Qualicoat Meets on the Tyne

Members recently met at the Jurys Inn on the Tyne at Newcastle to discuss the growing membership of the association and the further development of the coating standard.

Interest in joining the association is on the increase as users of powder coating are now asking their suppliers to become 'accredited' in order to satisfy their standards. It was also felt that the standard was becoming wider known in the UK amongst specifiers and this was having a positive effect on existing members business. The meeting welcomed Specialist Coatings of County Durham to its first meeting and newest member of Qualicoat.

Bodycote, the independent testing authority, announced that it would be joining qualicoat as a member. John Carter of Bodycoat introduced a technical presentation on PowerPoint, 'Why Qualicoat' and a short membership guide, both of which have been posted onto the Qualicoat website.

On the technical front further discussion took place on the new 'Seaside' specification for Qualicoat which offers additional protection for installations in close proximity to the coast. It was also brought to members attention that the new standard RAL cards show a diference in the popular RAL9016. Anyone using this finish should consult with their providers to ensure matching of finishes on a project.

Current news and information on architectural powder coating are frequently updated on the UK website at http://www.qualicoatuki.org. The European website offers further detailed application information which can be found at http://www.qualicoat.net.

Literature and advice is available from Qualicoat UK & Ireland Head Office in Birmingham on 0121 601 6746.