Brillux: First Powder Coating Certified to NATO Standards

Brillux Industrial Coatings has received certification from WIWeB, including STANAG 4360. The German Armed Forces Institute for Materials and Supplies (WIWeB) thereby confirms the coating’s suitability for use on military vehicles and equipment, as well as military gear in direct combat operations. The standard signifies tested resistance to combat agents and decontamination agents and underscores that the coating provides reliable protection even under extreme mechanical and chemical stress. For industrial coaters, this opens up the possibility for the first time to use a powder coating in this sensitive area of application. The B-Powder Military Stanag Coat 5936 powder coating meets all requirements of the Bundeswehr’s Technical Delivery Specifications 8010-0002 as well as Stanag 4360. Tests include color and gloss, weather and mechanical resistance, camouflage capability, resistance to liquids such as diesel, and corrosion protection. “The granting of STANAG certification is a milestone in our development work and, at the same time, a significant step forward for the protection and reliability of military equipment,” says Dr. Yannik Alt, Head of the Research & Development Department for Powder Coatings at Brillux Industrielack. “We have done truly pioneering work here and are now making powder coatings available for military equipment that requires compliance with the NATO standard.”

Advantages of Powder Coatings for Military Equipment

The certification currently applies to the B-Powder Military Stanag Coat 5936 powder coating in RAL 6031-F9 bronze green, the primary color of the German Armed Forces. The powder coating was tested for its resistance to chemical warfare agents. In this process, specific absorption and desorption values for the individual chemical warfare agents must not be exceeded. Thanks to this certification, a powder coating can now be used for the first time in Bundeswehr contracts that require compliance with the STANAG 4360 standard. In addition, Brillux Industrielack is working to have other relevant Bundeswehr colors, such as RAL 9021-F9 Tar Black or RAL 1039 Sand Beige, certified in the future as well. This certification opens up new possibilities for powder coating applicators working on military vehicles, components, and equipment. Until now, coating in accordance with the NATO standard STANAG 4360 was only possible with liquid paints. The expansion to powder coatings now brings several technical and economic advantages: In many cases, powder coatings are more cost-effective than liquid paints. They do not require volatile solvents, can be applied efficiently, and dry quickly. This reduces material consumption and paint waste, while making production faster and more cost-effective. There is also another practical advantage: In an industrial setting, there are significantly more powder coating facilities than traditional liquid paint coating facilities. This creates additional capacity and facilitates mass production. For manufacturers of military vehicles and components, this means greater planning reliability and more flexibility in implementation. Brillux Industrielack had already received the first certificate for RAL 6031-F9 without testing in accordance with STANAG 4360 back in 2017. Certifications for other RAL F9 shades followed in 2021 and 2022. On the international stage as well, the company was recently recognized by Armasuisse with certification as a paint supplier for the Swiss Army.