Henkel Offers One-Stop Solution Portfolio for Global Metal Coil Industry

With more than 80 years of expertise in metal processing and coil industry, Henkel — offering a comprehensive range of process solutions for pickling, lubrication, cleaning, pre-treatment, passivation, coating and lamination — is clearly succeeding as a global one-stop solution partner for the metal coil industry. Through new product developments, Henkel is helping customers manage the process requirements of next-generation alloys while addressing cost and regulatory challenges. Metals are used across diverse markets ranging from automotive and transportation, construction and building, white goods and general industry to food, electrical and beverage sectors. Additionally, growing urbanization is creating demand for daily applications across emerging market segments. Henkel's comprehensive process solutions for this challenging industry are specially formulated for high-speed and continuous operation of production lines. At the same time, they address ambitious approaches for higher cost efficiency and sustainability.

Henkel's Metal Coil Regional Manager for Europe Aziz Mabrouki said: "There is a distinct trend towards greater process and cost control in the metal coil industry.

New high-strength steels, aluminum and magnesium alloys offer opportunities for increased lightweighting, while sheet metal producers and coaters face increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Building on our close collaboration with industry leaders, we provide customers with a one-stop solution process portfolio that addresses these challenges. General benefits include longer tool and bath life with resulting cost savings, removal of chromium in wastewater, reduction of nitrate and NOx emissions, as well as reduced waste. Additionally, Henkel also provides specialized equipment designed to ensure best manufacturing practices across many coil process steps," he said. Henkel's Bonderite metal coil production chain portfolio of efficient, safe and sustainable solutions includes: • Pickling inhibitors added to hydrochloric or sulfuric acid to prevent over-pickling and provide a clean surface for the subsequent process step. • Cold rolling oils for optimal lubrication results; resulting in high efficiency and superior layer quality. • Cleaners designed to remove grease, oil and metal residues from the layer surface in preparation for the next step. • Wet tempering fluids used to extend the life of work rolls and provide adequate corrosion protection for intermediate storage. • Surface treatment agents preparing the substrate for reliable paint adhesion and excellent corrosion protection. • Passivators applied to galvanized sheet and tinplate products to prevent corrosion during storage and transport. • Thin organic coatings providing anti-fingerprint and other effective properties for decorative surfaces as well as improved weldability and formability. Additionally, Henkel offers adhesives designed for reliable and cost-effective coil lamination in compliance with the latest environmental regulations.

Across all these product lines, the company's innovation focus provides and develops value-added solutions targeting high efficiency in four key areas to extend the life of processed coils during rolling and strip passage:

These can be summarized as: formulations for a range of chromium-free, more sustainable paint technologies, adhesion promoters, Cr-free organic coatings, cost-effective products such as shaping and stamping aids for new alloys and substrates; solutions for nitric acid-free pickling and low-fluoride pickling processes to reduce overall operating and wastewater treatment costs. In an increasingly diverse coil lamination market, a range of pre-treatment agents and adhesives for process and substrate cost savings are also available. Mabrouki concluded his remarks: "Chromium (VI) use in Europe is already restricted to the point of bringing bans. We are committed to helping our customers increase the sustainability of their production by transitioning to high-concentration, heavy-metal-free high-efficiency solutions designed to reduce consumption and waste while increasing production process continuity. Henkel has a 20-year history with chrome-free products for painted sheet and has successfully expanded the technology to other processes such as passivation." Bonderite is a registered trademark of Henkel and/or its affiliates in Germany and elsewhere.