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?

This is the first time that QUALICOAT has sponsored this keynote event for the Facade Industry. Zak is held annually in London and draws in decision makers from across the facade supply chain. It was an excellent platform for members of the Association to engage with the supply chain and to understand how they view the QUALICOAT Specification.

In 1986 several national associations, encompassing powder coaters of architectural profiles, formed the QUALICOAT organisation. Their goal was to raise and standardise the quality of powder coating across Europe, laying down rules applying to their industry. Firms in many European countries have since directly or indirectly become members of QUALICOAT. The aluminium industry was represented by delegates on the committees from the outset. This ensured information sharing among wrought aluminium producers and coaters.

To answer questions of the major facade specifiers in the UK, QUALICOAT has decided to support one of ZAK’s biggest global events held in London on the 8th November. Zak World of Facades is an international conference series specialising in facade design and engineering. Zak has already hosted over 30,000 delegates across its 129 completed conferences with these one-day conferences held in over 35 countries around the globe. The events offer a unique opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills on key subjects pertaining to building envelope design, engineering, fabrication and installation from industry experts across the complete value chain of the facade industry.

Twenty one years ago, AMS adopted chrome free pretreatment technology when they installed their first coating plant in 2002. Understanding the intricacies of these early systems AMS ensured that the methodology was followed precisely. They were granted a Qualicoat License in 2003 and twenty one years later the company is still using chrome free technology across more than one powder coating plant at their extensive aluminium extrusion, finishing and fabrication facility in Cork.

QUALICOAT Members will be on hand on stand A20 at the forthcoming Surface World exhibition which takes place on the 4th & 5th October in Hall 11 at the NEC in Birmingham. If you are attending please drop by to meet us and discuss any issues you may have or possibly discuss with us your potential membership.

Architectural powder coating is seen by many as a simple impervious finish that, when correctly applied to aluminium systems, will offer years of service life provided a basic cleaning and maintenance regime is followed. Whilst it is true that powder coated fenestration can offer decades of serviceable life, it is not so ‘simple’ to achieve, as one may be led to believe.

As the Association covers both the UK and Ireland, the second members council meeting of the year was held at Architectural & Metal Systems (AMS), based in Cork, who kindly offered their meeting room facilities for the event which was attended by thirty members.

The QUALICOAT Specification is unique and it can be confusing to understand exactly what it is? It is not a national standard, such as a British Standard or an ISO and it does not fall under any country or specification body. What it is, is a freely available global specification, updated in real time, produced by members of the QUALICOAT Association.

As with any applied finish exposed to British weather, it is important that a maintenance regime is put in place to keep it performing and looking well for many years. If neglected, over time atmospheric pollutants are deposited on the surface of finishes and if not removed, these pollutants can affect the colour and surface finish. So what should we be specifying by way of finish and maintenance?

The first meeting of members of the Association was held in February with an excellent presence at the meeting with only a couple of members joining via a conference connection. Growth of the Association continues apace with PPG joining earlier in the year and a further three architectural powder coaters close to being approved for membership by being offered a QUALICOAT licence.