Assessment of Alternative Wax Coating Solutions at Volvo Trucks - A Sustainable Transition to Lower VOC Emissions

Temporary rust protection plays a critical role in various industrial production sites, offering a versatile method for enhancing surface protection during shipment and extending the lifespan of materials being exposed to harsh environmental conditions such as salt water.However, most of these products are still solvent-based, emitting high amounts of VOC emissions into the air which can lead to the formation of tropospheric ozone layers and smogformation, imposing various health and environmental problems. To reduce and control these emissions, the European Union as well as its member states regulate their slippage through various regulations and institutions. At Volvo Trucks in Gothenburg, Sweden, the wax application process - needed to protect selected trucks from different types of corrosion during (overseas) shipment - is the largest emitter of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions at the plant which imposes a requirement forreduction due to internal and external regulations. This thesis explores and explains the need for waxing, the technical and environmental requirements linked to this process as well as the initial situation at the production line in order to find an adequate alternative wax significantly lowering the slippage of VOC emissions whilst guaranteeing the quality of the outcome. This further implies contact with other plants and the engagement of new suppliers and stakeholders. New alternatives are then thoroughly analyzed, taking constraints and objectives into perspective, and following Volvo Standards to fulfill all given requirements. This involves laboratoryas well as in-situ tests conducted in the production plant. To add another exploration and verification method a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis is executed. Taking all results into consideration - together with a final evaluation addressing responsible stakeholders and managers at the plant - a suitable alternative is suggested whilst further proposing various implementation possibilities. The findings aim to inform both operational stakeholders and future researchers, contributing to the optimization of low-emission waxing solutions.