Fastening specialist Hilti says it now offers a new solution for corrosive environments that even high-grade A4 stainless steel cannot withstand. "Making fastenings for use in highly corrosive surroundings can be a very sensitive issue," says a spokesman for the Dubai-based Hilti Regional Office.

Corrosion is the ultimate dirty word, leading to a waste of precious natural resources and creating problems for those entrusted with the containment and handling of aggressive liquids and ecologically-damaging toxins.

Hempel has recently launched a new high-quality topcoat which is said to be ideally suited for steel structures exposed to severely corrosive atmospheric environments.

SIPCO Paints manufactures a wide range of epoxy coatings which are fast becoming the industry standard, particularly for surface-tolerant applications, says a spokesman for the Dammam-based paints and coatings manufacturer.