Industrial Coatings is one of our business areas with significant growth potential over the next years. As part of our Environmental Services offering, it plays an important role in our portfolio. In this interview, Adam Zoltan from Wolftank Adisa provides insights into the field of industrial coatings, the solutions we offer, and the opportunities ahead.
In the field of industrial coatings, corrosion protection is often a key focus. What role do coatings play today in extending the lifespan of infrastructure while also reducing its environmental impact?
Coatings are a cornerstone of modern corrosion protection. Their role extends far beyond preventing rust: by extending the service life of infrastructure and reduce maintenance needs, they help save resources, energy, and emissions over the long term. In our industry, a well-designed coating system protects on multiple levels: it safeguards the tank itself, preserving the integrity of the stored medium, and helping to protect the environment.
Looking ahead, in which applications or industries do you see the greatest development potential for coating technologies?
I think the greatest potential lies in sectors where extreme operating conditions, high maintenance costs, and long asset lifecycles come together. Offshore infrastructure faces harsh weather conditions. The automotive industry pushes innovation through intense competition. The chemical industry demands resistance to aggressive substances. And the hydrogen sector, still rapidly evolving, presents unique thermal and chemical challenges.
What is the most demanding application for a coating system – fuels, chemicals, drinking water, or extreme environments? How does the technical approach change depending on the application?
For fuels, chemical resistance is the primary concern. The coating system must remain stable when exposed to the specific fuel, its additives, and temperature fluctuations, without swelling, becoming brittle, or releasing substances into the stored medium. Selecting the right resin chemistry, coating thickness, and curing process is essential. Wolftank’s product portfolio provides coating solutions for all types of fuels. New and more advanced fuels continue to emerge, but we consistently find suitable solutions to meet the requirements of these evolving energy carriers. For chemicals, the challenge grows more complex: the type and concentration of the chemical, operating temperatures, and exposure times all play a significant role in determining the appropriate coating system.
Drinking water applications shift the focus again. In addition to corrosion protection, hygienic and regulatory compliance become critical. The coating must not release unwanted substances into the water and must maintain its performance over the long term. In my view, extreme environments – such as offshore installations, high-temperature applications, intense UV exposure, abrasion, fluctuating temperatures, or combinations of these factors – represent the most technically demanding conditions. Here, the coating must perform not only chemically, but also under significant mechanical, thermal, and cyclic stress. For such challenging applications, combinations of different resin technologies and multi-layer coating systems often provide the most effective and durable solution.