The pretreatment of metals is always performed in a number of steps. Depending on the application technology, substrate throughput as well as the intended use of the pretreated material, we help our customers to select the optimum process for their processes.

As we are completely focused on metal pretreatment, we are capable to deliver a variety of efficient technologies for each process step. We distinguished metal pretreatment between prior to painting and prior to cold forming. For more information on each single step, please visit the respective product groups.

In order to ensure an excellent metal painted surface quality, the pretreatment prior to painting plays an essential role. The metal cleaning is for most applications the first step prior to any further surface treatment activities. The cleaning provides a residue-free and wettable metal surface, which meets the requirements of the following process stages.

To reinforce the adhesion of the paint and hence improve corrosion resistance, the surface treatment consists of either an iron- or zinc-phosphating, chromating, oxalate or anodizing process. On top, our customers can select from one of our innovative, eco-friendly titanium/zirconium- or silane-based technologies.

Activator agents are used prior to phosphating or chrome-free conversion coatings in order to provide a very uniform micro-crystalline coating of the desired coating weight.

The non-cutting deformation of steel, stainless steel and aluminium, starting from non-pre-warmed material requires several steps of chemical preparation. De-greasing and scale-removal followed by activation, conversion coating and lubrication are essential to make high quality pre- and finished products in wire-, tube- and cold-extrusion-plants.

Efficient long-life cleaners and inhibited pickling agents provide clean surfaces ready for economic conversion coating and modern water or oil based lubricants, reactive to the surface or polymer interlinking. Emulsifiable oils provide temporary corrosion protection to the finished parts.

• Ardrox® cleaners for Aerospace applications
• Gardacid® P pickling product
• Gardoclean® cleaner
• Gardobond® iron-, zinc- or manganese-phosphating
• Gardobond® X titanium/zirconium-based conversion coatings for aluminium
• Gardolene® activating and passivating agents
• Oxsilan® silane-based, multi-metal thin-film technology
• Permatreat® conversion coating

• Aerospace
• Aluminium Architecture and Construction
• Appliances
• Automotive
• Automotive Components
• Coil Industry
• General Industry
• Heavy Equipment, Off-Road
• HVAC
• Metal Forming

• Complete range of pretreatment technologies
• Eco-friendly and conventional processes
• Enhanced corrosion protection and increased adhesion