International. Henkel, a surface treatment supplier, expands its production capacities in Montornès del Vallès, Spain, adding solvent- and chromium-free innovations for metal pretreatment in coating plants to its European portfolio.
Henkel has been supplying Bonderite M-NT 1455T, M-NT 1456 and M-NT 10456 chromium-free pretreatment agents for coil coating to customers in various industries, such as architecture.
The agents act as an interface between the steel and the coating to provide greater protection against corrosion and adhesion. All three solutions are now also available as solvent-free products with the suffix "SF" (solvent-free).
"We are committed to continuously improving our products and driving innovation far beyond regulatory requirements. Therefore, developing solvent-free versions of our proven, high-performance Bonderite pretreatment agents was a logical step with regard to the safety of our customers," said Hans-Oscar Stephan, Technical Director Metal Coil Europe at Henkel Adhesive Technologies.
A disadvantage of products containing solvents is, for example, their boiling point of 150 degrees Celsius, which causes poorer drying of the material. Conversely, users of solvent-free, odorless, and better-drying solutions benefit from process-related advantages, such as increased product stability at higher temperatures. The solutions also have a much longer shelf life, as precipitation during storage is reduced.
To meet the demand for solvent-free pretreatment products, Henkel has invested significantly in its Montornès plant in Spain to expand production facilities for the polymer used in these products. This polymer gives products their excellent properties in terms of coating adhesion and corrosion resistance.
The site is ideally positioned in terms of infrastructure to serve as a European hub for coil pretreatment, while increasing capacity for global customers.
"Through this expansion in Montornès, which will serve as a new production hub for Europe and the APAC region, we can ensure reliable supply capacities to meet growing demand. This is one of the ways we are contributing to the architectural megatrend of sustainable construction projects," said Jaime Anguera, plant manager at Montornès.
Henkel's goal is to drive a continuous optimization process by further improving products, processes and applications, offering customers the highest possible performance while conserving the planet's resources.
"We are continually looking for ways to make metal pretreatment more sustainable for our customers, their employees and the environment. CO2-neutral production at Montornès is an important milestone as we continue to pursue this ambition," said Volker Mansfeld, Global Vice President Metal Coils and General Industry at Henkel Adhesive Technologies.
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