TPT January 2011

I ndustry N ews Pemco International celebrates its 100 th year as leading coating provider

THIS year Pemco International will celebrate its 100 year anniversary. A great achievement these days to have survived this long in an industry that has and still does require constant evolution in its product range. The company, with its roots in Brugge, Belgium, made its name originally in the development and production of porcelain and glass enamels across a wide spectrum of applications. Today, Pemco positions itself as the leading solutions provider in the enamels, specialty frits and conductive coatings industries. Products range from coatings for metal and glass to metallurgical frits used as processing agents by the steel industry. Additionally, the introduction of conductive coatings has seen a significant widening of the applications of Pemco’s products to areas as diverse as demisting strips on windscreens (automotive) and solar cells (energy generation). As Pemco has evolved to meet market demands so has its management. Marcel Zegger, CEO, was appointed in 2008 and is championing a new vision focused upon taking the company into the next decade with a much leaner and fitter management structure and a developing product portfolio. “We are building upon strong established skills and capabilities to bring innovation and competitively differentiating solutions to other quality-critical production industries.” As clear global leader in metallurgical glass for extrusion processes, Pemco has strongly supported innovation in its business unit metal processing solutions (MPS) by intensifying efforts to develop two dynamic business lines now part of MPS: Pemforge Glass Coatings – the total solution for companies in the forging industry determined to achieve consistent high quality forged output and die durability. And refractory glazes for hot transformations, where protection against oxidisation at extreme temperatures becomes a key functionality for steel processing. These product solutions, across a wide range of applications, are very much ‘part of life’ for millions of people worldwide. Pemco International is an established company and can be relied upon to be there in the future, with long-standing relationships with customers being a hallmark of the company. “Our goal is to improve the competitiveness of our customers by delivering value – it’s about excellent products and good technical services delivered at an affordable

Pemco’s tailor-made, highly technical approach is in step with the drive to improve steel, alloy and cast iron performance in a range of industries

price,” explained Mr Zegger. In recent times metallurgical glass for extrusion has become a core strength of the business with the development of a unique range of metallurgical frits for use both as lubrication agents and as protective layers against oxidation in processes such as the extrusion of seamless tubes, hot shaped metal and other techniques. As a processing aid, Pemco’s metallurgical solutions reduce significantly the loss of material through oxidation, ensure the best surface quality as well as good homogeneity of metal structure, helping to increase the efficiency of the process and the longevity of the equipment used. There is no doubt that the industry seeks improved and consistent quality products within the supply chain, particularly for those industries with mission critical roles such as aerospace, defence, oil and gas and power plants. The stakes are high and people’s lives often depend upon it. Product innovation requires an in-depth knowledge, understanding and appreciation of end-use applications methods, manufacturing conditions, parameters and equipment, plus focused laboratory support and back-up. Vincent Guasp, MPS business unit manager is focused on future technology at Pemco. “The life cycle of products produced in the Metallurgy industry has to be extended and high performance lubricants are required in the process to ensure high

quality of the final products in terms of mechanical and corrosion resistance. We are constantly leveraging our expert know- how to smelt frits suitable for this industry. For instance we do not use recycled glass due to the danger of impurities and unstable formulations.” “Inclosecollaborationwitheachcustomer’s own experts, we are able to provide detailed analysis of coating performance. We use a broadrangeofphysicalandchemicalanalyses such as energy dispersive spectroscopy, DSC and TGA, XRF together with particle size distribution to ensure the highest quality of powder compositions is achieved relative to the specific needs. In fact, an ‘A – Z’ quality policy is rigorously applied throughout the production process, starting from the analysis of the raw material until the final production of our finished products.” Technology improvements will continue in the future and companies like Pemco International will play an important role in the development of tailor-made glass coatings for the advanced metals now commonly used such as titanium, zirconium and nickel and super alloys. Going forward the key to success lies in the processing industry being able to harness the technologies and stay one step ahead of the game. Pemco International – The Netherlands Fax: +31 88 258 8525 Email: info.arn@pemco-intl.com

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J anuary 2011

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