Nanogate AG at the HANNOVER MESSE 2008:
nanoPlating® product family enables functionalisation of metals / other innovations for engineering and car manufacture.
Saarbrücken/Hannover, 21 April 2008. During a press conference at the Hannover Messe, Management Board member Michael Jung presented Nanogate AG’s new product developments for cars and engineering. One focus was energy efficiency. The new nanoGlide® product family enables reduced-friction surfaces for heavy duty components. In particular, metal matrices using this technology can have new functions with the integration of nanostructures. The industrial pilot facility for the nanoPlating® process developed by Nanogate has been in successful production since the beginning of the year.
Each year German industry suffers enormous losses due to friction. According to a study by the Fraunhofer Institute, the damage caused by such friction may represent as much as 4.5 % of gross domestic product. This results in annual losses in the billions for German industry. It is not only that friction wears away materials and components, but it also wastes a lot of energy. Enhancement of components significantly reduces friction. This protects the material used and increases energy efficiency.
The nanoGlide® product family represents a new generation of surface enhancement. For the first time Nanogate is using electrochemical processes to functionalise metal surfaces in their matrix. This produces much more stable and anti-friction surface enhancement than traditional surface enhancement materials and can be functionalised with further qualities according to requirements. Friction minimisation and increased abrasion resistance is a particularly attractive combination for industry.
Potential customers come from suppliers in automobile manufacture and for the manufacturers of engineering components. Nanotechnology is already offering interesting solutions made possible by the new generation of metal enhancement which fulfil more precise and profitable requirements.
As well as the core theme of Nanoplating, Nanogate presented further innovations for engineering and automobile construction. Special isolation coatings for electronic components and multifunctional plastic surfaces for automobile components were demonstrated. Nanogate also presented a significant expansion in its anti-corrosive protection product family, which also includes input from the current collaboration with Clariant. Anti-corrosive protection products from Nanogate are particularly suited to light metals such as the growth market aluminium.
“Energy and resource efficiency is one of the most important challenges of our time and for future years,” said Michael Jung, Member of the Management Board of Nanogate AG. “Our nanoPlating® technology platform, which is used as a basis for the continuing development of the nanoglide® product family is the ideal starting point for making industrial processes more efficient. This not only creates competitive advantages for our customers but also plays an active part in sustainable use of resources.”
