Protect and maintain (critical) steel structures

At a time when both the industrial sector and infrastructure face challenges, Muehlhan plays a key role in protecting as well as maintaining (critical) structures - from bridges and industrial plants to offshore platforms. With the combination of steel conservation, scaffolding construction and rope access in-house, accessibility is also not an issue.

"Treating and protecting steel structures forms our core business," begins Stijn Staffhorst, Managing Director at Muehlhan Netherlands. "This concerns both new construction, where a preservative layer is applied for the first time, and maintenance of existing installations. In both situation our expertise proves indispensable."

Versatile

One of Muehlhan's specialties is the safe removal of old coatings, including those containing chromium-6 and lead-based paint. "This is done under strict environmental regulations to prevent the spread of harmful substances," assures Staffhorst. "The removal is also at the same time pretreatment: creating the right roughness so that the new preservative layer adheres optimally. Then the new paint system is built up and applied - durable, technically sound and tailored to the unique situation. What makes us unique is that we not only take care of the treatment and protection, but also take care of the accessibility of hard-to-reach areas ourselves. This is done through scaffolding or, when traditional work is not possible, with rope access techniques. In rope access, professionals use ropes to work safely in hard-to-reach locations - quickly, efficiently and without having to build large structures."

Porthos project

A striking example of Muehlhan's versatility is the work on offshore platform P18A, which is now part of the Porthos project: a CO2 storage project for the energy transition. "The former gas extraction platform is being converted and made suitable for CO2 injection," Staffhorst explains. "To extend its service life, we are performing maintenance here. Mechanical components are being replaced, old coatings removed and new paint systems applied. Again, we provide our own accessibility to the locations that are being reconserved as well as where mechanical work is being performed. This involves a combination of scaffolding and rope access techniques. This is another great example of how we contribute to extending the life of existing installations, and that too approximately 20 kilometers offshore."

Innovative coatings

In addition to traditional paint systems, Muehlhan sometimes applies innovative coatings. "Among other things, we apply passivating systems to existing, rusted steel. These stop the corrosion process and extend the service life. It is widely used on ships," Staffhorst clarifies. "Another 'special' branch within the coating business is insulating coatings to stop corrosion under insulation, a well-known problem on piping systems. We are also certified to apply fire-resistant coatings. These are applied to steel structures and swell when exposed to heat, temporarily protecting the underlying steel during fires. This is critical on pipe bridges and other installations in the (petro)chemical industry, among other things."

Muehlhan combines technical expertise in conservation with innovative accessibility solutions and specialized knowledge of coating systems. Whether it is the controlled and safe removal of damaging old coats of paint, the building up of new systems or the accessibility of complex structures: Muehlhan provides integrated solutions that significantly extend the life of vital infrastructure and industrial facilities.