’Business as usual’
2nd August 2016

Qualicoat members have been told it will be ‘business as usual’ after the exit from the EU. The message came from both the President and General Secretary at its AGM and members meeting at the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa, Cardiff.

Membership growth of the association was tabled and currently there are two major aluminium systems companies undergoing inspections to gain Qualicoat licences, with a further company looking to apply and a further four powder coaters currently undergoing inspections. The reason for the growth was felt to be the increasing number of building specifications calling for Qualicoat approved systems.

During the technical update, the topic of chrome-free or ‘alternative pretreatment’ systems was discussed. The association has been undertaking the review of such systems across all coaters and can confirm that whilst the uptake of ‘alternative pretreatment’ systems is on the increase, so is the quality of these alternative systems. The association is to offer a report on this in the near future which will be placed on their website.

Keeping quality at the forefront of the association, members were informed that there is a training session for laboratory technicians taking place at members Chemetall which is to be run by the association independent test institute IFO.
The meeting in Cardiff was the final meeting that the General Secretary, Tom Siddle, would attend. Tom has looked after the association for the last eleven years and is retiring. The association offered a short presentation and gift and wished Tom a very happy retirement.

During the AGM it was confirmed by the membership that Alan Maginnis of Sprint Coatings, would remain as President for a further year, and that Wade Locke of Vertik-Al, would continue as Vice President.

Copies of the Qualicoat standard, now in its fourteenth edition, complete with amendments and updates, is available through the UK association website, www.qualicoatuki.org, together with an up to date list of powder suppliers, pretreatment suppliers and applicators. Printed literature and telephone support is available from Qualicoat UK & Ireland’s Head Office in Birmingham on 0121 601 6746.