Interpon's partnership with Extrugasa
Interpon helps open doors and windows of opportunity for Spanish extruder
Extrugasa’s partnership with Interpon is at the heart of its success. As one of Spain’s foremost extruders of aluminum profiles for architectural and industrial applications, its customers include some of the world's most renowned architects, as well as designers, aluminum carpenters or companies from different industrial sectors, who demand only the best Interpon colors and finishes to deliver not only the quality they need, but also support their environmental responsibilities.
With four lines – two vertical and two horizontal at its manufacturing facility in Galicia – Extrugasa serves a global audience with a vast range of products including windows, doors, facades and railings, as well as specific products within the industrial, automotive and transport sectors. One of its horizontal lines is 14 meters, the same height as three floors of a building – the only one of its kind in Spain – and crucial for handling some of the major curtain wall products for which it has a niche.
Extrugasa first started using Interpon powder coatings from AkzoNobel more than 40 years ago. Customers wanted more choice in color and finish than anodizing alone could deliver. They were also becoming increasingly aware of their environmental responsibilities.
Working with AkzoNobel gives them the best of all worlds across an unlimited range of Interpon powder coatings. These include the latest coatings from Interpon’s Futura Collection to deliver not only the colors and finishes they need, but also exceptional superdurability to provide the highest levels of gloss retention and color stability and to limit chalking.
Importantly, the range also comes with the backing of a 25-year warranty and Qualicoat Class 2, GSB Master and AAMA 2604 certifications which are increasingly specified by architects to support LEED and BREEAM certified green building projects and ensure their creations stand tall as symbols of the past, present and future.
“Our customers demand the highest quality,” says Raquel Garcia Quinta, Marketing Manager at Extrugasa, “and with Interpon powder coatings we can give them what they need. They can choose from the huge range of colors that already exist, or we can create colors that are unique to their specific project. For the larger projects, designers typically specify what they want, and we have to match it. For smaller programs, we often work closely with the customer in advising on the best colors and finishes to choose.”
Manuel Miguéns, Production Manager and Raquel García Quintá, Marketing Manager at Extrugasa.
While certain colors such as Interpon Noir 2100 are always popular, creating bespoke colors is much in demand and made possible thanks to the close working relationship between Extrugasa and the AkzoNobel team. “AkzoNobel is not just a supplier,” says Manuel Miguéns, Extrugasa's Production Manager. “We feel like they are actually a part of Extrugasa, and its experts from the color laboratories and the technical teams are always on hand to support us with insight and advice, and in working with us to develop the unique powder coatings that our customers want.”
The business values the support that AkzoNobel provides as well as the critical role of its own people in building long-term customer relationships: “It cannot just be about price,” Raquel explains. “We have invested in our business and our processes that support our customers over the long term and add value through the knowledge and experience our people can bring to customer relationships, and the learnings that can be translated from one industry to another.
“In Galicia there are many aluminum extruders and competition is strong, which is also why the quality of the product we produce, and the quality and reliability of the Interpon powder coating, is so important. Customers come to us for the quality of our products and stay with us for the quality of our people and the support of our Interpon partners.”
Sustainability is also key. Extrugasa has an established, multi-tiered environmental strategy to reduce the energy and water it consumes, as well as increasing the amount of scrap aluminum it can recycle and reuse, with plans to re-use up to 35,000 tons in the coming year. What’s more, the aluminum experts boast the largest solar panel installation in Galicia and one of the largest in Spain, with a capacity of 2.2 MWp, it helps meet 25% of the company’s energy demands. It is also exploring the latest innovations from AkzoNobel, including its low cure powder coatings.
“We are constantly investing in new equipment and processes to drive further efficiencies,” Raquel concludes, “and this includes exploring new Interpon powder coatings with the AkzoNobel team where they can support a more sustainable operation.
“After four decades of support, neither company is standing still nor resting on its reputation. We all recognize the value that our close collaboration and working partnership delivers.”
