Genmar to Use VEC-Shield Finish, A Thermoplastic Gel Coat Replacement in The Production of Its Boat Hulls

Spartech Corp have partnered with boat manufacturer Genmar and GE Plastics to produce the next generation in Virtual Engineered Composites or VEC. This consists of a thermoplastic gel coat replacement called VEC-Shield finish which will be used on many of Genmar’s boats later in 2004 and 2005. VEC-Shield finish was first unveiled in June 2003 at the National Plastics Exposition.

Genmar will gear up for the implementation of VEC-Shield’s implementation by expanding facilities to house machinery and equipment during 2004.

The application to boat hulls revolves around Genmar’s patented VEC Technology, which involves a closed mould fibreglass process which is claimed to reduce costs and improves efficiency. It has already been used to make over 20,000 boats without suffering from any structural failures. The VEC Technology business has also been spun off as a stand alone entity.

Spartech have designed and ordered the larger equipment necessary to produce the specialised thermoplastic sheet which will use Spartech’s WeatherPro G Alloy Plastic, while GE Plastics will supply the Geloy resin.

Posted February 11^th, 2004