Chemetall opens new Global Aluminum Competence Center

The recent Global Aluminum Competence Center enhances Chemetall’s position in the aluminum application field. There has been an accelerated growth in the creation of technologies and solutions for the use of aluminum in various industries, which has generated a wider range of applications in the market.

The surface treatment branch of BASF, known as Chemetall, opened a new Global Competence Center in Giussano, Italy. This state-of-the-art facility will strengthen Chemetall’s position as a global provider of aluminum surface treatment solutions.

Chemetall decided to establish the Aluminum Competence Center to unify its aluminum surface treatment skills in one place. After carefully analyzing all existing capacities and the needs of the market and customers, it was determined that the Giussano plant was the best choice. This center will enable Chemetall to develop technologies more efficiently and rapidly, leading to significant innovations in the field of aluminum processing and anodizing.

According to Frank Naber, senior vice president of Chemetall, the creation of the Global Aluminum Competence Center will be beneficial to the company as it will allow them to bring new surface treatment solutions to market faster. This center will also centralize aluminum-related research and development activities, resulting in innovative technologies that will solve customers’ challenges worldwide and provide them with sustainable, long-lasting solutions.

“The Aluminum Competence Center at our Giussano site is a strategically important step in further expanding our technological leadership. As a lightweight and highly available metal, aluminum plays an important role in architectural, aerospace and automotive construction. Aluminum is typically used in alloys because pure aluminum has different mechanical properties compared to materials such as steel. Depending on the specific alloy, not only the mechanical properties, but also the chemical and corrosion characteristics of aluminum change. This presents chemical challenges for pretreatment solutions. Our new technology center will allow us to better manage the complexity of this material and enable our team to set new standards in the industry.”said Arjan Termaten, director and head of global technology at Chemetall.

Likewise, Daniela Polzot, the CEO of Chemetall Italy, expressed her pride in the role her team plays in the research and development of the global aluminum business in Giussano. The team has extensive experience in development and application technologies, achieving notable successes in areas such as neutral cleaners and plastics recycling. In conjunction with other technology teams worldwide and in collaboration with universities and research institutions, Chemetall Italia is committed to providing innovative technologies for the aluminum market.

Finally, Chemetall is a company that provides surface treatment solutions worldwide. It offers a variety of advanced products, such as Oxilan® AL0510 (a thin film containing no chromium) and anodizing technologies such as Gardoseal® 1999 (a nickel-free medium temperature sealant) for the aluminum industry. In Italy, more than 70 employees, including 15 technology experts, work to provide treatment solutions to various industries. The new Global Aluminum Competence Center meets the stringent quality requirements demanded by the aluminum finishing industries QUALICOAT, GSB and QUALANOD.