When cooking and frying, nothing should stick to the pot or pan - otherwise a fine dish risks becoming a visual disaster. To prevent such problems during food preparation, non-stick coatings exist that prevent sticking. These typically rely on so-called perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) - a precursor for producing PTFE, also known as Teflon. Currently these chemicals are indispensable for a wide range of applications, including non-stick, gliding and insulation coatings. But the industry faces a challenge: from 2025, an EU-wide ban on PFAS is expected.

PFAS can cause cancer

"They pollute the environment, are barely biodegradable and can be harmful to organs as well as cause cancer," explains Dr. Christoph Stecher. He is the managing director of the Wilhelmshaven-based company acs Coating Systems. From years of experience, he knows that Teflon is still used in most so-called functional coatings today. Despite the looming ban, he looks ahead optimistically, as he explained during a press conference together with Wilhelmshaven's SPD state parliament member Marten Gäde. "We ourselves have completely avoided Teflon in our own pots and pans for several years now - previously about two percent was still contained in ours as well," says Stecher.

Thanks to development work, his company has now succeeded in developing, for example, new coatings "that really work up to 300°C in the oven or even briefly up to 450°C on the grill, without releasing any substances hazardous to health." For him, PFAS-free coatings are possible in all areas relevant to his company or applications known to him. But some segments would need longer, reliable transition periods. He sees the biggest challenge in electrical PFAS-free insulation coatings, where "we've already done pioneering work." A changeover always means major effort when existing solutions have to be replaced. But:

"There's no reason to block necessary change out of convenience. After all, it also offers possible improvements and new opportunities."

Dr. Christoph Stecher, Managing Director, acs Coating Systems

Revenue split across several segments

The company acs generates around 50 percent of its revenue from non-stick coatings in food contact applications - for bakeries, catering and private customers. The other half comes from industrial applications, mostly gliding and insulation tasks. Due to the upcoming PFAS ban and the phase-out of combustion engines, demand for new technical solutions at acs has risen considerably. At trade shows and from business partners, Stecher has learned that many companies already want to switch to PFAS alternatives now.

"They're thinking long-term. If they're now procuring something new or developing new products, they're already doing so with the possible ban in mind. After all, they don't want to invest again shortly after, but rather operate sustainably," says Christoph Stecher. He expects to be able to secure the odd order - for example for parts in wind turbines, fuel cells or electric cars. After all, the company has already been producing PFAS-free gliding coatings for BMW six-cylinder engines for ten years and has been able to gain experience along the way.