june 2007
Qualicoat recently held its AGM at the ‘Jurys Inn’, Glasgow, with an excellent members turnout. All the major producers of polyester powder and pre-treatment chemicals along with the major powder coaters in the UK were represented.
During the last year there has been a further increase in membership of the organisation which is spearheading higher standards for architectural powder coat finishes in the UK. The outgoing chairman, Douglas McAllister of MSP (Scotland) Limited – Powder Coating Division, thanked his committee members and the work of the Association over the last twelve months which has brought about a rise in awareness and interest in membership.
Paul McCarthy, MD of APA Systems in Ireland took on the role of Chairman of the Association for the next 12 months and welcomed new developments within the Qualicoat standard and further new members who were interested in joining.
Members present were given a list of new companies that had joined the Association and sadly a couple members who have had their licences revoked due to failure of passing the independent testing undertaken by Bodycote.
New for 2007/8, amongst other items, will be a new Qualicoat UK & Ireland website, new specifier literature and inclusion into the NBS standard, Z31, with the preference to use powder coaters who conform to the Qualicoat standard label. On the production front issues of re-cycling and impact on the environment of using chemicals in the powder coat process was discussed. It was claimed that some of the outflows from members powder coating plants actually had less pollutants to those found naturally around their geographic location.
In August 2007 the Association moves premises in Birmingham to the ‘National Metalforming Centre’ at 47 Birmingham Road in West Bromwich where there are improved facilities for members and the Association.
To learn more about the Qualicoat standard label for powder coating please contact Qualicoat on 0121 456 6106 or visit the website at www.qualicoatuki.org.
