An Aboriginal-owned Australian company has developed a revolutionary protective coating that could reshape the future of steel infrastructure in Australia and beyond.
NSW-based Zincoat Pty Ltd, a Supply Nation Certified business, has introduced a zinc-rich coating system called Zincoat. The technology not only matches the performance of hot dipped galvanising, the global benchmark in steel protection, but also improves on it with easier recoating and greater environmental efficiency.
Zincoat’s founder, a Christian Aboriginal innovator with more than 30 years of experience in corrosion science, describes the breakthrough as “a way of extending the life of steel structures while reducing cost, effort and environmental impact.” His wife and ministry partner works alongside him in building what is one of Australia’s few protective coatings producers and is the only Indigenous owned one.
A Coating That Protects, Heals and Lasts
Zincoat is a cold galvanising coating that contains more metallic zinc than any other paint worldwide, with more than 96 per cent zinc in the dry film. Unlike traditional paints, Zincoat does not just form a barrier against corrosion. It also sacrifices itself electrochemically, delivering true cathodic protection.
The coating can be applied directly to carbon steel or hot dipped galvanised structures. Instead of peeling or blistering, it thins predictably over time and can be rejuvenated indefinitely with a single fresh coat applied after a water blast. This removes the need for expensive and hazardous abrasive blasting.
A proprietary Adhesion Booster allows Zincoat to bond even to smooth, unblasted surfaces, making it the first sacrificial coating in the world that does not require abrasive blasting for surface preparation. Zincoat is typically applied in two coats about an hour apart, compared to four coats a day apart for many traditional systems. The result is faster projects, reduced outage times and lower costs, with increased durability between maintenance cycles.
Trusted by Asset Owners Across Australia
Zincoat is already in use on major infrastructure projects. Transgrid, which manages more than 60,000 transmission towers, expects 30 years of protection from each coat, with unlimited extensions through rejuvenation. The technology is also being used on the Burdekin River Bridge in Queensland, as a primer for Brisbane’s Story Bridge, and on the Scrivener Dam in Canberra.
The Australian Defence Force is currently evaluating Zincoat for coastal and marine applications, particularly for vulnerable galvanised structures exposed to salt air.
Redefining Maintenance Economics
Australia’s protective coatings market is worth more than $3 billion each year. Zincoat is well placed to capture a significant share by reducing life cycle costs by at least 50 per cent, particularly for galvanised structures.
The system’s rejuvenation process is quicker, cleaner and safer than conventional paint, and its performance has been confirmed by independent testing, including studies by AECOM at the University of Queensland.
Zincoat has also been selected as one of just five Indigenous owned businesses to join the Ernst & Young Supply Nation Advance Export Program, chosen from a pool of 4,000. Another program participant, Quarterbac, an Indigenous owned asset planning consultancy, has embraced Zincoat to deliver better corrosion outcomes and cost savings for its clients.
Faith, Inclusion and Innovation
For Zincoat, the mission goes beyond business. Rooted in Christian faith, the company is committed to reconciliation, inclusion and empowering disadvantaged communities.
“We serve the disadvantaged and Indigenous communities as part of our commitment to God’s work,” said the founder. “Diversity is not just part of our story, it is the reason our innovation exists.”
With deep cultural roots and cutting-edge science, Zincoat is rewriting the rules of corrosion protection and offering a uniquely Australian solution to a global challenge.
Visit our website www.zincoat.com.au or feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us on 1300 244 158.