Düsseldorf, Germany – As part of its active global support for the metal coil
industry, Henkel is partnering with major coil producers to implement dedicated
process solutions for end applications in e-mobility. In addition, the company is
also addressing demands for reducing the complexity of downstream
manufacturing steps by enabling continuous upstream functional coating
processes without compromising the technical properties of the coated material.
E-mobility is a megatrend that requires new approaches to enable the production of
electrical applications in increasingly larger volumes, as required to meet the expected
growth of hybrid and fully electrical vehicles. Metal coil producers play an essential role
in this market, supplying steel and aluminum coils to the manufacturers of batteries,
transformers, converters, wound cores, shunt reactors and other key components for
e-drive and electrified powertrain systems.
Henkel is determined to help its customers in this dynamic market segment to steer
the future of e-mobility and gain a competitive edge with a complete portfolio of
products and services for metal pretreatment and functional coating. Moreover, in
underscoring its commitment to the metal industry beyond established downstream
solutions, the company is also exploring advanced concepts together with major metal
coil manufacturers, designed to bring the value-added benefits of its functional coating
products to upstream processes.
“So far, most functional coatings are applied in secondary process steps at the battery
or component manufacturers’ sites, increasing the manufacturing complexity of end
products, which is a considerable time and cost factor particularly with high-volume
applications,” explains Aziz Mabrouki, Business Director Metal Coil Europe for Henkel.
“In close collaboration with major customers, we have developed an integrated coil
pretreatment and functional coating technology that can be applied in a continuous
upstream process and will not only maintain but even improve the performance
properties of the coated metal. In other words, adding value right on the coil.”
Henkel’s process know-how extends across the entire value chain from the rolling oil
for electrical steel to specific pickling inhibitors and cleaners to specialized new
functional and conductive thin coatings, such as for covering the aluminum foil used in
EV battery systems. Besides providing reliable corrosion protection for painted or
unpainted substrates, these products have been custom-tailored to improve the overall
performance of e-mobility applications by enhancing insulation and bonding properties,
magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity. At the same time, they also address
important sustainability goals, such as minimized product consumption and waste and
the phase-out of hexavalent chromium (CR VI) in metal treatment.
Latest product innovations targeted at both upstream and downstream metal
pretreatment and functional coating for end products in e-mobility include:
• Bonderite O-TO dedicated product range
• Bonderite M-CR 12 series
In addition to the company’s comprehensive product portfolio for the metal coil industry,
Henkel also offers special equipment to ensure best manufacturing practices in many
coil process steps.
Bonderite is a registered trademark of Henkel and/or its affiliates in Germany and
elsewhere.
