Small steps to make a positive difference

The need to adopt behaviours and systems in order to avoid the depletion of natural resources, is present in most people’s minds. The quality of life of our modern societies will certainly decrease if we cannot sustain an ecological balance.

Powdertech Surface Science is committed to embracing and introducing measures that will help to make our entire operation more sustainable. Our core values are respect, accountability and being responsive and these apply equally to our concern for the environment.

We introduced solar panels for electricity generation at the start of 2021.

HarvestGreen installed our SolarPV panels, making the most of our flat roof in sunny Bicester. We are aiming to generate at least 20% of the electricity we use from renewable electricity on our site, reducing our carbon output and offsetting some of our carbon emissions.

We have worked with chrome-free pre-treatment chemicals since 2001.

Hexavalent chrome was often used in pre-treatment chemicals as it is anti-corrosive but studies began to indicate its carcinogenic properties and as such it is a risk to health and the environment. It was finally banned from use in certain industrial processes in 2017. At Powdertech Surface Science we switched to non-chrome chemicals 16 years earlier, in 2001.

Reducing waste and efficient waste recycling

We have invested in equipment to compact all our recyclable waste and we manage our processes in order to reduce, reuse and recycle waste materials. We do our best to use recyclable materials wherever possible, our latest addition to procurement being ‘WhoGivesACrap? ‘loo paper.

Powder coatings themselves are ‘greener’ that you might think

• Powder coatings are a dry powder and emit zero or negligible volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Powder coatings contain no halogens or heavy metals.

• Powder coatings do not produce hazardous waste. The process takes place in sealed booths and 95% of what is sprayed adheres to the metal or is collected, filtered and re-used. Any powder left over is safely disposed of as an inert powder.

• Powder coating takes place in factory-controlled conditions so there is no on-site impact.

• Powder coating does not mean ‘end-of life’ status for the metal. The coating can be removed and the metal recycled with no adverse effect.

Lightweighting for energy conservation

From the outset we chose to focus our expertise on the coating of lightweight metal alloys of aluminium and magnesium, and we currently work with many automotive clients who are designing and manufacturing for lightweighting. Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust and it is highly recyclable. Studies show that 75% of aluminium used today has been recycled. The use of lighter materials extends into other sectors also, including aerospace, medical and leisure equipment.

We have developed PowderBondPP, a system specifically designed for joining lightweight metals to lightweight composite materials for hybrid assemblies used in EVs. Assemblies made using PowderBond can be disassembled for EOL recycling.

Caring for people and quality of life

The term ‘sustainability’ has been recognised to encompass societal progress and a recognised increased in quality of life as well as protecting the Earth’s resources and climate. We adhere to those principles in our employment practices. We have a mutually supportive atmosphere at work, we contribute above the recommended pension level and all staff are covered by our sick-pay scheme. Everyone is entitled to an extra day’s holiday on their birthday.