Coatings World - September 2008

Powder Coatings

importance of choosing the right powder for the right job.

For DuPont one of its most successful customer programs is Star Coater, a loyalty program for custom coaters. This year the company started an internal group focused on improving customer satisfaction called the Customer Centricity Team. In 2006 DuPont’s inside sales team started providing improved response and consultative help to customers who use lower volumes of powder.

sensitive substrates such as MDF and plastic. New technologies are helping shaping products to meet this demand, but in general we have not seen a breakthrough in new applications, as the conversion to powder usually requires some investments at the application plants and the owners are not always willing to invest.”

In terms of regional growth, he said the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, Russia, India and China are characterized by the highest growth, due to the rapid development of real estate and construction projects and because of the manufacturing industry shifting to these areas.

Dietz also said that powder is making great inroads in architectural-

aluminum extrusions. Regionally he said while Asia and Eastern Europe are growing the fastest because they are developing regions, “North America and Western Europe are holding their own but need technological breakthroughs to sell into new markets.”

DELIVERING VALUE

In terms of providing value to its customers, Jotun lays great emphasis on internal competence building and customers’ educational programs. The Jotun Powder School offers a series of training tools designed to provide architects, applicators and industry professionals with the essentials on powder coatings, the benefits of using powder coatings from a reliable supplier and the

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ACQUIRES BECKER POWDER COATINGS IN NA In acquisition news, earlier this year Sherwin-Williams acquired Becker Powder Coatings in North America, a subsidiary of AB Wilh. Becker based in Sweden. Headquartered in Columbus, OH, Becker Powder Coatings makes powder coatings for appliances, metal furniture, fixtures, equipment and electronic products manufactured throughout North America. Becker Powder Coatings has more than 45 employees and sales of roughly $14 million.

ON THE R&D FRONT

The powder coating industry is characterized by a very high degree of customization. “Continuous incremental developments or improvements are vital in providing customers with not only optimum coating performance for their requirements but also an optimized application process,” explained Iurilli. “Jotun’s R&D efforts are focused on providing thinner films, improved finish, lower baking temperature, extended outdoor durability, improved corrosion and protective properties.”

“DuPont is in the process of developing architectural coatings containing fluoropolymers, a chrome look process, antimicrobial powders and powder for MDF,” said Dietz. “We are also developing new coatings for the functional pipe market and the rebar market, which involves using powder on steel used for reinforcing concrete.”

In terms of raw material, Dietz said there is a need for ingredients for lower cure powder coatings that also have good storage stability. “Ingredients for one shot low-gloss polyesters with great physicals are in demand and there needs to be an improvement to physical properties such as marring and high slip.”