Garware launches new net which can be painted with antifouling paints

 As one of the leading textile suppliers in aquaculture, Garware has launched a new, high-density polyethylene net, which can be painted with water-based antifouling paints. The Star V4 polyethylene nets are the latest product of the company's and currently only net on the market that can be 100 percent painted with traditional, water-based antifouling paints.

"Before this technology, HDPE was not paintable," explains Marcos Jofré, Business Associate Garware Chile. "With its development, the nature of the fibre surface is modified, allowing traditional paint to be perfectly fixed with complete compatability."

"Today over 50 percent of salmon companies are conducting tests or permanently using the Star V4 nets, yielding good results, both in impregnation and antifouling," Mr Jofré adds. "And not only have they been impregnated, but in several cases, they have been re-impregnated, surpassing the second cycle of impregnation. For this reason, we ensure that Garware's V4 technology impregnates HDPE with traditional water-based antifouling paints, confirming its effectiveness."

On top of this, the Star V4 nets have all the characteristics of the orgiianl raschel nets as they are knotless even after 10 years of use after aggressive in situ cleaning conditions. Loss of tensile strength is 15 percent after four years, compared with nylon which loses 40 percent or more.

Other characteristics listed by the company include the net's ability to not elongate, high resistance to abrasion in humid conditions, incorporates anti-UV additives and has the highest manufacturing standards worldwide.

"Polyethylene with antifouling does not lose resistance over time, which provides great flexibility in the strategic process of cleaning the nets, since it is possible to migrate from impregnation to cleaning in situ or vice versa, with ease to deliver the better conditions for salmonids complying with the new regulations required by the sectoral authority," says Mr Jofré.

Paints for polyethylene can technically paint any nets but the cost is higher and there are no more than three brands in Chile.

In situ cleaning in Chile is still a complex process in aquaculture, due to logistics – distance from farms, availability of services, cost – meaning the majority of aquaculture companies operating in Chile prefer to use nets with antifouling, compared with other countries where in situ cleaning reduces the use of antifouling. 

For more information on Garware visit their website, HERE.