International launches new Intergard 6788 universal primer for newbuilds

ntergard 6788 newbuilding application at a Chinese shipyard. [Photo: AkzoNobel]

AkzoNobel’s marine coatings brand, International has launched Intergard 6788, a new aluminum-pigmented universal primer developed to meet the demands of the global newbuilding market. The launch in Asia will take place at the Asia Pacific Maritime conference in Singapore, with availability in China and Vietnam as key markets.

“The global newbuilding market is evolving as environmental regulations tighten and cost management remains a key consideration,” said Alejandro Kim, global marine newbuilding manager at AkzoNobel. “This is leading shipowners to select hull coating performance levels that align closely with their objectives and operating profiles, such as vessel uptime and expected service life.

“With this in mind, Intergard 6788 is a cost-effective universal primer which complements existing premium and ultra-premium solutions within the International® marine portfolio. Based on pure epoxy technology, the primer provides shipowners and operators with dependable corrosion protection, strong value for money and reliable performance.”

Epoxy technology enables a higher solids content for the product, proactively meeting increasingly stringent global Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) regulations.

The Intergard 6788 formulation is designed to also enhances productivity and lowers costs for shipyards by improving application efficiency, reducing material loss and paint waste, and enabling higher control and film build per coat.

On-site workability validation at a major Chinese shipyard has showed superior application performance compared with an alternative high-solids coating. This stable and predictable application performance helps shipyards simplify planning, reduce operational complexity and enhance shipbuilding efficiency.

“Through decades of innovation,” said Kim,”our hull coatings are optimized to enhance shipyard productivity, minimizing vessel downtime for shipowners and operators, while also striking the balance between performance and affordability that meets their needs and supports the industry’s sustainability goals. Shipowners and operators recognize paint as a clear efficiency technology and identifying the right coatings solution for each vessel is a smart strategy to improve vessel performance, enhance sustainability, and extend earnings potential and asset life.”