AkzoNobel Brings Catalan Style to Aerospace Coatings

AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings has brought a touch of Catalan style to its presence at MRO Europe in Barcelona, with an aircraft panel that pays homage to the famously colorful ceramic designs of the local region. MRO Europe will be held Oct. 22-24, 2024.

Behind many works of art is an artist of exceptional talent, and there are few more talented than Dave Kingsman, a technical consultant within of AkzoNobel’s Technical Services Team.

At the heart of the design is AkzoNobel’s basecoat/clearcoat system, but that only tells a fraction of the story. Having been given a template from which to work by the AkzoNobel aerospace marketing communications team, Kingsman set about turning a concept into reality. Some 13 colors had to be formulated, mixed and applied to achieve the different shades, blends and special effects he was looking for.

After priming, sanding and preparing the surface, the panel was sprayed grey, clear coated and peelable decals applied to frame the borders to the individual shapes. The colors were then painted in sequence, the darker blues first, until the artwork was complete after which a further two layers of clearcoat were added and the surface polished to achieve the perfect finish.

Kingsman spent more than 30 hours on the job, which comprised 36 individual painting steps and included the use of both solid colors and those with special effects that will make the design dazzle and shine beneath the exhibition lights.

Kingsman was supported in the project by Sean Magness, technical consultant.

“It was a team effort,” Kingsman says, “from the original marketing concept to the final design. We wanted something that showcased what you can achieve with our paints and do so in a way that celebrated the color and life of the Catalan region. We hope visitors to MRO Europe stop by and take a look.”