News from the IFO

On 4 April 2019, the IFO Academy’s seminar "Corrosion Protection through Coating" will take place in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Find out how to tackle the common problems associated with protecting components against corrosion and avoid costly complaints. If you register by 15 March 2019, we’ll offer you an early-bird discount.

Please see the leaflet here for further information and the registration form.

From 14 to 25 January, IFO GmbH held its first 10-day training course for DIN-certified coating inspectors. The course covered the required knowledge and practical skills needed by coating inspectors. The DIN-Certco examination took place the following week, for which the participants were thoroughly prepared by the course instructors. We are delighted with the positive feedback from the participants and our examination partner, DIN Certco, and are already looking forward to our next preparatory course for the DIN-Certified Coating Inspector in November 2019. Further information on the next course can be found here.

Employees are a valuable asset to any company, particularly those who have witnessed and lived through a wide variety of developments within the company, whose skills and experience the company can rely on, and with whom the company has continued to grow. At our annual QUBUS and IFO Christmas party, Gabriele Ersepke was honoured by QUBUS Managing Director Christian Deyhle for her 10 years’ service to the company.

Colleagues from the IFO’s Dutch office who were present also had cause to honour their colleague Willem ter Horst. He was presented with an award by Pauline Meijwaard, the Managing Director for the Netherlands, in recognition of his many years of support for the Dutch office, and was bid farewell as he entered his well-deserved retirement.

The management expressed their sincere thanks to the honourees for their dedication, as well as for their long-standing support and loyalty to the company.

An eventful 2018 is drawing to a close. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent cooperation and the trust you have placed in us.

We wish you and your families a peaceful festive season and every happiness and success for 2019.

Your QUBUS and IFO team

The two-day Industrial Coating Practice Forum kicks off in Wetzlar on 15 November 2018. This year marks the eighth edition of the event, which has attracted a record 200 participants; we are delighted to be taking part in the PIB and look forward to a host of interesting topics relating to coatings.

At this networking and presentation event, you can share practical experiences, find out more about the latest developments and make lots of contacts. Further information can be found at https://pib-online.de

The Chinese National Non-ferrous Standardisation Technical Committee visited the IFO – Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH in Schwäbisch Gmünd during the „Aluminium“ international trade fair, which took place in Düsseldorf in October. The visit took place to discuss a new draft ISO standard on the surface finishing of aluminium using liquid paint coatings and to exchange technical expertise. The standardisation committee is made up of representatives from various companies.

In addition to its main site in Schwäbisch Gmünd, IFO GmbH has also been operating a testing laboratory in the Hangzhou region of China for several years. There, it monitors the production of surface-treated aluminium products that are exported from China to markets worldwide. The engineers at this laboratory service provider work both there and worldwide in accordance with recognised testing and quality standards, documenting production processes and the quality of the components produced on site. This impartial monitoring ensures that companies maintain consistent standards, which are verified by quality and certification marks.

The Segeltaxi charity campaign in aid of sick children kicks off in November: a range of music events will be taking place in Aalen’s pubs until the end of March 2019. As the Segeltaxi is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, there will be a monthly „anniversary concert“ featuring fantastic bands and artists from November 2018 onwards.

IFO GmbH is delighted to support this initiative, the proceeds of which have enabled the „Segeltaxi – Familien aufs Boot“ scheme to provide a supervised boat trip for well over 100 people – all of whom are families with seriously ill children or bereaved families.

Further information can be found at www.segeltaxi.com.

Certification builds trust among clients and consumers

Demonstrate the expertise of your service to consumers and clients: a regular audit of your company’s processes in accordance with DIN 55634, carried out by an independent body, provides assurance and enhances the quality of your components. Take advantage of the competitive benefits offered by standardised and optimised internal processes and clearly defined responsibilities. The certificate you receive will also allow you to demonstrate this to your customers.

Since March this year, the DIN 55634:2018-03 came into force in its revised form. During the revision, the standard was divided into two parts:

• In future, Part 1 will contain only the requirements and test procedures
• Part 2 sets out the certification requirements

Part 1: Requirements and test procedures

The following changes have been made compared with the previous version, DIN 55634:2010-04:

• Conversion to a two-part series of standards, with the provisions relating to surveillance and certification being moved to Part 2
• The content has been thoroughly revised

Part 2: Defining the certification requirements

The second part of the standard (DIN 55634-2:2018-03) sets out the requirements for the monitoring and certification of corrosion protection for load-bearing thin-walled components. It applies to all certification bodies offering supervision and certification of corrosion protection in accordance with DIN 55634-1, to coaters who apply corrosion protection to load-bearing thin-walled steel components, and to component manufacturers, provided that the coating is affected by further processing.

As part of our monitoring services, we can offer you DIN 55634 certification for coating companies.

Material approvals and verification of the production process in accordance with the German Rail Standard DBS 918340 by the IFO Institute for Surface Technology

Since 2017, all Deutsche Bahn suppliers in the field of powder coating have been required to have their in-house production control systems audited. As suppliers, powder coaters must qualify with Deutsche Bahn in accordance with the Deutsche Bahn Standard (DBS) for the supply of powder-coated external and internal components made from aluminium and steel alloys for rail vehicles.

In June 2016, Deutsche Bahn published the revised DBS 918340 terms and conditions of supply. This resulted in stricter testing criteria and more rigorous monitoring of powder coating contractors for rail vehicles, both nationally and internationally. The IFO Institute for Surface Technology’s laboratory, accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, carries out such material approvals in accordance with DBS 918340. Similarly, the certification body, accredited to ISO/IEC 17065, carries out surveillance audits of companies in accordance with the Deutsche Bahn standard.

DBS 918340 – Technical Terms of Delivery – applies to coating powders as well as to the powder coating of the external and internal components of Deutsche Bahn AG’s rail vehicles. Product qualification relates to the respective intended area of application. A distinction is made here between interior and exterior use, as well as between decorative and technical applications. Approvals may be granted for various textures and gloss levels. Multiple qualifications for powders are also possible. Fundamental changes compared with the previous terms and conditions of supply relate to the qualification of coating materials and the tightening of test criteria for coaters. When applying powder coating, special requirements such as the shape and choice of material for the components to be coated must be taken into account. Coatability must also be ensured. Additional requirements include, amongst others, edge protection and compliance with minimum film thicknesses.

The 10-working-day training course to become a DIN-certified coating inspector provides the required knowledge and the necessary practical skills for coating inspectors and offers optimal preparation for the subsequent DIN examination. The preparatory course is held at the IFO Institute, a recognised training partner of the DIN Certco certification body.

Next training session

14–25 January 2019
from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm

Cost per participant, including training materials, a certificate of attendance and refreshments during the seminar: 2,600 euros plus VAT.

Target audience

The course and certification are aimed at anyone responsible for corrosion protection – whether in the planning, implementation, maintenance or assessment of corrosion protection measures (e.g. design offices, corrosion protection contractors, specialist staff, experts, steel and plant construction)

Your contact:

Ute Brunner-Bäurle
Head of Inspections
Tel. +49 7171 10407-22
brunner-baeurle@ifo-gmbh.de

You can find further details about the course here: