Adding to its line of coatings for the manufacture of electric motors and industrial products, Axalta plans to acquire Chinese producer of wire enamels Anhui Shengran Insulation Materials. The company and its product line will become part of Axalta’s Energy Solutions business which has three product segments – wire enamels, impregnating resins and electrical steel coatings – serving the markets for new energy vehicles and industrial applications, including its Voltatex 4224 impregnating resin depicted above.
Axalta announced on March 15 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Shanghai-based producer of wire enamels used in the manufacture of electric vehicles, industrial and consumer electronics. The amount of the deal was not disclosed but it is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.
“Anhui Shengran’s wire enamel products and capabilities are highly complementary to our growing Energy Solutions business,” said Shelley Bausch, senior vice president of Global Industrial Coatings at Axalta. “This will be a solid platform for further specialization and growth as we support key customers in China.”
Axalta’s Voltatex 4224 impregnating resin won a prestigious Gold Edison Award in the Materials Science and Engineering category in 2020. “At Axalta, innovation is in our DNA and we are extremely proud to receive the Gold Edison Award for our industry-leading Voltatex 4224 product,” said Robert Roop, chief technology officer for the company.
“Voltatex 4224 enables both higher motor efficiency and reduced size and weight of electric devices,” said Roop. “This significantly increases performance by conducting thermal energy as quickly as possible, while keeping the motor temperature low, which is important for use in high-performance electric motors such as those in electric vehicles, trains and windmills.”
The product can reduce the weight of electrical motors by more than 15%, says Axalta. Running motors at lower temperatures can increase motor lifetime and downsizing motors allows for reduction of materials, both leading to sustainability benefits, it notes.
For more info, see www.axalta.com.
