Maxiglide

Description

THE PRO-TEX/MAXIGLIDE HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MARINE PAINTS AND COATINGS The research and development of the marine coatings of Pro-Tex, division of Maxiglide Products, Incorporated can be divided into three categories. Speed coatings for smaller water craft. Ice and snow shedding coatings. Anti-fouling coatings and fiberglass polishes and sealants. In the early 1990's we were able to develop a couple of speed coatings for canoes, kayaks and other smaller marine crafts that were a direct off-shoot of our technology developed for the ski industry over many years. These products were an immediate success with sailboarders and canoeists because of their ease of application and very noticeable and measurable increases in speed and performance. Many of the users of these products were also skiers and as such were familiar with the Maxiglide name and reputation and the transition to using super smooth hydro-phobic bottom coating waxes on canoes, kayaks, and even sailboards was a natural one. Once this market was addressed, we became aware of the fouling problems with inherent to all boats and other marine substrates. In 1992, we partnered with one of the most renowned scientists in the field of anti-fouling from Harvard University. At the time, we were unable to formulate coatings that were simultaneously, safe for the environment and effective in all waters in preventing fouling of marine growth. Unable to finance continued research, the project was shelved, but the seeds for future research was planted. In 1998, we lent our expertise to the Norwegian Olympic Committee and a six year affiliation was begun to develop and test new materials that related to the performance of sailboat and canoe racers as well as skiers. This research resulted in much success on in the 2000 in Sydney and 2004 Athens Summer Olympics for our Norwegian partners and expanded our base of knowledge regarding materials effective in the marine environment as well as the research others were doing in this field. In the course of testing formulations for speed enhancement of skiers, one of the prerequisites was that the ski bottoms must remain completely free of contamination of ice and snow. These formulations usually involved the use of Teflon-like materials combined with compatible materials to enhance adhesion and durability. It wasn't until some years later that we realized that these formulations could be applied to more practical problems such as ice and snow adhesion to the top sides of fishing boats, and the prevention of ice adhesion on various outdoor substrates. Thus was born the Pro-Tex line of Ice & Snow Barrier products. Using the network of scientists from the days of research into anti-fouling materials, we were made aware of new research in this area. We have been fortunate to be able to license proven innovations in this field from scientist from several parts of the world. Our objective was to have a line of safe, environmentally friendly anti-fouling coatings at a time when our waters are saturated with heavy metals from the organotin and copper based compounds laced in the bottom paints of recent past.

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