The word ‘sustainability’ in the industrial coatings industry is most often synonymized with innovation and the continual advancement of state-of-the-art technologies into new frontiers of coating systems with more extended durability and lesser maintenance. The strategic adoption of novel technologies directly impacts the performance of the paint and coatings value chain.

Now, numerous industrial coating providers are vying to leverage the latest technological trends to provide highly-engineered solutions and deliver successful products. But it’s worth highlighting when one company has been making all the difference by providing top-notch sustainable liquid and powder coating solutions to a much-esteemed customer base for—nearly a century. Wisconsin-based Hentzen Coatings has been crafting innovative coatings, accommodating their client’s needs, along with custom chemistry and durability requirements to provide best-in-class coating solutions.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Hentzen Coatings is a valued partner for the U.S. Department of Defense to develop a complete array of innovative coating solutions. “Due to our unique strategic relationship with the DOD, we ensure we make the most of our R&D efforts to be at the forefront of futuristic coating technologies begetting efficient, and eco-friendly coating solutions,” states Kirk Pigatto, Vice President and General Manager of Hentzen Coatings.

It is quite quotidian news that the global cost of corrosion is a matter of grave concern today; it is estimated to cost at least 20-25 billion dollars per year, and the cost is rising as the clock ticks by. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has also been fighting this for years and has now taken a proactive role to minimize these costs. As a result, the DoD has been increasingly opting for advanced liquid and powder coating technologies in order to extend the life of their transportation infrastructure against all adverse effects of corrosion while also eying a sustainable approach with robust and chrome-free coatings on the aerospace front. Promptly responding to these needs, Hentzen Coatings is serving the defense industry with its premier line of primers, topcoats, thinners and additives, and specialty coatings for the DoD to successfully protect all major weapons systems against corrosive damages.

From the development of chemical agent resistant coatings (CARC) with infrared reflectance, camouflage, and decontamination properties, Hentzen’s products meet the most demanding military standards. In addition to its impressive portfolio of solutions, the company can also boast of the first U.S. Patent awarded for combat-grade CARC Powder coatings. As Hentzen Coatings is on a never-ending quest to up the ante in corrosion performance with its environmentally friendly solutions, some of their currently used primers are far more stringent, offering protection on par with the requirements of military specifications that have tripled the importance of corrosion resistance over the past 10 years.

Due to our unique strategic relationship with the DOD, we ensure we make the most of our R&D efforts to be at the forefront of futuristic coating technologies begetting efficient, and eco-friendly coating solutions

Alongside, Hentzen’s protective coating solutions are increasingly blended with proprietary ingredients that exponentially increase its performance to a much higher level than conventional technologies.

The company is continuously pushing the envelope to foster innovation to detect the level of corrosion and treat them appropriately. As scientists have to wait for years to identify corrosion failures with traditional salt-spray cabinet testing methods or other ways of detecting corrosion, Hentzen Coatings is dodging the conventional methods to deploy electrochemical impedance testing (EIS), and measuring the dielectric change of the coated products as it’s exposed to external surroundings. Thereafter, scientists can learn how a specific part of the product is reacting over the testing lifecycle and devise solutions based on their inferences.

In an industry that has experienced heavy consolidation over time, Hentzen Coatings is still one of the largest and privately held coating manufacturers in North America. Riding on their widespread reverence as one of the country’s industry leaders, the company has acquired a multitude of prestigious clients while reaping countless success stories. Pigatto recalls a particular case when Hentzen coatings helped one of their clients, a global marine leader in propulsion and services, develop new powder coating solutions to perform well in their demanding marine environment. As their boat engines were continually exposed to saltwater conditions and biological agents, they were subjected to numerous corrosion issues. So, the company had to look for an apposite coating solution, to protect their boat engines against corrosion. And that is how they decided to onboard Hentzen Coatings.

The Hentzen Coatings team at the outset had to meet their client's qualification requirement of tidewater testing where engines are put in the ocean for two years. According to the tide flow, they are exposed to biological agents like barnacles that degrade the paint and cause corrosion. After placing the test parts into the ocean, they were monitored over two years to look for any degradation of the paint. Hentzen Coatings not only met the set standard but outperformed their competition. “We worked with them over a three to five-year time period to develop their signature coating, and came up with the solution that enhanced their corrosion protection performance, enabling their transition to powder coating technologies,” avers Pigatto. This project was also a token of Hentzen’s patience and engagement level with its clients. “We went through three to five years of development process before there was any opportunity to realize a sale, which highlights how we signify our strategic initiatives,” adds Andy Daly, Technical Director of Hentzen Coatings.

After extensively augmenting its technical competencies and strategic partnerships over the last decade, Hentzen Coatings is expanding its geographical footprint. Having recently opened a facility in India, and another powder coating facility in Nanjing, China, the company is also making its presence felt in Mexico. As numerous global players and industry giants continue to benefit from Hentzen’s transformative solutions, the company aims to keep moving forward under the auspice of innovation to counter the detrimental impacts of corrosion. “As we near our 100th anniversary, our equation for success remains the same. We continue to invest in R&D and focus on providing best-in-class coating solutions to protect our client’s products, and also the environment,” concludes Pigatto.