Henkel helps SAIC-GM achieve tech breakthrough with zirconium-based pretreatment solution

Henkel Asia-Pacific has announced that its automotive team has used Bonderite M-NT 1820 surface pretreatment technology to help Chinese automaker SAIC-GM upgrade its car coating line.

Henkel had used Bonderite® M-NT 1820 surface pretreatment technology to help SAIC-GM upgrade its car coating line.

The paint shop at SAIC-GM’s Jinqiao South plant, opened in 2003, used to employ Henkel’s traditional zinc phosphating pretreatment process to handle 300,000 units of passenger vehicles annually, including many premium models such as Buick Regal, Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac ATS-L. In May 2016, with full technology support from Henkel China, the paint shop upgraded its pretreatment process with zirconium thin film treatment which went into mass production merely after a one-week commissioning.

According to Kevin Cunningham, GM PT/ED Global SME, “This upgrade is a success across Asia and will be viewed as a benchmark for future development by peers in the automotive manufacturing industry.”

Currently, almost all automotive OEMs are using traditional phosphating treatment process which apparently can no longer meet the ever-stricter environmental requirements due to its defects such as high energy consumption, high heavy metal content and high solid and liquid waste streams.

With a trend of more environment-friendly, cost-effective, high-quality and user-friendly pretreatment technology, Henkel launched Bonderite M-NT 1820 thin film pretreatment, a revolutionary technology that is viewed as an alternative to the traditional phosphating pretreatment. This ground-breaking solution will redefine the surface pretreatment technology in the automotive industry and set new standards for automotive manufacturers.

Shortened process time, cost savings

Bonderite M-NT 1820 surface pretreatment technology, as an alternative to traditional phosphating and passivation treatment, not only allows the treatment to coating process to be undertaken at room temperature without heating, but also fits all metal substrates, thus greatly shortening the process time and saving cost in equipment investment and process control. With Bonderite M-NT 1820, heavy metals, solid waste and waste water are all significantly reduced, thus saving resources and waste treatment cost. Since the processes of surface conditioning and passivation can be skipped, investment in process and equipment footprint are saved and the operational cost including water, electricity, gas and chemicals are reduced.

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