This major investment in new tanks and control technology is the final step in adopting cleaner, more environmentally-friendly chemical pre-treatment for the company’s three major powder coating lines at its Hamilton headquarters.

APL, the proprietor of the Altherm, First and Vantage window and door brands, carried out the upgrade over the recent holiday period. The new process, which replaces toxic chromate formulations with non-hazardous compounds, relates to APL’s two horizontal lines. The third vertical powder coater, which was installed in 2016, already uses the non-chromate process.

The pre-treatment has corrosion inhibiting and adhesion properties and the new formulations maintain this at previous high levels. Previously APL needed to undertake conversion processes to enable the safe disposal of chromate waste streams to meet local authority and environmental standards.

The pre-treatment upgrade is part of a wide-ranging APL strategy to reduce its environmental footprint.