This strengthened partnership between IFI and AkzoNobel marks a major advancement in bringing high-performance aerospace coatings within easier reach for General Aviation OEMs throughout Europe.
The vibrant and unmistakable presence of IFI at this year’s AERO Friedrichshafen did not go unnoticed. Positioned as Italy’s leading expert in Advanced Chemicals Management for Defence, IFI has long been recognised for its manufacture and distribution of military-grade topcoats
compliant with MIL-PRF-85285 standards. It is also a long-standing manufacturing and distribution partner of AkzoNobel, supporting its aerospace and maritime coatings portfolio since before the turn of the century.
AERO Friedrichshafen 2025
attracted over 32,000 visitors to what is widely regarded as the world’s leading event for General Aviation (GA). At the IFI stand, its partnership with AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings was clearly on display, with both company logos sharing prominence across panel displays. Attendees were introduced to IFI’s licensed production of AkzoNobel’s Alumigrip 4250 polyurethane topcoat—highly regarded among GA and helicopter OEMs, including Leonardo. In addition, IFI manufactures other notable aerospace coatings such as the Eclipse
and 58 Series polyurethane topcoats, Alumigrip 4200, and Aerodur 5000.
“IFI has never rested on its laurels; we have recently invested heavily in our Carsoli production facility to seize new opportunities in the fast‑growing GA market, which has a large number of small manufacturers who could benefit from the quality and performance of our coatings,” has stated Luca Mantovani of IFI, who organised the stand.
Historically, the General Aviation sector has leaned on coatings developed for the automotive industry to meet requirements around colour and aesthetic appeal. However, the collaboration between IFI and AkzoNobel is now bridging that gap by offering aerospace-certified coatings
tailored to GA needs—delivered swiftly and available in a diverse range of colours and finishes for eye-catching liveries.
A third-generation family business, IFI brings more than technical manufacturing expertise to the table. The company is deeply knowledgeable in regulatory compliance, particularly in relation to REACH, the EU regulation aimed at safeguarding human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals. IFI also provides active support to its customers through PARISYS, its advanced system for production efficiency and chemical risk prediction.
“We are very proud of our partnership with IFI and our work with them in aerospace and maritime coatings. They are an active champion of our products; indeed, I sometimes think they are as much AkzoNobel as we are,” has added Enrico Adolfo Hornbostel of IFI, who also worked for AkzoNobel for more than 35 years.
The partnership extends beyond product development. Visitors to the show were able to engage with AkzoNobel’s new Aerofleet Training+ virtual reality tool, which allowed them to simulate painting an aircraft component in a realistic training environment. AkzoNobel’s team is currently engaged in training IFI personnel, enabling the Italian partner to deliver professional paint training services across the country.
“We were delighted to support IFI at AERO Friedrichshafen. The combined quality of our products – which are consistent the world over – alongside our experience, our range and our technical knowledge and support means that between us we have a very strong proposition for the General Aviation market in Italy and beyond,” has concluded Francesca De Michele of IFI.