DÜSSELDORF, Germany - Henkel has opened a new Competence Center for Coatings in Garching, Germany, that offers training courses in which employees of engineering companies can get to know the company’s advanced surface treatments and engineering solutions and enhance their skills in applying them.

Henkel provides a broad range of advanced and trusted maintenance, repair and overhaul products based on two-component epoxy resins. Damaged pump parts can, for example, be remodeled using epoxy-based liquid metals from Loctite, providing durable protection against corrosion and wear. Conveyor screws can be coated with a sprayable anti-corrosive and wear-resistant “shield.” Customers can enhance the reliability and safety of their equipment while saving on the time and costs associated with downtimes and procurement and installation of machine parts.

The newly opened Competence Center for Coatings in Garching (near Munich) in Germany has a 150-square-meter workshop equipped with all the devices needed to produce professional results. These include a blasting cabinet, a washing station and a number of workplaces for manual application with spatulas and brushes through to advanced spraying techniques.

Three-day training courses convey all the necessary skills for professional maintenance and repair of engineering parts, such as pump components. This includes careful cleaning and pre-treatment of all parts, application of epoxy liquid metals to rebuild damaged surfaces, and expert application of wear-resistant and anti-corrosive coatings. Selection of the right products and the appropriate application methods are treated in both the theory and practice modules of the workshop. Additional training sessions also focus on repairing damaged piping or on marine chocking.

The content of the training sessions can tailored to meet customer needs, and training can be carried out on site at customer facilities.

By setting up a Europe-wide network of certified coaters, Henkel’s aim is not only to establish its surface treatment products but also to promote the professional application of its solutions. Coaters can qualify for certification as a “Henkel Certified Coating Center,” thus demonstrating the high quality of their workmanship and their knowledge of how to apply Henkel’s wear-resistant and anti-corrosion products.