Henkel received a 2010 Automotive News PACE Award for its new Aquence Co-Cure coating process. The prestigious award recognizes automotive suppliers for superior innovation, technological advancement and business performance. Henkel’s Aquence Co-Cure process was recognized in the Man­ufacturing Process category. This process layers the Aquence autodeposition coatings with a powder or liquid topcoat, and or adhesive and “co-cures” them together in a single oven. In addition, the environmentally responsible process simplifies conventional metal pretreatment by reducing it to a two-step coating process, therefore reducing the production footprint by up to 40 percent. The Aquence Co-Cure process results in energy and cost savings, process efficiency, and reduces environmental impact since it contains no heavy metals or sludge. Henkel was first to introduce this new lean paint shop process. For the award, Henkel partnered and recognized Valley Towing Products (formerly Thule Towing Systems) in Lodi, CA, where the first dedicated commercial Aquence Co-Cure line was installed.
    
“Henkel is committed to developing solutions that streamline pro­cesses and reduce costs and environmental impact for our automotive customers,” said Chuck Evans, corporate vice president, automotive, Henkel Corporation. “The revolutionary Aquence Co-Cure process is an example of such a technology, we’re extremely honored to be recognized by Automotive News, Ernst & Young LLP and Transportation Research Center Inc. for this achievement.”