International. The company is recognized with an award from the Environmental Suppliers Association for demonstrating outstanding innovation in an advanced manufacturing process that generates significant environmental and economic impact.
The award recognizes the use of the thin-film process (Pallumina) in the 2021 Toyota Tacoma and Tundra.
More than four million vehicles are pretreated annually with Henkel's portfolio of thin-film metal pretreatment processes.
Metal pretreatment is an essential part of vehicle production, as it allows paint to adhere to the vehicle body, while preventing corrosion.
Henkel's innovative thin-film process reduces the manufacturing steps of a conventional metal pretreatment process from seven to just four.
Key environmental advances include the removal of heavy metal phosphates such as zinc phosphate, nickel phosphate and manganese phosphate, up to a 90% reduction in sludge generation and a significant reduction in water use.
The process uses a metal oxide conversion coating instead of a zinc phosphate-based conversion coating, which significantly reduces sludge generation by decreasing the need for metal etching and the use of fluoride additives.
In turn, the need for regular tank cleanings is reduced and annual chemical cleanings are completely eliminated, reducing sludge removal costs and labor costs.
"Today's automotive OEMs are looking for solutions that improve sustainability while reducing costs, simplifying processes and delivering high performance," said Cris Naida, vice president, Automotive OEM Americas, Henkel.
"Henkel's thin-film processes deliver on all this, offering an exceptional solution for paint shop processes," he added.
Pallumina's thin-film process is effective on all major metals and can process up to 100% aluminum, further enabling the use of this lightweight metal.
Aluminum use is expected to double from about 13 percent in cars and passenger trucks today to 26 percent by 2040, according to the Center for Automotive Research.
Aluminium plays an essential role in improving the fuel economy standards of internal combustion engine vehicles and compensating for the additional weight of battery-electric vehicles.
The Association of Suppliers for the Environment represents organizations across the automotive value chain, including several of the world's largest automotive manufacturers and suppliers.
The organization works towards a shared vision of an automotive industry with a positive environmental impact.
