Coatings World - MAY 2013

AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings reports that the aerospace industry is growing year on year. The company noted that the Asia Pacific region is leading growth.

“The developing markets in Asia
Pacific are leading to a strong growth
in demand from people who want to
fly and this in turn leads to a demand
for more aircraft,” said van der Laan.
“Depending on whose forecast you
take note of, there will be a demand for
an additional 30,000 new aircraft over
the next 20 years. A number of these
will be replacements for older aircraft
but the majority will be new aircraft to
cope with the increased demand from
the market. A consequence of all this
is that we see an increase in demand
for our products. Recent launches of
products such as the reliable Aerobase
and Aerodur Base Coat/Clear Coat
systems and the environmentally pro-
gressive chrome-free surface pretreat-
ment Metaflex SP 1050, have helped to
drive the demand as the performance
of these systems have produced proven
benefits to users.”
The need for more efficient and
cost saving products is also a driver of
growth. “As the global aviation market
continues to grow along with global
wealth, the aerospace coatings business
grows with this market,” said Cancilla.
“Further, aerospace coatings products
play an important role in the continu-
ous improvement of aircraft efficiencies.
PPG is launching our Aerocron electro-
coat process and products, which have
shown to improve the application con-
sistency of primer systems, reducing the
overall weight of the coatings applied.
Further, the industry is moving toward
basecoat, clearcoat topcoat systems,
which improve the overall weight and
service life of the coatings on aircraft.
Lastly, PPG has developed new, green
solutions replacing chromated prod-
ucts including our new Desoprime CF/
CA7502 chrome free primer systems.
As these new products are launched,
demand to replace antiquated technolo-
gies increases.”
The aerospace coatings market is
highly competitive and customers de-
mand the most innovative products that
will meet stringent safety standards and
increase efficiencies.