Airlines save millions by application of fewer layers of paint

Citation

(2009), "Airlines save millions by application of fewer layers of paint", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 38 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2009.12938fad.012

Airlines save millions by application of fewer layers of paint

Article Type: New products From: Pigment & Resin Technology, Volume 38, Issue 6

Airbus grants qualification for Mankiewicz's “ecological” paint an innovation fully approved after two years of thorough practical testing. Aircraft manufacturer Airbus confirms that the Basecoat/Clearcoat System, manufactured by the Hamburg-based company, Mankiewicz was granted the highest approval for the whole fleet. Thus, this traditional German company is one of only three paint manufacturers worldwide approved as paint supplier for the Airbus exterior. Thinner paint layers save weight and consequently, fuel. Projected over the years the airlines will save millions of euros. Another A380 coated with Mankiewicz BC/CC paint system will shortly be launched: Air France is the next Airline which chose this paint system for its A380. Various Boeing 737 and 747 as well as the Airbusses A330 of the Australian Qantas and the Dutch KLM airlines were coated with the BC/CC-System two years ago. Less weight means lower costs: each saved kilogram is equivalent to approximately 2,000 EUR less fuel costs per year. For example, the Japanese cargo carrier NCA saved 45 kg of paint when coating its Boeing 747-400; this is equivalent to 42 drum cans (8,400 l) of fuel which would have produced 21 tons of CO₂ per year. After application of the BC/CC-System the company started an ecological campaign and named this cargo carrier the “Green Freighter” (web site: www.nca.aero/e/news/2009/news_20090501html.htm).

Even extreme climate between −60 and+60°C does not adversely affect the Mankiewicz paint system. For two years now Airbus and Qantas have been documenting the excellent properties the paint system offers: colour and gloss are still brilliant after years of use, the extremely smooth surface allows for less-frequent cleaning cycles, thus saving environmentally harmful cleaning agents. Application of the Mankiewicz BC/CC-System is considerably faster; instead of the usual 12 h drying time between several layers of paint only 2-4 h are required. In the refurbishment sector this offers many process benefits to both the MRO and ultimately its customer, this saves a lot of time and gets the aircraft back into service and profitable use quickly. The Clearcoat, with its sealing effect, ensures that the coating is more durable but also far more brilliant than conventional aircraft paints – and stays that way, even in regions with extremely high UV radiation such as Australia. “The Basecoat/Clearcoat technology is our invention. We were the first to establish this technology in the market, which is why we are the only company that is fully approved,” says Mr Andreas Ossenkopf, Head of the Mankiewicz Aviation Department. “While other suppliers are now trying hard to get their aircraft paints – which are based on our technology – ready to market, ours have been already successfully used for years.”