Steelpaint GmbH has secured multiple new contracts in 2025 for corrosion protection coatings on Germany’s inland waterways. Local authorities and hydraulic engineering contractors have selected the company’s moisture-curing polyurethane systems for key infrastructure projects.
One notable project is the maintenance of a two-field rolling weir on the Main River at Viereth-Trunstadt, a major Rhine tributary linking the North Sea and the Black Sea. Steelpaint’s Stelpant-PU-Zinc, Combi 300, and Stelcatec-L-TC topcoat will replace an older epoxy system. Applied to a steel surface of 500 m² at a total dry film thickness of 580 µm, the system protects against corrosion, turbulence, abrasion, and UV exposure. Onsite application is handled by Muehlhan Deutschland GmbH.
Recent inland-waterway projects using Steelpaint coatings include Hooksiel lock, New Brunsbüttel lock, Kannenburg lock, Schmidt Canal sluice gates, and various hydraulic works in Erlabrunn, Koblenz, and Niegripp.
Frank Müller, Head of Sales, said demand is rising as authorities recognize the durability, environmental benefits, and ease of application of Steelpaint’s systems. Technical Manager Dmitry Gromilin highlighted advantages over traditional epoxy coatings, including faster drying, low VOC content, lower water absorption, and a smoother finish.
Steelpaint expects continued strong demand through 2026–2027, driven by federal and regional investments in locks, weirs, and flood-control structures. Upcoming projects include the Oste barrage and Kriegenbrunn lock on the Main-Danube Canal.
