Gtechniq is a ceramics coatings world leader with a sharp focus on marine solutions

Today, the company – based in Northampton, England, with a satellite office in Atlanta, Georgia, USA – is a world leader in both automotive and marine ceramics technology.

“There is, however, still quite a bit of misunderstanding about ceramics in the marine industry,” points out Gtechniq’s marine marketing manager, Michael Braybrook.

“In the automotive sector ceramics are firmly established as an alternative to traditional waxes and coatings, but in the marine industry there’s some way to go to explaining the many benefits of ceramics treatments. For instance, when boatowners think about ceramic coatings, they tend to only think about the boat’s topsides – but there’s lots of other areas involved, such as stain resistance on fabrics and on sun deck cushions. You’ll realize the value of a good ceramic coating immediately when you’ve seen red wine spilled onto a cushion and just rolling right off.

CERAMICS TECHNOLOGY – BUSTING THE MYTHS

“Many boat owners, especially in the USA, find the idea of ceramic coatings a bit intimidating because they’ve seen how automotive ceramic coatings are far from user friendly. So, when we came along with some really good maintenance products which were a lot easier to apply – such as our rust stain remover and synthetic deck sealant – it helped us to start building a strong bond of trust with those consumers.

“Our rinse-on ceramic, for example, is about as easy to apply as possible – you literally just attach it to a hose, wet down the boat, flip the switch, apply it to the boat, and it’s done. You end up with a ceramic protection that may not be as durable and long lasting as a full top and base treatment, but it will still add an important protective layer. That’s the kind of product that really helps to build trust in the brand, the product range, and ceramics technology overall. When customers see it beading, they know it’s working.

“Another misconception about ceramic coatings in the marine sector is where people think you can’t have your boat in the water if you’re working on it because you’re just going to cover everything in a thick dust of ceramic, as though you were putting a porcelain cup into a blender. In reality, a single ceramics coating is just two microns thick. It’s a common misconception that’s not helped by the fact that there are a lot of products out in the market that contain volatile silicones – which we never use – that end up re-depositing on surfaces.

IMPROVING ASSET VALUES

“If you look back into the history of ceramics technology, you’ll see that it evolved originally in the electronics industry where they began using silicone to create chemical resistance, insulating properties, scratch resistance and hardness. Eventually it was realized that those same coatings could be used for paint protection as a replacement for conventional waxes. In the current market, around 80 per cent of the ceramics products available still use that same technology taken from the electronics industry. It does a good job but at Gtechniq we’re committed to developing those technologies to find ways of enhancing their properties even further.”

STRICT TESTING PROTOCOLS

As an ISO14001-accredited company, Gtechniq ensures the quality of its work with its own in-house laboratory and highly experienced chemistry team. They use a comprehensive and stringent testing protocol – important because, as yet, there are no industry-standardized tests for the manufacture and sale of ceramics products.

“It’s relatively easy to make a product that cleans efficiently by simply giving it a really high PH and adding lots of aggressive chemicals to it that end up damaging the boat’s surface,” explains Braybrook. “We, on the other hand, design our maintenance and cleaning ranges to be as gentle on a boat’s surfaces as possible, while, at the same time, preventing the fading and loss of gloss lower-grade aggressive cleaning chemicals can create. This, in turn, of course, helps maintain the resale value of the boat.”

PRODUCT INNOVATION

Despite its impressive commercial success in the marine leisure market, Gtechniq refuses to rest on its laurels, and, instead, continues to launch innovative new products.

Most recently it launched its new RIB range that combines two complementary formulations: RIB Cleaner and RIB Protector.

RIB Cleaner, suitable for both PVC and Hypalon, combines the natural benefits of citrus oils with advanced cleaning agents to create a high-performance formula able to tackle everything from everyday grime and salt deposits to waterline scum and stubborn marine residues. RIB Protector, meanwhile, uses advanced SiO₂ (silicon dioxide) and ceramic polymers to create a durable, invisible protective layer across RIB surfaces, helping to repel dirt, salt and UV damage, and making surfaces easier to clean and maintain.

BIO-BASED FUTURE

GTechniq is also moving towards an increased use of bio-based feedstock.

“Starting with our maintenance range, we will switch from more petro-chemical based detergents to sugar surfactants – the main waste product of the sugar industry,” says Braybrook. “These plant-based products have a much lower environmental impact.

“Our current product range contains no banned substances or bioaccumulates, but we’re going to keep driving bio-based feedstock as part of our forward-thinking strategy. We want to make sure our products are completely future-proofed.

“The development of our range of marine products is based on 25 years of experience and expert know-how. We now create marine specific products that solve a lot of the problems associated with boat ownership – helping to make boat ownership and boat maintenance a good deal easier.”

For more information about Gtechniq products, go to: www.gtechniq.co.uk