Eco-quality
In 1887 Arnold Valentiner-Branth began developing coatings with protective qualities for use in dairies. His food safe coatings needed to protect against heat, cold, moisture and bacteria.
A 130 year history in eco-friendly, rust prevention paints
Seventy years later the first Brantho-Korrux high performance rust protection coating was introduced. A lead free alternative to the dangerous red lead that was common at that time. The term low VOC content was yet to become established proving that the company was ahead of the curve.
By 1987 Brantho-Korrux were consistently replacing aromatic solvents and chromate-containing pigments. A decade later and the firm was operating completely free of hazardous waste and was using eco electricity from hydropower.
Certified. Tested. Proven throughout Europe
Eco-friendly paints and coatings – a timeline
By 2007 Brantho-Korrux has reduced VOC content to almost zero and gradually eliminated all potentially dangerous ingredients. Their program of development, testing and verification continued to be extended aiming for lasting sustainability.
Leading the way in sustainable paint
In 2017 Brantho-Korrux because the first manufacturer in Germany to supply paint spray cans with twice the active ingredient and corresponding low VOC content. In addition, the compressed gas used came from renewable organic waste.
Sustainable factory and paint production
Today the production facility at Brantho-Korrux in Germany runs on green electricity and CO2 neutral gas. The 5th generation family-run business continues to focus on sustainability as their long-term goal and are now keen to improve optimisation of the supply chain.
- No hazardous wastes since the 1990s
- CO2 neutral electricity since the 1990s
- CFC-free cooling water circuits (not drinking water)
- Aerosols to not contain climate damaging gas
- All products TÜV tested since the 1980s
Visit our online shop to buy non-toxic, direct to metal paints
Raw materials in direct to metal paint
Paints and coatings are manufactured from four groups of raw materials: Binders (resins), pigments (functional and colour pigments), solvents (from petrochemicals, renewable raw materials and/or residues, water) and additives (smallest quantities added for specific characteristics).
The main components of Brantho-Korrux binders have always been natural resins and oils. They do not exclusively consist of resins and oils, but they are rather chemically modified for a much better durability. Before this, any harmful, undesirable impurities are removed. Paint pigments can have diverse functions including electrochemical corrosion protection, barrier effect, increased adhesion, and/or an aesthetic function (colour, visibility, warning effect). Like the binders, they should be durable in order to save resources. Natural pigments are free of harmful impurities, and synthetic alternatives are only used when unavoidable.
The Branch-Korrux approach
Solvents fulfil essential functions. Since they evaporate after paint application, special attention must be paid to protecting the painter and the environment. Using as few solvents as possible saves resources by reducing emissions and increasing coverage and productivity. Using as harmless solvents as possible ensures the lowest possible impact on people and the environment.
The small quantity of additives used are being progressively reduced or even entirely eliminated.
- Over 95% of Brantho-Korrux products are free of biocides
- 100% are free of zinc, chromate and lead xylene, toluene, amines
- All products with the exception of 2k are isocyanate-free
LEARN MORE ABOUT NEW PAINT PRODUCTS AND COATINGS
IPCS ltd specify Brantho-korrux in the uk
Brantho-Korrux is exclusively manufactured in Germany and IPCS Ltd are the UK’s official distributor. Our team have used and specified this paint brand ourselves for many years on a wide array of projects from aircraft to prison cells, oil rigs to food-safe applications. Brantho-Korrux paints and coatings offer superior quality rust prevention paint when compared with leading high street brands. Its direct-to-metal application allows fast drying time and high coverage. As professional painters ourselves, we confidently endorse the Brantho-Korrux paint range for their sustainable, non-toxic attributes.
International standard eco-auditing and compliance
In the early 1960s, when it was still common practice to disperse high quality coatings on open roller mills, Brantho-Korrux were the first paint factory in Northern Europe to commission largely closed pearl mills. This was a challenging transition, which took about 25 years for all products, colour shades and batch sizes until the last triple roll mill was dismantled.
Unnecessary residues related to barrel handling have been significantly replaced by appropriate raw material tanks. By coordinating the raw materials, sophisticated production techniques, and intermediate and finished product stocks as additional buffer zones, it was possible to organise the internal recycling process in such a way that the production of Brantho-Korrux has not produced any hazardous waste since the mid 1990s.
The production of high quality coatings is relatively energy intensive. Brantho-Korrux have been reducing power consumption by improving motor controls in factory equipment and switching to LED lighting.
In the 1990s, Brantho-Korrux were the first independent company in Hamburg to successfully complete the EU Eco Audit (later EMAS). They have been audited by ISO 14001 since the International standard was first introduced.
Beyond the paints and coatings manufacturing process
We achieve greater sustainability through the properties of our products. Each coating consists of 20-40 raw materials, which in turn consist of one or even up to a dozen raw materials. Environmental footprint plus the short and long term effects are carefully considered when developing each product.
As far as possible, renewable raw materials should not impair biodiversity and should not compete with food production. There should not be a negative effect on durability and not allowed to increase the risk for the painter or sprayer working with the product. Natural raw materials are not only subject to quality fluctuations but often contain harmful impurities. In such cases, it is necessary to consider whether cleaning processes are more harmful to the environment than the production of identical substitutes. It is particularly important that coatings recommended by IPCS have a long serviceable lifespan, which saves resources sustainably.
Packaging products in graduated sizes with tightly resealable lids ensures that excess product does not go to waste. All packaging must be easy to empty and recycle.
Are spray paints bad for the environment?
Spray paint cans have a poor reputation for sustainability. However, they help to save on the product and waste of materials such as brushes, rollers and associated cleaning substances.
Brantho-Korrux have developed their own high-build spray cans which do not contain any climate damaging propellant gas. The propellant is compressed gas obtained on the basis of biological residues and is therefore almost CO2 neutral.
The aerosol cans contain about twice as much paint as usual spray cans – another plus for the reduction of resources emissions.
Safe and effective 3 in 1 – spray, brush, roller, dip…
Brantho-Korrux 3 in 1 is harmless enough to be used for children‘s toys and does not produce harmful substances in 38°C warm stomach acid.
Despite its harmless qualities, 3 in 1 provides corrosion protection according to DIN EN ISO 12944 as well as according to NORSOK specifications – which mean it is suitable for Atlantic oil drilling platforms.
3 in 1 easily falls below the strict limitations for indoor air such as AgBB. Corrosion protection is TÜV tested, assurance and monitored. Organoleptic harmlessness is DEKRA tested.
