How can we reduce European resource use drastically? Examples for Factor X reduction in resource use in Europe

The coating-film technology developed by the Karl Wörwag Lack- und Farbenfabrik of Stuttgart is a new, low-energy and high-efficiency method of coating application. In this process, synthetic carrier foils are coated by means of a squeegee technology under clean room conditions. Since overspray is completely avoided, application efficiency reaches levels of close to 100 percent. The technology enables the coating of synthetic parts and components, with savings in materials of 50 % and an 80% reduction in energy consumption.

Wörwag has brought the coating-film technology to production readiness in two particular areas of deployment:

• The decorative coating film is a coating-film which can be applied in profile laminating with synthetic windows and other construction elements.
• The “transfer coating” was developed especially for the coating of synthetic accessory attachments in the automobile industry.

Both products are based on a two-layered coating system, consisting of a universally pigmentable water-based adhesive layer and a solvent-based Dual Cure UV system.

On the basis of these successes, Wörwag is currently testing an “overpaintable” transfer coating-film, in order to enable multicolored paint application on automobiles in a single painting procedure. Through this new process the duration of the painting process for multicolored cars would be cut in half, and the energy consumption required would be reduced by from 30 to 50 %.

This project was funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU). Read more: https://www.dbu.de/123artikel32924_2430.html