The benefits of our partnership with Arkema
Kersten coating technology and Arkema are two companies that work together to provide innovative solutions in the field of high-quality coatings. Arkema is a world leader in specialty materials, with a focus on developing high-performance materials. These are then applied by Kersten coating technology in various industries. It’s a beautiful collaboration that lasts more than 40 years and also yields many benefits for customers of Kersten coating technology. Want to know how? Read on to find out. A partnership with Arkema does not just happen. For example, there are a number of requirements that a coating specialist must meet in order to qualify for this. We asked Eric-Thomas, sales engineer at Arkema, about it.
Philosophy
“It’s important that partners fit into our philosophy”, he says. “Arkema focuses on innovation, durable and high-performance material development to build a more sustainable world. For example, with our Virtucycle® advanced material recycling program we are committed to contributing to a circular economy. We continue our efforts to further reduce the carbon footprint of our bio-based high-performance materials even further by adopting renewable energy use on our production sites.”
Rilsan® Polyamide 11 – powder coating material made 100% from a plant
A good example is Rilsan® Polyamide 11 material, developed by Arkema and used by Kersten for coatings. This bio-based coating polymer has been around for over 70 years, but has gained significant popularity in recent years due to its sustainable character. Eric explains: “Rilsan® PA11 is 100% derived from castor oil obtained from renewable castor plant. The castor plant adapts best to semi-arid conditions, takes advantage of the monsoon rains, and could be cultivated on more marginal soils. Castor beans do not compete with the food chain and do not cause deforestation. The majority of castor oil production takes place in India and mostly on family farms Launched in 2016, Arkema is a founding member of the Pragati initiative with BASF, Jayant Aro-Organiscs and Solidaridad. The goal of this initiative is to enable more sustainable castor crop production by using good agricultural practices, efficiently using water resources, by maintaining soil fertility, good waste management practices and by enabling better health and safety practices for the farmers and workers involved in the program.
Good match
It’s clear that Kersten coating technology and Arkema are a good match when it comes to corporate social responsibility. “Kersten coating technology also shares this philosophy. Sustainability is not only a key priority for them, they also stand, just like us, for quality, traceability and conducting an honest working method”, says Eric. He adds: “In our opinion, Kersten coating technology is one of the most innovative coating companies in Europe. No, in the world! You don’t often see what they do.”
The benefits for customers of Kersten coating technology
At Kersten coating technology, we are very proud of our partnership with Arkema. Because by joining forces we offer unique solutions that meet the specific needs of each customer. Our managing director Jos Schröder explains: “Due to the intensive collaboration with Arkema, we have direct contact with the supplier of various polymers to enable coating on metal. This not only lets us make quick decisions, it also means we are the first to know about new developments. If a customer of ours has a specific question, we can respond immediately. Our partnership gives us a privileged position in the supply of coating products, because we discuss the needs of the market at an early stage. This way we can translate our customer needs directly into a solution.”
Innovative solutions
The cooperation between Kersten coating technology and Arkema wants to provide customers with innovative solutions that meet their specific needs and at the same time contribute to a sustainable future. A collaboration that, as far as both companies are concerned, may continue for years to come!
Do you want to know more about this topic? Then don’t hesitate to contact us.
