@PPG It's electrostatic
PPG celebrates its 50th electrostatic marine coating, using PPG SIGMAGLIDE® & NEXEON™ to cut overspray, waste & emissions by up to 35%, aiding IMO 2050 goals for sustainable shipping.
Published 10 March 2025
PPG recently celebrated a milestone in the update of electrostatic application of marine fouling coatings, a process that in practical application has proven to save a lot of paint and effort in minimizing overspray.
"We see a significant shift in demand towards the PPG flagship products PPG SIGMAGLIDE® fouling release coating and PPG NEXEON™ antifouling," said Ariana Psomas, PPG Global Segment Director, Protective and Marine Coatings, New Build and Dry Dock.
PPG Sigmaglide fouling release coating uses a very low surface energy material that Psomas says can decrease friction and improve operational performance, helping to decrease the emissions up to 35% as compared to traditional antifouling coatings.
"An exciting addition to sustainability is that both PPG Sigmaglide coatings and PPG Nexeon antifouling solution are designed to be applied with electrostatic application, as such reducing coating overspray and waste and bringing benefits to owners, operators and shipyards."
The industry, driven by IMO's mandate to decarbonize by 2050 and a host of new energy efficiency measurements across Europe, are driven to pull out every tool in the toolkit to help cut fuel burn, costs and emissions, and coatings have been a 'go to' for several years.
Improved coatings and application are taking efficiencies even higher.
"Electrostatic application is a standard way of application in several industries such as aerospace and automotive for decades," said Psomas. "PPG has a long experience in this type of application and decided to introduce it in shipping as it is a more sustainable method of application, reducing waste emissions and overspray while improving the quality of application," said Psomas, noting that it recently hit a milestone in the 50th application since it was offered to the maritime sector starting in 2024.
"It is a simple way of application: you charge the paint, and with a special (application) gun, the charged paint is attracted to the surface of the ship like a magnet, meaning all of the paint goes on the ship and not anywhere else," said Psomas.
"Reduced overspray [means] reduced waste, and less overconsumption leads to less emissions. Also, improved application, smoother firm, leads to better performance."
Ariana Psoma is PPG's global segment director for New Build & Dry Dock Marine Coatings.
Originally published in Maritime Reporter Magazine.