Pinovo nominated for the ION Borghardt Award 2026 for controlled Chromium-6 removal
We have some exciting news to share: Perspect Industrial Products has been nominated for the ION Borghardt Award 2026 with Pinovo vacuum blasting technology for the controlled removal of, among other things, Chromium-6 containing coatings.
We are proud to see this application recognised by the Dutch surface treatment industry. The nomination is not only about removing a coating. It recognises an approach in which source control, efficient surface preparation and the reuse of blasting media come together in one closed-loop system.
And getting to this point has very much been a joint effort.
From Pinovo technology to a validated Chromium-6 application
Pinovo vacuum blasting technology was not originally developed specifically for Chromium-6 removal. The foundation was already there: a closed-loop blasting system designed to blast a surface while immediately recovering the abrasive, dust and removed coating material.
The important next question was whether that technology could also be demonstrably applied when Chromium-6 is present in the coating.
That is where our collaboration with SEEF BV became essential.
SEEF specialises in Chromium-6 research, sampling, laboratory analysis and validation. Together, we were able to investigate the Pinovo process under controlled conditions and establish how the technology performs when removing Chromium-6 containing coatings.
We would therefore like to explicitly thank the team at SEEF for their expertise, testing and cooperation. Taking the existing Pinovo technology and developing a well-substantiated approach for Chromium-6 removal would not have been possible without their contribution.
About the ION Borghardt Award
The ION Borghardt Award is a biennial innovation award organised by Vereniging ION, the Dutch industry association for industrial surface treatment. The award highlights innovations that contribute to the further development of the surface treatment industry, both technically and in the way resources and processes are used.
For the 2026 edition, the central theme is ‘Sustainability and circularity’. The jury is looking at innovations that contribute to more efficient use of materials, water and energy, reduce waste streams or otherwise make surface treatment processes more sustainable.
Five innovations have been nominated this year, including the Pinovo vacuum blasting application submitted by Perspect Industrial Products. The nomination therefore places the technology among a small selection of developments that the jury considers relevant to the future of the surface treatment industry.
On 7 October 2026, during the Dag van de Oppervlaktetechnologie, the three finalists will be announced, followed by the winner of the ION Borghardt Award 2026.
What is the technology behind the nomination?
When an existing coating containing Chromium-6 is mechanically removed, contaminated coating particles and dust can be released. Controlling that material at the source is therefore an important part of the work method.
This is where Pinovo vacuum blasting differs from conventional open abrasive blasting.
With Pinovo, blasting and vacuum extraction take place at the same point. The blasting head is sealed against the surface while abrasive is projected onto the steel. The abrasive, removed coating particles and dust are then immediately drawn back into the closed system.
Inside the system, reusable abrasive is separated from the removed material. Suitable blasting media can then be returned to the blasting process, while the extracted contamination is collected separately.
In practice, this means that surface preparation and source capture are combined in a single process rather than treating dust and debris only after they have been released.
Testing the technology with Chromium-6
To establish whether this existing principle could be applied to Chromium-6 containing coatings, SEEF tested the technology using specially prepared test plates with high concentrations of Cr(VI).
The tests were deliberately carried out under challenging conditions, including in an enclosed space without ventilation. Measurements focused both on potential exposure in the breathing zone and on possible contamination of the surrounding area.
The results supported the controlled use of Pinovo for Chromium-6 work when combined with the correct procedures, safety measures and personal protective equipment.
For us, this validation was an important step. It provided evidence that the source-control principle behind Pinovo could also be applied to one of the more complex challenges encountered during industrial surface preparation.
The full test results and background can be found in our earlier article on how Pinovo vacuum blasting technology was validated for Chromium-6.
Safety, productivity and circularity
Vereniging ION summarises the strength of the nominated technology in three areas: safety, productivity and circularity.
Safety starts at the source.
Rather than allowing removed coating material and blasting dust to spread freely before controlling it, the Pinovo system captures the material directly at the blasting head. For Chromium-6 work, this source-control principle is particularly relevant.
Surface preparation and extraction take place simultaneously.
Because blasting media and removed material are recovered during the blasting process itself, the amount of secondary contamination and subsequent cleaning can be reduced. Depending on the project and its risk assessment, this can simplify the measures required around the work area compared with conventional open blasting.
The abrasive stays in the loop.
The Pinovo system separates usable abrasive so that it can be reused during the blasting process. This reduces the amount of fresh blasting media required and limits the volume of waste generated.
It is this final point that also connects the technology directly to the 2026 award theme. Circularity is not an additional step after blasting; reuse of the blasting media is built into the closed-loop vacuum blasting process itself.
A nomination we are proud of
For Perspect Industrial Products and Pinovo, the nomination is recognition of a development that has taken several steps: starting with an existing vacuum blasting technology, investigating a challenging new application and independently testing how the process performs when Chromium-6 is involved.
We are very pleased to see that work recognised by Vereniging ION and to be included among the five nominated innovations for 2026.
Once again, a big thank you to SEEF for the knowledge, testing and cooperation that helped make this possible.
On 7 October, we will find out which three innovations reach the final stage – and who will receive the ION Borghardt Award 2026.