Sherwin-Williams and Hodess Cleanrooms to Co-Present at First-Ever Battery Giga Factories Forum in the U.S.

CLEVELAND (May 8, 2024) – Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings and Hodess Cleanrooms will deliver a shared perspective on how coatings selection influences the speed, safety and long-term success of mega-construction projects like electric vehicle (EV) battery production facilities. The joint session will take place at the Excellence in Construction, Design and Engineering of Battery Giga Factories Forum for North America in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 23.

Led by Joseph Windover, Construction Solutions Executive at Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, and Blake Hodess, CEO of Hodess Cleanrooms, the presentation will emphasize the critical role of fire protective steel coatings in safeguarding battery facilities against potential fire incidents. The construction experts will also examine the vital role that advanced flooring systems play in maintaining safe and compliant operating environments and clean rooms.

Titled “Safeguarding the EV Revolution: Mitigating Risk, Maximizing Efficiency in Gigafactory Construction," the presentation by Windover and Hodess will take place on May 23, at 12:20 p.m. EDT. Additionally, Jacob Allard from the Sherwin-Williams Construction Solutions team will participate in a panel discussion on reducing construction costs, equipment maintenance and energy consumption at 5 p.m. EDT on May 22.

Presentation highlights include:

• The Value of a Shop-Applied Fire Protection Process: Traditionally, fireproof coatings have been applied on the jobsite, requiring extensive setup time and specialized equipment, while also putting workers at risk. Advancements in construction techniques have led to a more modern, shop-applied approach that helps reduce safety risks and can accelerate construction project timelines up to 12 weeks.
• Selecting the Right Resinous Flooring Systems to Ensure Operational Integrity: Constructing specialized clean- and dry-room environments requires materials that meet specific cleanliness and humidity standards, in addition to preventing chemical corrosion, delivering carbon black slip resistance and dissipating potential static charge. Choosing the right flooring systems throughout the facility is critical to meeting the rigorous safety and cleanliness standards required for safe, sustainable EV battery production.    
• Going Beyond Compliance to Safeguard Production: Gigafactories are an emerging facility type, leaving contractors, owners and other construction stakeholders with compliance questions. Engaging with international bodies like ASTM, ISO and IEC to develop a proactive and comprehensive safety plan that addresses necessary safety and operational standards is especially beneficial.

“There is no doubt that there is an opportunity to build safer, faster and simpler battery gigafactories and get more EVs on the road faster,” said Windover. “We’re excited to collaborate with Hodess Cleanrooms at the inaugural Battery Giga Factories Forum for North America to discuss advanced coatings and systems customized for EV infrastructure.”

Taking place May 22 through 24, 2024, in Atlanta, the Battery Giga Factories Forum is a platform for industry leaders, innovators and stakeholders to convene and discuss the latest trends, challenges and breakthrough technologies in the field of EV battery manufacturing. This year marks a significant milestone, as the conference makes its debut in the United States, underscoring the commitment of U.S.-based automakers and others in the transportation and heavy-equipment sectors to increase manufacturing and adoption of battery-powered vehicles.

“Maintaining clean, dry conditions in EV battery gigafactories is crucial for safety and efficiency,” said Hodess. “We’re working to ensure all construction professionals – from general contractors to specifying engineers – understand the importance of these rooms, as well as their flooring needs, and how they can prioritize equipment durability, process quality control and personnel well-being.”

For more information about the Excellence in Construction, Design and Engineering of Battery Giga Factories Forum, visit the forum’s website.

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About the Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings delivers world-class industry subject matter expertise, unparalleled technical and specification service, and unmatched regional commercial team support to our customers around the globe. Our broad portfolio of high-performance coatings and systems – including protective liquid and powder, fire protection and resinous flooring – excel at combating corrosion and help customers achieve smarter, time-tested asset protection. We serve a wide array of markets across our rapidly growing international distribution footprint, including Bridge & Highway, Energy, High Value Infrastructure, Manufacturing & Processing, Marine, Rail, Power and Water & Wastewater. For more information, visit protective.sherwin.com.

About Hodess Cleanrooms

Hodess Cleanrooms is dedicated to enabling the important work that they do and clear the way so companies can focus on discovery, innovation, invention, and manufacturing. Based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Hodess Cleanrooms has over three decades of experience and over 600 critical environments built and supported across the Americas. A full lifecycle partner, Hodess Cleanrooms provides expertise and partnership in every stage of a company’s critical environment lifecycle including design, engineering, construction, protocol strategies, certification, testing, ongoing maintenance, and facilities retrofit. Hodess Cleanrooms has deep experience in all ISO classes/specification and provides support for some of the most innovative market sectors, from semi-conductors to batteries; medical devices to defense; biologics to pharmaceuticals. For more information, visit hodesscleanrooms.com.

Media Contacts:

Tiny Mighty Communications

• Molly Montag (on-site in Atlanta), 713-839-5541, mmontag@tinymightyco.com
• Kamryn Heath, 704-804-0076, kheath@tinymightyco.com