each country is taken as a reference individually, but if the Latin American market is totaled in general, the opportunities in the medium and long term could take on capital dimensions.
Gustavo Weber García, who is a chemical engineer, consultant in corrosion, surface treatment and painting of aircraft of the Chilean company Wemo-Corr Ltda., and is also a member of the NACE (National Association corrosion Engeniering) and Director of the ACHCORR (Chilean Association of Corrosion), is one of our invited specialists in the search to size the current moment of this sector of the industry.
The other expert we invited for this issue of INPRA LATINA magazine is Juan Manuel Álvarez Rodríguez, who is a specialist in metal structures and composite materials and a member of the corrosion and coating committees of NACE and ASTM.
Precisely to start this analysis we investigated with our experts how representative is the segment of aeronautical paints within the Latin American paint market, before this question Gustavo Weber warned that "in reality it is small, compared to the automotive, industrial or decorative market, but as I have always said: 'the market must be taken globally', that is, to cover all of South America in its commercial, military and civil planes. Therein lies the representative. For this, you must have a very good pre-sale and after-sales accompaniment, since timely technical assistance is very important, "he highlights.
Regarding the main niche of this market in Latin America, Weber emphasizes that "undoubtedly the main Latin American market is in Brazil, due to the number of commercial aircraft operating in that country, in addition to the third largest aircraft manufacturing company, I mean Embraer, which has gained prestige worldwide", Aimed.
Meanwhile, Juan Manuel Álvarez considered in this regard that "the market for aeronautical paints is quite representative and increasing, based on the fact that the aeronautical market is increasing bringing more aircraft, most of them with better performance that demand higher quality and maintenance of coatings. In addition, the environments surrounded by aircraft are increasingly aggressive generated in part by the environmental impact as well as by global warming, which if not for fuel costs, air transport would have greater use and would be reflected in more aircraft that require protection through coatings. " Emphasized.This representative of the Colombian industry also added that "the main market niche in the sector is in Brazil, but I highlight in the same way countries such as Colombia and Argentina in South America and Mexico as a Latin American country."
Regulation and control bodies
As recognized by our specialists, there are regulations and regulations applicable to aeronautical paints, unfortunately not all maintenance centers comply with them, either due to ignorance or not having adequate and prepared specialists in the field.
According to Weber, "the regulations that have transcendence and importance are for example: the Q.P.L. (Qualified Products List) and the MIL specifications (Military), such is the case of the MIL-PRF-23377 Epoxy Primer or BMS (Boeing Material Standard) in which all the characteristics that must be met are indicated. When I refer to maintenance centres, I am talking about those who carry out these tasks in the civil, commercial and military fields. The most committed centers, that is, commercial and military, are those that are responsible for complying with these regulations and specifications. I am referring to the cases I know of – in Chile."
Álvarez, meanwhile, agreed that "as far as aeronautical paints are concerned, the main regulation is the MIL-STD (military standard). This regulation is determined by the U.S. military industry, particularly the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. In Colombia, this regulation is adopted by the civil aviation regulatory body of our country, the UAEAC (Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics)".
Regarding the verification of these standards, Álvarez acknowledged that "this is limited to the documentation or traceability of the product, that is, to the MIL-STD standard appearing in the document and the product is endorsed by this quality standard, and not to the sampling or assessment of what this quality standard contains, which is compliance with ASTM standards that make up or support the MIL-STD standard."
Weber, in the same sense, complemented the position of the Colombian representative by stating that "one of the organizations that should actively participate in the verification is the corresponding General Directorate of Aeronautics of each country in Latin America. This, in order to supervise the products used and that they do not harm the aircraft, requesting, in addition, a license for those people who work in aircraft painting processes, after training, to then carry out the theoretical and practical exam in that direction, renewable every two or three years, in order to have control of the people who work in this area. "
Changes in the industry
As is the general trend of the market, paint formulators are increasingly in favor of reducing to their minimum the possible emissions of pollutants to the environment, and in that same tonic the work of the aeronautical segment has been directed.
"The main changes in this industry are based on the elimination of products, such as Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr) and the great evolution would be in the development and manufacture of HS Products (high solids) LOW VOC (low content of Volatile Organic Compound). The reduction has been significant and in simpler words it translated into more environmentally friendly products, both primers and enamels. Specifically in Chile the environmental laws are quite strict, especially in the amount of particles emitted into the environment. These measurements and controls are carried out by the Metropolitan Health Service of the Environment (Sesma)", recognizes the consultant in corrosion, surface treatment and painting of aircraft of the Chilean company Wemo-Corr Ltda.
Regarding the evolution in this matter, Álvarez highlights that in Colombia it is "in the management and disposal of toxic waste in aeronautical companies through contractors endorsed and certified by the Dama (Technical Administrative Department of the Environment), of course with the budgetary support that this demands from the managers, and awareness of the natural resources of those who work in tasks such as aircraft cleaning, coating maintenance and paint application. On the other hand, it has evolved in the use of chemical removers, limiting the use for example of those based on methylene chloride, giving rise to others of 'ecological' type that present less toxicity for use in storage, application and disposal or disposal ".Regarding maintenance processes in the aeronautical segment and their most relevant novelties and innovations, Weber highlights that "there are few companies that have processes (step by step, with adequate records) to perform treatment and painting. Many simply do not have it, leaving nothing registered and only based on a work order to carry out these operations. Therefore, there are no innovations."
As a recommendation, this specialist says that "companies, both military and commercial that do not have these processes, should be advised by experts in the field, in order to understand the importance of corrosion, surface treatment and painting of aircraft, since these three matters go hand in hand. You can count on the best paint in the world, but if you perform a bad treatment, it is worthless to have invested in a good coating."
Segment Challenges
The main challenges experienced by the aeronautical paints segment do not go through the formulation of the same, on the contrary, the main challenges that the sector has before it is the positioning and sufficient technical training for the application of the same.
As Weber recognizes, "the main challenge of aeronautical paint manufacturing companies is to have professionals who technically assist the different companies that use their products, who must have the appropriate skills and suitability in the position to be performed, in addition to the experience in their functions".
For his part, Álvarez considers that "the greatest challenge of the aeronautical paints segment both in Colombia and in Latin America is to endorse before the civil aviation regulatory entities of each country (such as the UAEAC, Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics in Colombia), through and with the support of government institutions that issue and control technical standards such as ICONTEC in Colombia, so that paint costs decrease, increase stock and availability of paints, reduce coating maintenance costs and direct corrosion costs. This is given that investments to obtain or endorse products that may present a MIL-STD are replaced with a similar level of quality and that correspond to the economic reality of countries such as Colombia for example, where of course these products end up being paid for by users (passengers)".
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