Powdertech Surface Science to attend Battery Cells and Systems Expo, NEC 15 & 16 May

Powdertech Surface Science is increasingly being called upon to provide surface treatment expertise on projects related to electric vehicle battery enclosures.

Having recently enjoyed a successful day at Battery Tech Expo at Silverstone, Director James Grant is looking forward to discussing upcoming projects at the two-day Battery Cells and Systems Expo at the NEC in May.

He said: “We are finding that EV production in the UK is starting to ramp up, and as surface treatment and powder coating specialists with significant automotive and EV experience, our expertise is increasingly in demand.

“In this industry our clients need suppliers who understand their requirements and can deliver a solution that works, in the time agreed. When it comes to TiZr passivation and dielectric powder coating – we know the work, the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.”

At the Silverstone show, our stand was busy with a steady stream of engineers looking to expand their knowledge on surface treatment for battery enclosures. We are anticipating the same at stand 1427 on May 15 and 16.

Our team has also been providing surface treatment expertise to the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s (APC) ALIVE project, which is aimed at building a world class battery enclosure manufacturing supply chain in the UK. The other companies in the research consortium are Constellium, BMW, Mini, Rolls Royce, Brunel University, Expert Tooling & Automation, Innoval Technology, Volvo, and Warwick Manufacturing Group.

We have significant experience on commercial EV projects. Bob Mustard CTO of Watt Electric Vehicles said: “Having worked with Powdertech over many years I am continually impressed by the team’s expertise at the forefront of emerging technologies and exemplary level of service.”

You can meet Powdertech’s expert team at stand 1427 at the Battery Cells and Systems Expo at the NEC on May 15 and 16, or find more information on the EV pages of our website.

Critical joining knowledge

Titanic, Belfast on March 21st 2019 - JOINING OF COMPOSITES CONFERENCE . Don’t miss a highly instructive, educational showcase for recent international developments in composite joining. Powdertech Surface Science will be presenting PowderBond, our new technique for bonding composite to metal without the need for a separate adhesive.

Fourteen short presentations from key players in the field will ensure that you are thoroughly updated on the latest in composite joining.

Powdertech and magnesium go back a long way

Magnesium is 33% lighter than aluminium, 60% lighter than titanium and 75% lighter than steel with excellent elongation and ductility properties. Industry observers anticipate a resurgence in its use through the 21st Century as it has great benefits to offer as a structural material.  

A lot of the demand is emerging from automobile and aerospace manufacturers who are increasingly shifting towards magnesium-alloys to reduce vehicle and aircraft weights and meet growing fuel-efficiency demands. There is an abundant supply - magnesium is 4th most common element in the Earth (after iron, oxygen and silicon) and it is 100% recyclable.

Corrosion resistance is critical and die cast magnesium components can be powder coated or e-coated. Powdertech Surface Science has been powder coating magnesium for over ten years, operating all large automotive OEM approved magnesium chrome-free pre-treatment systems. For aerospace-approved magnesium alloys to class L (with top coat) or class S (no top coat) specification we use Gardobond X4729 eleven-stage chrome-free pre-treatment.

Powder coating this year - maybe PowderBond next year?

Many congratulations to Oxford Brookes Racing - the top UK team at FSUK 2018, and a well-deserved second place on the Silverstone Circuit in July. We were delighted to offer our powder coating services and wish the team continuing success. If adhesive-free bonding of lightweight metals and composite materials is an option for Frankie’s successor we’d be happy to discuss Powderbond.