Powder Coating is a Mature Market?
Posted on Monday, June 1, 2015
“In just three years in my position as Executive Director of the Powder Coating Institute, I cannot count the number of times I have heard some of the top minds in the industry say to me, “Well, you know that powder coating is a mature market, and you cannot expect the kind of growth that occurred in the past.”
Those same people would agree that perhaps powder coating is growing faster than other surface coatings but that its technology advances are all in place. Powder coating is a growth market—even in its traditional metal surface applications. But there are many exciting developments taking place in the powder coating market—both in the industries using the powder coating as well as the substrates that powder can be applied to. In our 2015 Buyers Guide issue (published December 2014), our Technical Editor Kevin Biller wrote a brilliant article titled, “Powder Coating: An Annual Trends Forecast.” In this article, Biller outlines Material Developments, Process Advancements and Markets Impact for the coming year.
New Material Developments include powder on plastics— commodity plastics, high temperature thermoplastics, SMC and fiber reinforced plastics. Like powder coating that has been used on steel and aluminum for many years and even MDF for years, this now expands the list of substrates that powder can be used on—possibly exponentially. Also included in Material Developments is a continuation of the use of low temperature cure powders as well as bio-based polymer systems where research continues.
Process Advancements include high density, low velocity applications with new feed systems that deliver more powder with less air. Overall, these systems offer a more consistent film thickness which ultimately can result in better economics and better quality. Further, robotic application of powder coating, which have been available for years are now becoming more affordable and the software to run the robotic systems are now far easier to use. Robotic systems may now be used at mid-level OEMs and custom coaters to improve productivity.
Additional Process Advancements include new chemical solutions for improved conductivity solutions for excellent transfer efficiency so that innovative coaters can use powder on a range of unique substrates. Finally, finishers are turning to infrared (IR) technologies, including medium, long and short wave electric IR along with gas catalytic IR to cure powder coatings.
In outlining some of the markets of new power development, Biller discussed the fact that fiberglass profiles in architectural applications are “growing at the expense of aluminum extrusions,” which will require new powder solutions. For the automotive and appliance markets, the use of coatings on plastics offers the opportunity to open these markets to new and innovative application of a variety of parts and assemblies.
These advances in powder coating highlight the opportunities in powder coating and prove that powder coating is not a mature market; rather, it is still vibrant and primed for growth.
Dave Lurie
Executive Director, PCI