INDUSTRY NEWS
Interpon Powder Coatings puts Rodi on the fast track to sustainability
The cycling accessories team at Rodi – the € 30 million Portuguese manufacturer of aluminum rims and wheels – has found an innovative way of accelerating its environmental ambitions by switching from anodizing to a more sustainable , energy-efficient process using Interpon powder coatings from AkzoNobel .
Rodi needed an alternative to anodizing that was durable , sustainable , and capable of delivering style with a lower gloss finish . The answer was a bespoke Interpon powder coating that delivers a smooth , soft ultra matt finish – with just 3 % gloss . It also comes with AkzoNobel ’ s X-Pro technology which delivers better protection against scratches , UV light and the weather .
Rodi ’ s partnership with the Interpon team is built on a shared ambition to protect natural resources and reduce energy consumption . Rui Mendes , Manager of Rodi ’ s Rims and Wheels business , says he already has plans to further increase production capacity with the team ’ s support : “ It ’ s a formula that attracts the trust of some of Europe ’ s largest bicycle manufacturers including ACCELL , Pon Holdings and Decathlon ,” he explains .
“ We are serving an environmentally conscious audience who are pushing a more sustainable agenda which we take very seriously .
For us , this starts with the suppliers we work with and the products we use , and it is why we use Interpon .”
The partnership began two years ago when AkzoNobel demonstrated how switching from a previous supplier to an Interpon 610 Low-E powder coating reduced Rodi ’ s energy consumption by 25 %. Interpon 610 Low-E requires much lower curing temperatures ( 170 ° C compared to 195 ° C required by the previous brand ) and allows them to coat 20 % more rims per box than was previously possible .
Rodi also became the first manufacturer in its sector to use AkzoNobel ’ s OptiMesure software which controls paint usage and minimizes any reworking by carefully measuring and managing the thickness of the coating being applied .
Daniela Vlad , Director of AkzoNobel ’ s Powder Coatings business , says that collaboration is the key to success : “ We continue to develop new ways to help customers improve their efficiency and performance and lower to their environmental impact . Our expertise goes beyond the powder in the box , and we are delighted to support Rodi in becoming even more sustainable and competitive .”
Rui says that in a typical year , Rodi manufactures c3 million rims and 500,000 wheels at its 60,000 m2 manufacturing site in Aveiro , Portugal : “ With the Interpon team ’ s technical support we have created the most efficient production line possible , with minimal powder wastage , and high-quality output so no resources or energy are wasted .
“ We believe we have an exciting future ahead and one in which Interpon powder coatings will play an important role .”
For more informatioon , please visit : shop . interpon . com
16 OCTOBER 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag