News from the IFO

There are only a few days left of 2021. Every year at this time of year, we embrace our traditions: the large Christmas tree adorns our foyer, and our hard-working trainee distributes presents to the QUBUS and IFO staff on behalf of the management. As part of a virtual Christmas party, there was mulled wine, biscuits and festive music.

So all that remains to be said is: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2022.

We would like to thank you – our customers, partners and prospective clients – for the trust you have placed in us and for our successful collaboration, and we wish you and your family all the best for the coming year!

As part of a collaboration with Bader Pulverbeschichtung GmbH and the Qualitätsgemeinschaft Industriebeschichtung e.V. (QIB), the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH has now carried out a comparative evaluation of welded and coated steel components using a corrosion test (neutral salt spray tests – NSS test) in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9227:2017-07.

Find out more in the Post (Published in *Besser Lackieren* 17/2021).

Your contact: Jörg Bihlmaier +49 7171 1040726. bihlmaier@ifo-gmbh.de

We are delighted to support and provide information about this year’s Bandcamp in Aalen: young, up-and-coming artists come together in bands at Bandcamp (1–3 October 2021); there, under the guidance of the tutors, they work on songs from the rock and pop genres or try their hand at pieces they have written themselves. Public final concert featuring the pieces they have worked on: Sunday 3 October 2021, 5.00 pm in the Audimax at Aalen University

Further information on the Bandcamp

To avoid the inconvenience of a complaint, it makes sense – given the size of the order and the associated business risk – to establish a quality assurance system that runs alongside production. Depending on the sector and market, various forms of quality assurance carried out by independent bodies have developed. The IFO Institute for Surface Technology is available as an independent testing and inspection body offering an impartial perspective, and also provides support in the form of testing prior to the actual coating work.

Read more about this in the Article (published in *besser lackieren*)

Your point of contact for this matter:

Mark Holz (Tel.: +49 7171 1040724; holz@ifo-gmbh.de)

The IFO Institute for Surface Technology in Schwäbisch Gmünd has expanded its premises in Hangzhou, China, and opened a new laboratory there covering an area of 1,000 m². This marks an important step for the Schwäbisch Gmünd-based companies IFO, a centre of laboratory expertise and inspections, and QUBUS, an engineering service provider specialising in surface technology, which operate as part of the same group. Construction began in 2019 and the facility is now operational, enabling the companies to offer on-site services and a unique network of experts in surface technology to customers in China and the Asian market.

You can read the press release here Read.

20 Years of the Galgenberg Festival
2-day music festival at the old gasworks in Aalen
Featuring the well-known and much-loved club orchestra DIE AALEN ALL STARS, I-Fire, Riders Connection and Norbert Schneider.

The IFO Institute for Surface Technology is delighted to support the Galgenberg Cultural Society. Further information and tickets are available at www.galgenberg-festival.de

How users of liquid paints can ensure that their coating process meets the safety requirements set out in DIN EN ISO 12944.

How long will the corrosion protection last on my painted steel structure, painted machine component or, for example, in rail vehicle construction? Seven years or more than twenty years? This is an important question for building owners and investors. To ensure this is not left purely to chance, it is good that there are regulations in place to establish standards and define procedures. Coating contractors who use liquid paints can now obtain certification to EN ISO 12944 and demonstrate compliance with the relevant standards.

Read more about this in the article on besserlackieren here

Your contact:

Ute Brunner-Bäurle
Head of Certification Centre
+49 7171 10407-22
brunner-baeurle[at]ifo-gmbh.de

It is the wide range of possibilities that presents major challenges for in-house coating operators – who are predominantly focused on mechanical engineering – when planning and implementing new coating processes. Coating process planning therefore begins with both in-house and customer product and manufacturing specifications. Existing specifications must be reviewed and checked. Generally speaking, customer specifications are similar within their respective application areas, although there are still differences.

Read more: from the initial coating concept to a validated process here in the article (published in *besser lackieren*).

Your points of contact:

Rainer Göpfrich (+49 7171 1040829. rainer.goepfrich[at]qubus.de

Jörg Bihlmaier (+49 7171 1040726, bihlmaier[at]ifo-gmbh.de)

The book is entitled „Cleaning and Preservation of Metal Façades and Windows“. Hans Pfeifer, author and co-founder of the IFO Institute, brings 40 years of professional experience to the subject and, through this book, shares his knowledge on the cleaning and protection of façades. The book is now on sale and can be purchased from the IFO.

You can find everything to do with the book here: https://www.ifo-gmbh.de/ifo-fachbuch/

At the start of the year, the IFO Institute’s group of shareholders appointed Marc Holz as a new shareholder. Marc Holz, who has been working for the Institute for 20 years and has served as managing director of the IFO Institute for the past four years, will now also share responsibility for the future of the independent Institute in Schwäbisch Gmünd in his capacity as a partner. Together with Michael Müller, co-founder and managing partner of the IFO, he will share the leadership of the globally active testing institute.

• To the press release