Don’t Tread on Me

Posted on January 15, 2013 by induron

By Linc York, Induron Sales Representative

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is proposing new LEED regulations for the paint and coatings industry, prompting some of us in the industry to ask, “Why?”

I’ve been in this industry for 40 years. When I started, there was no such thing as VOC restrictions, and there were no regulations on how much solvent you could have in a can of paint. In the 1970s, many paints were more than 50 percent solvent. Some even contained lead, chrome, asbestos and other heavy metals. However, since those times, the industry has adapted to current standards and those harmful additives are thankfully things of the past.

For the last 30 years, the paint and coatings industry has been going in two environmentally friendly directions at the same time. We have been developing zero-VOC coatings, as well as low-VOC-containing water-based technology in all our generic coatings lines. We have innovated many products that are commercially available and sold daily that are both HAPS (Hazardouse Air Pollutants) AND VOC-free. It doesn’t get any better than that. Additionally, new water-based technology is being developed all the time.

So, my point is this – in my opinion, the paint industry is way ahead of the curve. We don’t need more regulations. We compete against ourselves, forcing new and innovative products that are always being developed. Couple R&D innovation with the architects and engineering communities who are on the cutting edge of compliance regulations, and that keeps all good paint and coatings manufacturers ahead of government over regulation. We don’t need more bureaucracy!

Founded in 1947, Induron manufactures high performance coatings that serve a range of industrial applications, including the wastewater, transmission and distribution and groundwater storage industries. Learn more about us at www.Induron.com.

Look for Innovation, and the World Will Beat a Path to Your Door

Posted on August 28, 2012 by induron

By Linc A. York, Induron Sales Rep, Troy, MO

How do you get the world to beat a path to your door? You know the answer – build a better mousetrap.

When I read this article from Coatings Tech magazine online, I thought immediately of this phrase. The “open innovation” approach discussed in this article is a new spin on what I’ve called “building a better mousetrap” in the coatings industry. The authors of the piece emphasize how much competitive advantage is gained when we look outside our own company for the best ideas for new and innovative products and applications.

Before we knew what to call this concept, we were doing it here at Induron. We draw on many sources of information – raw material suppliers, the needs and desires of our customers, new technology we’re seeing in the marketplace, our R&D staff, and of course our sales force – for new product ideas. Then we’re nimble enough to develop, test and launch a product in six to 12 months. Continue reading →

Induron: Helping Kids Beat the Summer Heat

Posted on July 3, 2012 by induron

By Linc York, Induron Sales Rep, Troy, MO

Not all epoxy coatings are created equal. I have read dozens of specifications that call for using a polyamidoamine epoxy coating in immersion and corrosive environments. Other than being hard to spell and pronounce, polyamidoamine epoxies are highly cross-linked, chemical- and abrasion-resistant protective coatings. However, that is where the similarities apparently end.

Bazan Painting Company has been in business since 1977, and as an industrial painting company, has worked with all the major and many of the smaller manufacturers of coatings. They typically paint 30 to 40 swimming pools every year. That’s a lot of responsibility for summer fun, and Bazan Painting has earned an excellent reputation. In addition to being a demanding task, it is a very short painting season – from the end of winter in the mid-West until pools open on Memorial Day. The protective coating has to be tinted correctly and delivered on time. Eric Hellwig, Bazan’s Purchasing Agent, says that Induron’s customer service is the best.

Walt Bazan, Jr., the owner, had been using a well-known polyamidoamine epoxy for years. It seemed to be working O.K., but he noticed that some customers were complaining that it just wasn’t holding up very well.

Fortunately, Walt agreed to try Induron Perma-Clean II polyamidoamine epoxy on a couple of pools as a test. And as they say, the rest is history. Continue reading →

Induron: Rescuing Tanks from Kids with Rocks

Posted on March 27, 2012 by induron

By Linc York, Induron Sales Rep, Troy, MO

Boys will be boys. And boys will throw rocks.

In Olathe, Kansas, those thrown rocks turned into a huge recoating project when the city planned to coat their 4.5 million-gallon standpipe, called Black Bob 2. Because the tank is located in a busy city park, some of the town’s youngsters threw rocks at it, chipping off the paint and causing corrosion and undercutting.

Induron worked with Olathe’s project engineer to develop specifications, evaluate adhesion of the existing coating system and apply test patches. We ultimately decided to completely recoat the entire tank exterior, which also required removal of the old coating by abrasive blast cleaning.

We were excited to work with Leher Painting in Arkansas – a company who had never used Induron products before. After an initial product evaluation, they were completely satisfied with our Induron Perma-Gloss Fluorourethane, placed the order and began application.

During that application, chips from rocks weren’t the only problem with the tank. Painters discovered that the bottom two rings of the tank interior had significant corrosion. While on site, Leher Painting abrasive blasted and applied Induron Ceramapure TL70 Ceramic-Modified, NSF epoxy. This high-build coating was applied in two coats at an average dry film thickness of 25 mils, which is twice the average thickness of a conventional 3-coat NSF epoxy system.

City officials and engineers in Olathe were pleased with the final result of the newly coated tank. Now if we could just find a solution for those rock-throwing boys…

We ‘Spec It’s Time to Save Some Money

Posted on January 10, 2012 by induron

By Linc York, Induron Sales Representative

You’ve got a project. You’re creating a specification. Induron wants to be part of that spec, and we’ll almost always save you or your client money and make your project easier.

It’s that simple.

At Induron, we do more than just manufacture protective coatings. We are dead serious about building relationships (our boss Davies wrote about this in a previous blog post) that can turn into real, tangible savings for you and your client. So, how can a spec save you money or even make your project easier? Continue reading →