The Exact Group has invested £300k to become a certified applicator of the Cerakote high performance ceramic coating. This will extend the companies capabilities in the aerospace sector.
The successful bid for this accreditation is the result of four years’ work within the company, assisted by Invest Northern Ireland and Innovate UK, and investment in research and development (R&D), innovative technology and new machinery. The investment has enabled The Exact Group to develop specialist skills that will ensure it can meet the rigorous cosmetic, volume, regulatory and testing requirements of its growing aerospace customer base.
A specialised cleanroom environment for the Cerakote application process has been created at the company’s facility in Newry, and its significantly expanded composites department now houses a dedicated state-of-the-art finishing suite and five paint ovens for the preparation and finishing of all Cerakote products.
A versatile specialised protective thin film, Cerakote is revolutionising many sectors globally, particularly aerospace, due to its robustness and ability to be applied to a variety of surfaces including metals, alloys, polymers, composites, wood and plastic, making it an ideal treatment choice for many companies.
Cerakote also provides a more effective thermal barrier than other protective coatings in the market. Offering heat, chemical, abrasion and corrosion resistance, which combats the heat and shock effects experienced on aircraft, it is renowned for its durability and flexibility. The use of the coating is more cost and time effective, and also reduces the finished weight of the composite.
The product incorporates anti-microbial properties, which provide an extra layer of protection against pathogens and contribute to passenger safety, whilst minimising infection control, making it an ideal choice for the aerospace sector.
The Exact Group offers a range of service across sectors including automotive, electrical, energy, marine, MedTech and transport, but specialises in providing a rapid response service to the aircraft interiors industry, and is a supplier of choice for many of the leading global tier one companies.
Ronan Callan, The Exact Group’s Director of Operations commented, “This latest development demonstrates our commitment to constantly evolving our products to anticipate and meet each customer’s unique requirements. Our new accredited status and the completion of training with Cerakote will significantly expand our customer base, while enhancing our reputation as a technical expert in delivering complex and highly specialised services to the aerospace sector.
“The Exact Group offers more than just the application process of Cerakote – we are utilising our extensive engineering expertise and technical knowledge, in addition to the whole package of traceability, FAI and conformity and that’s something that has been largely welcomed by our global customer base.”