Care award for French coatings firm
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NOF Metal Coatings Europe (Dacral) was voted overall winner of the 2010 EuropeanResponsible Care Awards, ahead of a record 53 entries from 10 countries. The French-based company won over the judges' backing with an innovative coating technology that offers clear health and environmental benefits in a more resource efficient, cost effective way.
Cefic President Christian Jourquin presented the 2010 Responsible Care prize to Alain Chesneau NOF Metal Coatings R&D Manager and commented: "The awards competition this year was the most intense in its 6-year history. The winning projects clearly highlighted how the chemical industry is high-tech, innovative and sustainable."
The new version of the coating is mainly used for small parts such as automotive sector bolts andfasteners. Judges praised the robust, innovative nature of the submission, especially highlighting that the hightech coating combines 'a very impressive decrease of volatile organic compounds emissions with the phasing out harmful compound – hexavalent chromium – while turning a profit."
The elimination of hexavalent chromium alone was commended as "not easy and very innovative'. The new version coating product, designed for use by coating applicators subcontracted by automotive companies, required several years of dedicated research, including working with scientific institutions to better understand sol-gel technology. Under a project launched in 2004, pilot testing took place in 2007 and full commercial application of the technology occurred in March 2010 on two industrial lines in Germany.