Mankiewicz celebrates 30 years of direct-to-metal agricultural machinery coating

The direct-to-metal system from Mankiewicz was a milestone in the coating of agricultural machinery. Since then, it has impressed with its high corrosion resistance, aesthetics and efficient processing. At Agritechnica, the world's largest trade fair for agricultural machinery, Mankiewicz is now presenting the latest generation of the single-coater: the further improved High Build Monolyer. The surfaces of agricultural machinery must be able to withstand extreme conditions: Weathering, UV radiation, dirt, cleaning agents and mechanical stress challenge the paint on a daily basis. What is needed are coating systems that provide reliable protection, look good in the long term and are robust in their application. Mankiewicz is familiar with these requirements from various industrial sectors. At the beginning of the 1990s, the company developed the first single-layer system instead of the conventional two- and three-layer structure. This combines primer and top coat, fulfills the high requirements of the manufacturers and at the same time makes the painting process more economical.

Single-coat system for combine harvesters

The Alexit-Monolyer is used for the first time on the characteristic yellow combine harvesters of a leading agricultural machinery manufacturer as a direct-to-metal (DTM) system. In the years that followed, numerous other internationally active OEMs opted for the innovative single-layer system. What has made the Monolyer successful for decades is not only its high solids content, low VOC values, corrosion protection and durability, but above all its process-related advantages in application. "When painting agricultural machinery, the rule is: as much as necessary, as little as possible. The system is applied directly to chemically pre-treated steel and therefore enables shorter process times - an advantage that saves the manufacturer both time and money," explains Carsten Bartsch, Sales Director Commercial Transportation Coatings at Mankiewicz. One example of the successful application is the long-standing partnership with Claas. For its anniversary combine harvesters in 2024, the manufacturer opted for the single-layer metallic seed green and silver from Mankiewicz's expanded DTM portfolio.

High Build Monolyer as a further development

The High Build Monolyer is the latest development of the previous system. Its new formulation sets new standards in terms of processing properties and enables a further increase in process speed. In addition, high gloss levels can now also be achieved on blasted steel substrates. "The high solids content and optimized drying process reduce the costs per coated square metre," explains Carsten Bartsch. "At the same time, the single-layer system is more sustainable than conventional paint systems, as it is associated with lower emissions." The High Build Monolyer is versatile and suitable for different substrates such as aluminum, steel and plastic. It therefore offers a flexible solution for a wide range of applications. Visitors to Agritechnica 2025 can find out more about the benefits of the coating system and its applications at the Mankiewicz stand F58 in hall 17.