International protective coating brands

Why the manufacturer matters

Two coating systems with the same generic description – for example "zinc-rich epoxy, epoxy MIO, polyurethane, 240 µm" – can differ in solids content, overcoating windows, curing at low temperature, compatibility with fire protection and colour range. Consultants and owners therefore often name approved manufacturers in the specification, and international contractors prefer systems they can buy and repair locally after handover. World Steel works with the manufacturer named in the specification, or proposes a suitable system from an international or regional manufacturer when the choice is left open.

The manufacturers listed below appear on World Steel's Clients and Partners page; systems from these manufacturers are applied at World Steel according to the project specification. Brand names belong to their owners, and no individual product trade names are listed here. For the generic system choice see corrosion protection systems.

Coating manufacturers whose systems are applied at World Steel

Specifications may also name other manufacturers, such as Nippon Paint or KCC; World Steel reviews any named system against the requirements below before quoting. The international manufacturers are typically specified for export projects in Australia, the US, Europe and the Middle East because their systems are tested to ISO 12944-6 and supported locally; regional manufacturers are commonly used for projects in Southeast Asia and for interior, lower-category exposure.

How a system is chosen and approved

• Specification review: the corrosivity category, durability, generic types, number of coats, nominal DFT, colour and any named manufacturers are taken from the project documents.
• ISO 12944-5 reference: the proposed system is checked against the example systems in ISO 12944-5 (or AS/NZS 2312.1) for the category and durability, and against the manufacturer's own system recommendation; where the specification requires ISO 12944-6 performance testing, the manufacturer's test evidence is requested.
• Data sheets: product data sheets and safety data sheets are checked for surface preparation, DFT per coat, overcoating intervals, curing, temperature and humidity limits.
• Compatibility: all coats come from one manufacturer's system where possible; compatibility with galvanizing (duplex), with intumescent fire protection (fire protection) and with site touch-up paint is confirmed in writing.
• VOC and environment: the system must comply with VOC and environmental rules of the destination market and with site rules for touch-up paint.
• Submittal and approval: the system proposal with data sheets is submitted to the client or consultant and approved before blasting starts.

Application and inspection at World Steel

Approved systems are applied in the factory by abrasive blast cleaning and airless spray to the manufacturer's data sheet and the specification. Ambient conditions, batch numbers, surface preparation and DFT are recorded; adhesion is tested by pull-off or cross-cut where specified. Manufacturer technical representatives may attend for inspections where the specification or warranty requires it. Detailed generic guidance is in the PEB article on paint and coating systems and the system pages for epoxy and alkyd coatings.

Documentation the client receives

With every coated package World Steel supplies the approved system sheet, the product data sheets and safety data sheets, the coating inspection report with DFT readings and adhesion results, batch numbers of the paint used, and the touch-up and repair procedure with the colour references. For galvanized items the galvanizing certificate is added. Documents are issued in English and referenced to the member marks of the shop drawings, so the owner can plan maintenance with the same manufacturer's products.