At the beginning of the 1990s, Mankiewicz developed a direct-to-metal system that combined primer and top coat in a single step, in contrast to the two- or three-coat system that was common at the time. Right from the start, the concept was aimed at achieving robust surfaces with efficient application. Agricultural machinery surfaces are exposed to weathering, UV radiation, cleaning agents and mechanical stress. Coatings that are durable, can be applied reproducibly and limit the amount of material used are therefore in high demand.
Further development: High Build Monolyer
The latest generation has been designed for high layer thicknesses and a wide processing window. It can be applied directly to chemically pre-treated or blasted steel and enables higher gloss levels even on rougher substrates. A high solids content and an optimized drying process are designed to reduce the cost per square metre. The system also addresses the reduction of volatile organic compounds and thus supports more resource-efficient painting processes.
Practical relevance: OEM use and metallic DTM
The Monolyer was first used as a DTM solution on combine harvesters from a major manufacturer. In the years that followed, other internationally active OEMs opted for the monolayer. One recent example is the long-standing collaboration with Claas: metallic DTM variants in seed green and silver were used on anniversary combines in 2024. In addition to corrosion protection and durability, users emphasize the process-related advantages such as reduced process steps and fast throughput times.
Interested parties can find out more about the DTM portfolio and the high-build version at Agritechnica in Hanover. Mankiewicz will be providing information on fields of application and application windows in Hall 17, Stand F58.