Ralph Hakim’s first version of the Worldtech Coatings’ proprietary patented ECO NO-OIL^® coating technology, emerged over four decades ago, introducing the construction industry to concrete form coatings that eliminate the need for release agents. Our coated panels were marketed in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s first as Butilite and then by Weyerhaeuser as Concrete Form/Release Coated panels. These coated plywood panels eliminated the need to use release agents when pouring concrete and gained instant popularity with major contractors in the United States. These concrete form panels were frequently used on large, high-profile construction projects such as The Atlantic Richfield Towers and Security Pacific Plaza in Los Angeles. ECO NO-OIL^® coated panels have also been used on large projects such as dams, water treatment facilities, hospitals and nuclear power plants.

In the 1990’s, Champion International’s “DriForm90” continued the success of the no oil concrete form.  The “DriForm90” (ECO NO-OIL^®) coated plywood panels were used by many major contractors on projects around the United States, such as the Deer Island Project, a part of Boston’s “Big Dig” and on Kiewit’s Chicago LaSalle Street Station, and Mortenson’s Seattle Water Treatment plants 1 and 2.

In the late 1990’s, the Environmental Protection Agency enacted new regulations which greatly restricted the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) allowed in paints and coatings.  These new regulations had a direct impact on Worldtech’s coatings.  Worldtech has since reformulated the ECO NO-OIL^® polymer coating to comply with EPA standards. Spurred on by the movement toward “GREEN” building practices and high oil prices, Mr. Hakim came out of retirement and in 2006 Worldtech reintroduced ECO NO-OIL^® coatings to the poured-in-place and precast concrete forming industry.  Worldtech has since lost its founder, Ralph Hakim who passed away in 2011, but his family is continuing his legacy and is pleased to bring the industry a product that is high-quality, cost-effective and environment friendly.