Worksman Cycles, a New York City manufacturer of bicycles, is switching to PPG Industries' Aquacron water-based liquid coatings for its frames. The company had been using vegetable-based coatings that appealed from an environmental standpoint but did not have the finish quality they sought.
“We’ve been manufacturing bicycles here forever,” said Wayne Sosin, Worksman Cycles president. “We’re very interested in being a sustainable company, and we’ve taken a lot of steps to be as sustainable as possible,” he added. PPG’s Aquacron water-based coating met Worksman’s quality goals while adhering to the company’s environmental concerns, he said.
PPG worked with Worksman throughout the transition to the water-base coatings reviewing Worksman’s application methods, cleaning methods and solvent use. And the company helped to train Worksman employees in the new methods.
“The finish we’re getting is marvelous,” Sosin said, adding that Aquacron coating meets or exceeds powder-coating options that his company considered during the transition process. Sosin notes that Aquacron is more expensive in terms of cost per gallon, but the coverage is better so less paint is used. “In the end, it’s about 12 percent more costly, but the superior finish is well worth it,” he added.
