Coatings Technology

The Coatings Technology group employs 18 experts in the fields of electroplating and polymer coatings. The research programme focuses on improving the product portfolio of Corus Packaging Plus, including tinplate, ECCS and Protact, through coating process development and process optimisation.

Improvements in the coated product portfolio aim at increasing material quality, e.g. gloss and coating homogeneity of tinplate, which enables Corus customers to achieve a higher product quality in terms of finished cans. New product developments, such as our Protact polymer coated materials, aim to simplify the can making processes for our customers. This enables cost savings and environmental improvements, while offering opportunities for new packaging solutions.

Using the extensive facilities of the Centre for Packaging Technology, we can achieve very short development cycles, directly linking coated material quality to final product performance.

The Coatings Technology group has excellent laboratory and pilot coating line facilities to support its research activities. In addition, it has access to a range of sophisticated software programs (e.g. ELSYCA®, ASPEN®, CFX®) to assist coating process optimisation through simulation. The group belongs to international networks of research institutes and universities, which ensures it has access to the newest developments in metal packaging coatings. 

Examples of our R&D achievements include:

• Improved DWI tinplate homogeneity by means of edge mask technology
• New Cr(VI)-free passivation treatments for tinplate (current topic)

Case studies
These case studies illustrate some of the projects that the Coatings Technology knowledge group have contributed to.