“The glass industry has become a major focus area for us,” says Tor Syverud, Managing Director of Seram Coatings. “Our unique non-stick coating has properties that could transform glass production worldwide.”
European customers are now testing glass moulds coated with Seram Coatings’ innovative solution in their production lines.
“We are collaborating with major bottle manufacturers in Italy, Poland, Germany, and England, and are now in the final phase of extensive testing. The coating eliminates the need for mould lubrication, preventing molten glass from sticking and reducing waste,” explains Syverud.
Challenging traditional glass production
In today’s glass production, molten glass is poured into moulds that must be lubricated with oils and other substances, many of which are now being phased out due to regulatory restrictions. This manual process often results in the rejection of the first produced bottles.
Expanding market potential
Seram Coatings initially developed ThermaSIC, a hard and lightweight coating that provides exceptional wear resistance for critical components. Over time, they discovered that the coating also offered excellent properties for aluminium, zinc, glass, and other materials.
“Our product is now both extremely durable and uniquely non-stick, significantly expanding our market potential,” explains Syverud.
“Many companies have developed materials with high wear resistance,” he continues, “but we are the only ones offering a product with these unique non-stick properties. This opens up entirely new applications, and we see enormous potential, particularly in glass production.”
Confidence in commercial breakthroughs
Syverud is optimistic about achieving multiple commercial breakthroughs in the coming year, including a recent contract with the US-based company Atlas Machine and Supply.
“We are also working on aluminium brake discs for the rail industry, a market with potential for thousands of tonnes annually,” he says.
Rapid technological qualification
Seram Coatings established its test centre and pilot production facility at Herøya in 2019. The company currently has 14 employees working across production and technology development at NTNU in Trondheim.
“Technological development has progressed rapidly, and we now have products with outstanding properties,” says Syverud. “We work closely with customers, and the technology qualification process is faster than ever.”
The company aims to achieve positive cash flow by 2025/26. “With a broader product portfolio and several promising commercial projects, we are optimistic about the future,” says Syverud.
“In five years, I envision a full-scale factory here at Herøya, with significantly increased production capacity,” he concludes enthusiastically.
Production facilities
- Seram Coatings’ production line at Herøya has a maximum capacity of 12 tonnes.
- Finished powder is delivered in smaller volumes to customers.
- The company’s premises have the potential to accommodate a factory with an annual capacity of 300 tonnes.
Text/photo: Siri Krohn-Fagervoll siri@krohnfagervoll.no
