German manufacturer Steelpaint GmbH has secured UK infrastructure agency Network Rail’s approval for its Stelcatec protective coating system. This follows a series of successful demonstrations earlier this year. The product is being hailed as a faster, simpler and more flexible approach to corrosion protection and steel maintenance. Coating effectiveness is a topic of current news scrutiny.
The product comes to approval as a wider industry debate is emerging over the durability of coatings, particularly those applied to shipping containers manufactured in the Far East. The three-layer moisture-cured urethane coating, distributed in Britain by Recoat UK, is now listed under Network Rail’s XM92/M24 specification. Contractors are already exploring applications, with the system promising significant time and cost savings compared with traditional multi-pack coatings.
Industry reacts to Network Rail listing
Approved in January 2025, Stelcatec is designed specifically for in-field applications. It eliminates the logistical burden of complex mixing, lengthy curing times and environmental restrictions associated with other protective coatings. In a March demonstration at Specialist Painting Group’s Peterborough facility, three “gingered” steel samples were prepared manually to St3 standard and coated entirely within four hours using rollers. Adhesion testing later confirmed the coating’s performance, even on marginally prepared surfaces, under realistic ambient conditions of 13°C.
“This isn’t about just meeting the spec,” said Andreas Engert, Technical Director at Steelpaint. “This is about optimising steel protection, application process and cost efficiencies. Applicators were surprised at how easily they could finish a job in one shift, not three.” Representatives from Network Rail and leading contractors attended the event, underlining the demand for alternatives to traditional epoxy systems. Those systems often require site-specific mixing, hazardous hardeners, tight environmental controls and extended drying times, limiting their suitability for operational rail environments.
Applications underway
As reported last week in WorldCargoNews.com, Steelpaint recently reentered Far Eastern markets, with a project in India. Now, Steelpaint Director Frank Müller said the development points to a broader change in infrastructure maintenance. “Rail infrastructure development and maintenance must be more agile. What we are providing is a product that can be used by small teams, under real-world conditions, with minimal disruption to rail operations.” Recoat UK, which worked with Steelpaint for two years to introduce the system to Britain, sees the certification as a turning point. “It’s a rare opportunity when something comes along that saves time, reduces risk, and performs to the highest standards,” said Perry Poppelaars, the Director of Recoat UK.
Unlike conventional epoxy coatings, Stelcatec does not require complicated mixing or special ventilation. The one-component system cures quickly in high humidity and delivers strong adhesion to manually prepared steel – a crucial advantage when blast cleaning is not practical. Recoat has already secured a first project with Transport for London, applying Stelcatec to the bridge at Roding Valley station. Contractors are showing interest in trialling the system on Network Rail infrastructure, with larger-scale applications expected once performance is proven in service.
A wider industry debate
Although the coating is designed for static infrastructure, such as bridges and port installations, its emergence raises the debate over coatings in general. The Stelcatec approval comes as coatings on steel surfaces face renewed scrutiny across multiple sectors. Shipping container operators, in particular, are raising concerns over the durability of coatings applied in China during the post-pandemic production surge.
These issues, and their impact on asset management costs, are discussed in the September edition of *WorldCargo News* magazine. For both rail and maritime operators, the durability of protective coatings is fast becoming a shared concern. The standard and durability of coatings directly impact the longevity of containers. There are environmental concerns and economic issues over a potential flood of containers moving into the secondhand market.
