Trestles fresh out of the gate with Redox One Coat
Trestles is a global manufacturer, proud to be Czech. It is similarly proud of the quality of its products, as one of the largest manufacturers of shelving systems in Central Europe. When looking to break into the gates and fences sector, it turned to AkzoNobel to recommend a powder coating that would give its products the quality and durability they were looking for, at an affordable price. The solution was Redox One Coat.
With almost three decades of manufacturing expertise, Trestles has gained an enviable reputation for its metal products. From humble beginnings, it now employs around 300 people and turns over more than one billion Czech Krona. It works in a highly competitive industry, however, and actively seeks to work with those partners who can combine product quality and innovation with just-in-time delivery and a competitive price. It was precisely these qualities that led it to working with AkzoNobel and Redox One Coat.
“In the gates and fences sector in particular, there are many companies we compete against, most of whom have more experience than us,” says Daniel Molnár, Procurement Manager. “To stand out from the competition we need to have the best quality, and since Redox One Coat can be applied to both stainless steel and zinc steel, we are able to deliver the quality our customers are looking for at the price they are willing to pay.”
Interpon Redox One Coat was chosen on the recommendation of AkzoNobel’s Technical Services team and only after Trestles tested its performance against samples from other powder coatings manufacturers: “In salt spray tests, Interpon Redox One Coat performed the best in protecting our products against corrosion,” Daniel continues.
“We also tested it on different steel surfaces, as well as some Beta products we currently have on trial, with excellent results. We wanted to be sure the product would perform, even in rain or snow, and since using Redox One Coat there have been no complaints.”
While powder coatings traditionally require a primer layer for corrosion protection, followed by a topcoat for gloss and UV protection, Interpon Redox One Coat enables Trestles to reach corrosion protection up to C4M and high UV durability in a single coat which requires only a base chemical pre-treatment.
Since only one coat is needed, application costs are reduced, energy bills are less, and production volumes are increased. All of these factors will be important to Trestles: “We are looking to increase our production and Interpon Redox OneCoat will help us. A single coat application will have a positive impact on reducing the time and cost of production and will help keep us competitive,” Daniel adds.
Trestles currently offers its product in four colors: Anthracite Grey (RAL7016), Jet Black (RAL 9005), Moss Green (RAL 6005) and Blue/Grey (RAL 7031). Of all of these, RAL7016 is the most popular with customers, though Daniel thinks being able to offer customers a choice is important.
Trestles manufactures more than 1.6 million products a year and works across more than 30 countries. It currently exports 95% of its total production to other European countries, so having a global supplier like AkzoNobel as a partner is a key advantage to keeping its four powder coating lines running: “AkzoNobel not only has the products and colors we need, but its people are also very friendly and flexible to work with. The technical support it provides is certainly one of the reasons why we continue to be one of the most important manufacturers in the entire European Union.”
Sanal Limoncuoglu, Commercial Director South and East Europe of AkzoNobel Powder Coatings adds: “Businesses like Trestles need simple, effective solutions to get the job done with high quality but quickly, easily and at a lower cost. With Interpon Redox OneCoat we’ve removed the need for a second process for the same job, saving on powder, energy and labor and maximizing productivity while delivering desired quality. It’s helping Trestles to be competitive in a new market, and further improve their business performance.”
Pawel Nowak, CEO of Trestles, agrees. In a competitive market, Trestles is offering customers a new portfolio of fencing systems, and recognizes that quality is key: “We demonstrate this quality with what is visible at first glance - the powder coating system of the Interpon Redox One Coat series from AkzoNobel," he concludes.