Latest News
Budget 2021 sets path for recovery
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, released the Budget for 2021 on March 3rd, confirming extension to the business rates holiday and furlough scheme, as well as new £6k ‘restart’ grants for non-essential retailers.
The Institute of Materials Finishing (Where are we now?)
Have you looked at the website for the IMF lately?Are you a member of the IMF?Are you doing or thinking of doing a Course with the IMF?No! then you may be missing out on some of the new and exciting things that the IMF is now offering.

QUALICOAT meet online
Once again the Association meets online for its first members meeting of 2021 and it is hoped by all that the next meeting in the year could be back to some sort of normal! There was a very good turnout of members at the meeting and a broad agenda to cover.
TRIDENT POWDERS LTD CELEBRATE THEIR 5th BIRTHDAY AS THE UK’S MOST INNOVATIVE POWDER MANUFACTURER TO ENTER THE MARKET IN THE LAST 30 YEARS
Trident Powders Limited welcome 2021 by celebrating their 5th Birthday. In just five short years they have established themselves as the UK’s most innovative powder manufacturer to enter the market in the last 30 years.
UK coatings industry faces significant challenges as result of the new Free Trade Agreement with the EU
A recent survey of British Coatings Federation (BCF) members demonstrates how Brexit has impacted negatively on the coatings sector in the form of new customs red-tape and higher costs since 1st January. The survey reported higher shipping costs, increased costs of imported raw materials, and new administration costs to complete customs paperwork, with 30% of companies estimating increases in total operating costs of 3-10%.

Nordson launches virtual showroom – discover powder coating systems in a new dimension
Nordson Industrial Coating Systems is offering powder coaters an online virtual showroom as a new way to experience powder coating products.
AkzoNobel unlocks more sustainable future for coatings after biomass breakthrough
A world of possibilities for paints and coatings has been unlocked by research being conducted by AkzoNobel, in collaboration with the Dutch Advanced Research Center Chemical Building Blocks Consortium (ARC CBBC).
The newest member of the spectro2guide family – spectro2go for mobile colour control
BYK-Gardner – worldwide partner of the automotive, paint and plastic industries for quality control of colour, appearance and physical properties – is introducing a new member of the spectro2guide family: the spectro2go.

Scottish galvanizers install Scotland's largest bath as part of investment programme
An investment programme for a Glasgow-based galvanizing business has culminated in the installation of a new £300,000 galvanizing bath.
SERFILCO's Mission Statement
Simply stated, SERFILCO´s mission is to be a proactive partner with their customers and the industries they serve to meet the challenges imposed by a global economy and increasingly stringent governmental controls regarding safety and waste reduction.

British designer and manufacturer of workplace storage Est.1982 makes significant investment with Gema UK
As part of their on-going investment strategy, Metal Office Equipment have recently finalised the latest step in their production improvement programme, this included a state-of-the-art Gema Magic Compact horizontal powder coating plant.
Powder Coat Failures and How to Avoid Them
Powder coating is applied in various plants across the UK using the well known methodology of spraying electrostatically charged fine polyester based powders onto a product rather than using a wet solvent or painting method. Products powder coated are then baked at an optimum temperature to melt the powder which allows it to flow, the product is then allowed to cool and the coating sets. The problem is, like most opaque coatings, whilst the finish looks good, any coating can hide a multitude of sins on the surface of the metal, the substrate, which will become evident over time.

New premises addition at Lanemark helps with crisis response
Lanemark Combustion Engineering Ltd., manufacturers of process gas burner systems used in a range of industrial operations – from metal pretreatment to brewing – is making full use of a new fabrication facility to help meet challenges posed by the current global issue. The Nuneaton-based company had brought a new production unit on stream just prior to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and says it is now helping it maintain customer commitments while also observing the appropriate social distancing advice and instructions.
HMG apprentices complete first ever Industrial Coatings Application Apprenticeship
Two apprentices from Manchester based HMG Paints are amongst the first in the country to complete the new Industrial Coating Applicator Apprenticeship. Josh Taylor and Nathan Eckersley took part in the Apprenticeship which was managed by DN Colleges Group and operated by Jack Tighe and sees the pair complete the apprenticeship as ICATS Time Served Apprentices with an extremely high level of technical and application competence. Apprenticeships and investment in staff is a key development for HMG as it builds the future for itself whilst playing a key role in Greater Manchester’s Local Industrial Statergy.

New PhoenixTM Thermal View Software . . . New Paint Cure Analysis Power
PhoenixTM has released a new version of Thermal View Finishing software complimenting it range of thru-process temperature profiling systems used in the Coating industry. The Finishing software brings some significant new analysis and reporting features designed specifically for temperature monitoring paint and powder cure processes.
Ready. Steady. Celebrate! Interpon Ready to Ship (RTS) Powder Coatings extended to South Asia
If you can’t perform, you won’t compete. And that’s why powder job coaters in South Asia are celebrating that AkzoNobel’s Ready to Ship (RTS) collection of Powder Coatings is now available in a greater range of colors, textures and finishes than ever before.

Architectural Powder Coating – What Should I Specify?
Architects specify powder coating for the majority of their projects for use in the external envelope, but what should they specifically ask for by way of specification clauses?
Riley Surface World opens Brand New Machinery Sale
To help our customers get back on their feet and capitalise on new opportunities Riley Surface World has opened our “Back to Work” sale of Brand New machinery.
Pandemic focuses manufacturing companies on the need to rethink UK support
The current Covid19 situation has exacerbated the massive hole in the UK servicing and support market for hermetically sealed degreasing systems. Traditionally many engineering companies have depended upon European engineers travelling to the UK to undertake not only basic maintenance and servicing but also to solve ongoing issues. As well as proving to be expensive the entire concept has often involved “grouping” service visits between operators in an attempt to minimise costs as far as possible. This has frequently resulted in significant delays in support, sometimes to the detriment of ongoing system integrity.
Plating Line Advice - Will Green FIMF - "Peace of Mind through Confidence"
Throughout our working lives I doubt any of us has experienced the business stress that has been caused by the ongoing health crisis and this has actually made obtaining good technical advice more important than ever.