So the best specification for any architectural powder coating project should simply be ‘coated by a QUALICOAT licensed applicator’. Known across the globe, with a global supply chain and local licensed coaters, a QUALICOAT specification can be realised on any continent.

Introduced just two years ago, the first project to be certified in QUALICOAT 3.0 in the UK and Ireland is the Hurlingham Waterfront project on the Thames for Hamilton Architects. The project consists of a substantial amount of aluminium Brise Soleil which is being installed over the next few months by Eire Facades UK Ltd. The aluminium extrusion and finishing has been completed by AMS of Cork who have been awarded the QUALICOAT 3.0 certificate as part of their continuous improvement drive.

The QUALICOAT Specification for architectural powder coating is now well recognised across the UK and Ireland as the quality label to specify. This year there has been a number of powder coaters who have applied for licences to coat to the Specification but 90% of those applications failed to meet the required level of production to be offered licensed status.

The Association is delighted to announce and welcome Powdertech into membership of QUALICOAT. Powdertech Corby was established in 1988 as a specialist powder coater for architectural aluminium, galvanised steel and mild steel. Over the years they have built up an enviable reputation for quality coatings in the Construction Industry working across all market sectors including commercial, residential, retail, rail, public sector, sport and leisure.

As the name suggests, an architectural powder coating to be used in coastal applications, but what does this additional endorsement mean for QUALICOAT licensed applicators?

We often refer to labels that quickly identify brands, products or services in our daily lives. Often these labels set an expectation of the product and possibly more importantly the quality or service that we expect from past experience. Across Europe the QUALICOAT label has now been synonymous with high quality architectural powder coating for almost four decades and is now widely specified across the Globe.

A lot has been said about coating quality when it comes to QUALICOAT, but how does the Association justify these claims? It begins with Member’s willingness to ‘be the best’ in all that they do, which impacts quality, in addition to cutting edge research and education within Member’s businesses and the Association. Then there are mandatory, twice yearly, unannounced third party inspections.

The Summer meeting is the time when, every two years, the Vice Chair steps up to become the Chair of the Association and I am delighted that my peers in the Association trust me in taking up the mantle from our outgoing Chair Angus Mackie. I’d like to thank Angus for all his hard work over the last few years. I’m also pleased to announce that Yasmin Panam, of Barley Chalu, has agreed to be my Vice Chair for the next two years.

As the QUALICOAT Specification continues to gain traction with powder coaters across the UK and Ireland, the Association is delighted to announce that one of our newest members, Garnalex, has also succeeded in gaining their Seaside licence for optional coating protection when in more exposed conditions, such as within 5Km of the coastline.

Powders today come in a rainbow of colours and can now be mixed to exactly match any colour, but, how can these colours be maintained to offer an extensive life expectancy? But before we look at ongoing maintenance, it is crucial that any powder coating is applied to the very highest standard. Fortunately, the majority of systems companies in the UK and Europe coat their aluminium systems to the QUALICOAT Specification.

Chromates or phosphor-chromates, often referred to as just ‘Chromates’, have been the traditional choice of pre-treatment for architectural aluminium since the introduction of powder coating in the 1970’s. Over the last few decades alternative, chrome-free systems have become popular and have gained a reputation for being as robust as their chrome counterpart.

As more architectural powder coating companies adapt their coating processes and apply to QUALICOAT UK & Ireland to gain a coveted coating licence, existing licensed members seek further accreditations to further enhance their coating sustainability when required in harsher environments. I am therefore delighted to announce that AAC have recently been awarded their licence for ‘Seaside Class’.

It is rare to find an industry where competitors work together to jointly research and raise the quality of their product or service, even rarer when it takes place on a global stage. As technology continues to evolve at a rapid rate, the pursuit of excellence is ever ongoing, something the QUALICOAT Membership has been working on for the last 38 years.

Powder coating was once seen as something that could be applied to aluminium to cover any irregularities, such as damage, corrosion, etc. Whilst this approach may allow the aluminium to look good for a few weeks or months after being coated, once weathered, the powder coating will quickly peel and fail.

The first meeting of 2024 of the licensed members of the UK & Ireland Association is to take place at the headquarters of IFO in Germany in early April. IFO offer independent third party inspection services for all licensed members in the UK and Ireland.

The recently released Technical Information Sheet No.4 from QUALICOAT ‘Recommendations for the Corrosion protection’ now offers specifiers guidance on the recommended pretreatment system to specify for various “Corrosivity categories” according to ISO 18768-1:2022 Table 1 and ISO 9223:2012 Table C.1

Kestrel Aluminium Systems have recently been awarded a QUALICOAT license for their powder coating plant and process, they join a further twenty-five professional architectural powder coaters across the UK & Ireland who hold the coveted status. The award was presented by QUALICOAT Chair, Angus Mackie of VertikAl to Nicki Baylis of Kestrel at the last Members meeting of 2023 held at QUALICOAT UK & Ireland’s offices in Daventry.

The last training day, held yearly, took place in Daventry in November 2023 with a record number of sixty laboratory technicians in attendance. Testing equipment was made available for the testing of chrome-free analysis including photometers and a hand held x-ray spectrometer. Members came from all over the UK and Ireland to discuss the Specification updates and listen to technical presentations.

With the majority of architectural powder coating applicators across the UK & Ireland now powder coating to the QUALICOAT Specification, the question is, why are specifiers and the fenestration supply chain increasingly turning to QUALICOAT as a preferred coating specification?

Euro Quality Coatings are the latest powder coating applicator within the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Association to be awarded a ‘Seaside’ class licence. Almost half of all the members of the Association now offer this enhanced powder coating process, but what exactly is it?