In response to the shipbuilding and repair industry's increasingly stringent environmental standards and the need to reduce VOCs emissions, the company gave the matter top-level attention: a special meeting was convened, a consensus was reached, and the new PPG electrostatic spray technology was introduced to accelerate its roll-out at both company yards.
The technology was first trialed aboard the tanker *An Cheng*. That day more than a dozen work points were opened simultaneously, and over 12,000 m² of PPG’s new copper-free antifouling paint was applied. The results were excellent and won high praise from the vessel’s owners.
Electrostatic spraying is an innovative process for painting ship hulls. By corona discharge, the atomized paint is given a negative charge in a high-voltage DC field and is evenly attracted to the positively charged steel surface.
The electrostatic attraction pulls the coating into recesses, welds and edges, producing a uniform, dense film that is smooth and free of runs or orange-peel. Adhesion, appearance and service life are all improved while paint consumption falls.
Compared with conventional air spraying, the technique cuts overspray and material losses by roughly 25 % and reduces VOC emissions by about 20 %, meeting greener, cleaner and more energy-efficient targets.
To ensure success the company prepared well in advance: technical hurdles were solved in close consultation with the paint supplier, new electrostatic equipment was brought in, and every operator was rigorously trained and drilled. During the work, senior yard supervisors teamed up with PPG specialists to complete the job to the highest standard, laying solid foundations for the yard-wide roll-out of electrostatic spraying.