Hempel has introduced two new products in recent weeks – the Hempaguard, a groundbreaking hull coating concept for the shipping industry, and Versiline Vinyl Ester coatings for aggressive industrial environments.

Hempaguard offers outstanding resistance to fouling during idle periods and significant fuel savings. The new patented technology, ActiGuard, has been five years in development and is based on silicone-hydrogel and biocide science.

The innovative Hempaguard has shown excellent fouling resistance of up to 120 days during idle periods, fuel savings of six per cent on average and offers the first performance satisfaction guarantee contract in the industry. The unique fouling defence system is available as two separate products: Hempaguard X5 and Hempaguard X7.

Hempel is so convinced of Hempaguard’s‘s performance that it is offering a performance satisfaction guarantee contract for vessels complying with a full Hempaguard X7 specification.

“If for any reason you are not satisfied using Hempaguard X7, Hempel will pay, under the performance satisfaction guarantee contract, for the conversion of Hempaguard back to conventional antifouling and with no questions asked,” explains fouling control marketing manager Claes Skat-Rørdam during the global launch of Hempaguard at the London International Shipping Week.

ActiGuard integrates silicone-hydrogel and full diffusion control of biocides in a single coating. Surface retention of the biocide activates the hydrogel, which effectively holds fouling organisms at bay, cutting friction to a minimum while utilising a minimum amount of biocide. It also has the long-term stability and mechanical properties required of a durable solution.

“Our goal was to re-think the market. By introducing this concept and a customer satisfaction guarantee contract, that is precisely what we have done,” says Skat-Rørdam.

VERSILINE

Versiline is a range of tailor-made speciality solutions for highly challenging applications – such as chemical tanks, stack linings and absorbers. The range was initially developed by US company Blome, a company Hempel acquired in 2012. Hempel is now making the Versiline brand available globally, starting with the Versiline Vinyl Ester range, which was launched on 29 October this year.

The Versiline Vinyl Ester range includes five coatings that can be combined in various systems depending on the requirements of each application.

Vinyl Ester coatings offer superior performance against high temperatures and aggressive chemicals – making them ideal for the extremely corrosive and abrasive environments encountered in many process industries. Strengthened with an epoxy backbone, the coatings in the Versiline Vinyl Ester range are also highly resistant to water penetration, delamination and humidity.

“In some environments and applications, Vinyl Ester is the only technology that can do the job,” says Oliver Rye, project manager in Hempel’s Protective Segment. “Versiline Vinyl Ester coatings have been used in the US by many tank operators and oil and gas and power generation companies for over 40 years. They have a good track record and have proven to reduce downtime and extend the service life of industrial equipment in harsh environments.”

Hempel will add new coatings and innovative solutions to the global Versiline range in the near future.