Pinovo takes third place at the ION Borghardt Award 2026

On 7 October 2026, Perspect Industrial Products secured third place at the ION Borghardt Award 2026 with Pinovo vacuum blasting technology. The entry focused on the controlled removal of Chromium-6-containing coatings. The results were announced during the Dag van de Oppervlaktetechnologie in Gorinchem, the Netherlands.

Organised by Vereniging ION, the biennial award recognises innovations in the surface treatment industry. This year’s theme, Sustainability and Circularity, was a good fit for the questions at the heart of our entry: how can industrial coatings be removed with greater control over the materials released, and with less waste? We previously shared more about the technology and the background to our ION Borghardt Award nomination.

Recognition for controlled coating removal

Pinovo uses a closed-loop vacuum blasting process that combines coating removal, dust extraction and surface preparation. Coating particles and used abrasive are captured directly at the blasting head, limiting their spread into the surrounding work area. At the same time, the underlying steel is prepared for subsequent treatment or recoating.

This control is particularly important when removing coatings containing hazardous substances such as Chromium-6 (Cr(VI)). The nominated application was independently investigated by SEEF, providing supporting evidence for its use under the conditions tested.

Material recovery also plays an important role. Within the system, reusable abrasive is separated from removed coating material and returned to the blasting process, helping to reduce material consumption and waste.

Beyond worker safety: protecting the environment

Keeping paint particles out of the surrounding environment is another important part of this story. During maintenance on bridges, ships and industrial structures, coating removal can generate particles that may reach soil or water if they are not adequately controlled.

By capturing removed coatings directly at the source, Pinovo helps limit the uncontrolled release of coating particles into the environment. This adds an environmental benefit to a process designed around controlled surface preparation.

The award provided a valuable opportunity to share this approach with professionals from across the surface treatment industry. With five different innovations nominated, the event highlighted how sustainability and circularity can be addressed from different perspectives.

A result we are pleased with

We are very pleased with our third place. Beyond the result itself, the nomination offered a great opportunity to share our knowledge and experience, and to bring more attention to the importance of controlled coating removal in industrial maintenance.

We would like to thank SEEF for their contribution to the research and Vereniging ION for organising the event. Congratulations to the winner and all fellow nominees!