Québec · Canada

Corrosion and wear protection on the Côte-Nord

Induscoat works on the Côte-Nord from LaSalle, Montreal, for mining, port and industrial facilities exposed to salt air from the Gulf of St. Lawrence: corrosion protection for steel and concrete, wear linings for ore handling, cold repair and epoxy grouting of machinery. The system is chosen for the site's actual marine exposure and abrasion, then applied during planned shutdowns.

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From iron ore to the docks: abrasion and sea salt

Industry on the Côte-Nord rests on three pillars: iron ore mined in the Labrador Trough around Fermont, then carried by rail to the ports of Port-Cartier and Sept-Îles; aluminum production in Baie-Comeau and Sept-Îles; and hydroelectricity from the region's large rivers.

Iron ore is dense and highly abrasive. Chutes, hoppers, railcar dumpers, ship loaders, conveyors and concentrate lines wear by sliding and impact. On the coast, the same steel structures face salt fog, sea spray and wet-dry cycles: chlorides build up under damaged coatings and corrosion spreads from every defect. At smelters, structures and handling equipment combine abrasive dust with an industrial atmosphere.

Marine exposure, wind and a short season

Along the shore, the climate combines long winters, strong wind and salt-laden air. Salt deposited on steel must be removed before any painting: fresh-water washing and a soluble salt measurement on the surface are part of preparation, or blisters appear under the new coating. Wind also limits outdoor spraying and calls for solid containment around blasting areas.

In Fermont, inland, the cold is drier and more severe; in Sept-Îles and Baie-Comeau, marine humidity often brings steel temperature close to the dew point. Either way, application is decided by measurement, and outdoor work is concentrated in the warm season or done in heated, dehumidified shelters. The distance from Montreal means product and equipment transport has to be planned early.

Services for ports, mines and smelters

For port structures and steel exposed to spray, maintenance painting starts with an assessment of the existing system: spot repair, overcoat or full removal. Piles, docks and splash zones call for high-build, moisture-tolerant systems. Concrete at docks and foundations, attacked by freeze-thaw and chlorides, is repaired and then protected.

For ore handling, wear linings and alumina ceramics extend the service life of chutes and hoppers. Concentrate pumps and pipelines are repaired cold, without hot work. Mills, compressors and fans are epoxy grouted on their foundations, and foundry wear parts are made to drawing or from a sample.

Standards and specification requirements

For steel in a marine atmosphere, specifications commonly rely on ISO 12944 with a high corrosivity category, or very high for splash zones, and on the immersion categories for structures in seawater. Preparation is specified to ISO 8501-1 or SSPC/AMPP standards, with a soluble salt limit when the owner sets one. Process piping and fuel or reagent tanks may fall under API 570 and API 653, and machinery grouting under API RP 686.

The category and system are set by the owner or their designer; we apply what is specified and document every step.

Regions served

Fermont and the Labrador Trough
Sept-Îles and Port-Cartier
Baie-Comeau and Manicouagan
Haute-Côte-Nord — Forestville, Les Escoumins
Minganie — Havre-Saint-Pierre

Industries served

Iron ore mines and concentrators
Pelletizing and ore handling
Ore ports and deep-water docks
Aluminum smelters
Hydroelectric plants and structures
Forestry and wood processing

Services & solutions

Marine corrosion protection for steel (ISO 12944)
Wear linings for ore handling
Concrete protection for docks and foundations
Cold repair of pumps and piping
Epoxy grouting of machine foundations
Foundry castings and wear parts

Brands distributed

Induscoat — own brand (Canada coatings)

Operational mobilization

On the Côte-Nord, mobilization is prepared early: shipping products and equipment from Montreal, coordinating with the mine, port or plant shutdown window, and allowing for marine conditions on outdoor work. On site, we work under the site's permits — confined space, lockout, work at height and over water.

Frequently asked questions

Does steel exposed to sea spray on the Côte-Nord need a specific system?

Yes. Steel by the sea falls under the high corrosivity categories of ISO 12944, and splash zones are the most demanding. The system has several high-build coats, and preparation includes removing soluble salts. The owner sets the category; the system follows from it.

How can an iron ore chute be protected against wear?

It depends on the wear mode: bonded alumina ceramic where ore slides, wear-resistant steel or cast liners at direct impact points. A filled coating can rebuild thinned areas before the liner goes on. The chute geometry is checked at the same time.

Can you work in Fermont or Sept-Îles during a shutdown?

Yes, on a planned mobilization from LaSalle; Induscoat has no permanent crew on the Côte-Nord. The earlier the shutdown date is known, the easier transport and product logistics are to arrange.

Can a concentrate pump or pipeline be repaired without welding?

Often, yes. Metal-filled composites and erosion-resistant polymers rebuild worn volutes, impellers and elbows without hot work. Feasibility depends on remaining wall thickness, pressure and service temperature.

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A project on the Côte-Nord?

Send the location, photos and shutdown window: we confirm the system, preparation and logistics from Montreal.

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