Dörken MKS-Systeme brought together around 100 experts from the automotive and supplier industry for a one-day workshop in Bergamo. / High-performance corrosion protection in theory, test and practice was a central theme of the event. / In this respect, the company also presented two new top coats.
On 20 June 2012 Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG hosted its second Tech-Day for the Italian market in Bergamo. Around 100 experts from the automotive and subcontracting industries took part in the workshop, including the Managing Director of the Italian fastener association UPIVEB and the President of the Italian spring association ANCCEM. Highlight of the event was the presentation of Italian OEM Fiat, which reported on the use of zinc flake systems from the viewpoint of an automobile manufacturer, at the same time explaining the processes with which the company tests the performance of the coatings in the laboratory and on the road. DELTA-MKS® systems are specified by Fiat in standard 9.57513. The programme also included presentations from the coating applicators Primat, Fosfantartiglio and Baumann on the handling of the DELTA-MKS® systems and their use on fastening elements and springs.
Amongst the products, the zinc flake system Delta-Protekt® KL 105 and the two new topcoats Delta-Protekt® VH 301.1 GZ and Delta-Lube® 10 green were the focus of discussion. With Delta-Protekt® KL 105 optimisation has resulted in a zinc flake basecoat receiving the additional characteristic of meeting the coefficient of friction specified by the automotive industry. This was previously only possible with expensive multi-coat systems. Delta-Protekt® VH 301.1 GZ offers optimised fastening characteristics when assembled against components made from aluminium or e-coated surfaces and sets new technological standards as far as fulfilling the specifications of the German automobile manufacturers as far as to the surfaces of fasteners in bodywork and engine construction is concerned. Delta-Lube® 10 green is a lubricant specifically tailored to DELTA-MKS® systems with multifunctional properties, particularly for large-dimensioned threaded parts in the construction of commercial vehicles. The performance of the new products, including in series production, was illustrated in numerous practice-related trials.
The use and excellent performance of the two new topcoats was also described by a representative of the Italian fastener manufacturer Agrati in his report. Extensive tests in combination with the basecoat Delta-Protekt® KL 100 revealed that even with five-time tightening the values of the VDA window are met with regard to overall coefficient of friction µtot and problematic stick-slip effects are avoided.
Dörken MKS-Systeme presented internal investigations in its presentation regarding different pretreatment systems and their influence on zinc flake coatings, explained procedures for examining corrosion resistance as per DIN EN ISO 9227 and provided important information on the establishment of test chambers and international standards of the various OEMs regarding corrosion analysis. The subject of tests and standards was rounded off by a contribution from Angelantoni Test Technologies S.r.l. as a manufacturer of salt spray chambers and a paper by the University Politecnico Milano on promising electro-mechanical rapid tests in correlation to standard salt spray tests for coated fastening elements.
With the Tech-Day in Italy Dörken MKS-Systeme was continuing its series of international technology workshops. May and June already saw events take place in France and China. A further Tech-Day is planned for Brazil in July.
