Fresh Paint
ICA SERVES WOODEN CHAIR MANUFACTURERS
ICA Group, based in the city of Civitanova Marche, in the
central Italian province of Macerata, has created a range
of water-based products targeted specifically at meeting
the needs of wooden chair manufacturers. Due to their
versatility, these coatings can be used within mixed
cycles (i.e. in combination with solvent-based products),
thus allowing users to replace solvent-based coatings
gradually. The company has developed three water-based coating cycles. One is transparent and two are lacquered cycles, which differ in
terms of the type of base coat
used—white or transparent.
The transparent cycle starts
with water-based immersion
base coat TAPU, which is followed by a coat of transparent
monocomponent water-based
base coat FA543, sprayed electrostatically (100-120 g/m2).
This transparent solution
delivers advantages such as
high wettability of the wood
fiber, and it is also easy to sand. Once dry, a coat of transparent monocomponent water-based topcoat AO558G25
is applied electrostatically (80-100 g/m2), producing a
final result that is soft to the touch.
The two lacquered cycles are similar though not identical. The first starts with two coats of white water-based base coat FA47BEC, applied electrostatically
(100-130 g/m2), which provides good coverage and
reduces removal of the wood fiber. After drying, pigmented water-based matt topcoat AOB510G25/N is
applied electrostatically (100-120 g/m2). This topcoat is
also used in the second lacquered cycle, which differs
only in that it is based on two coats of transparent
water-based base coat FA543 (the same base coat used
for the transparent cycle).
glass, packaging and nonwovens and fiberglass sizing and
binding, to footwear and textiles, lean flooring and
reverse-osmosis filtration.
COATINGS & INK ADDITIVES REPORT
According to the consulting firm Kusumgar, Nerlfi &
Growney, worldwide consumption of five leading additives for coatings and inks was 1.4 million pounds worth
$3.1 billion in 2008. Coatings took some 80% of the
value and inks the remainder. In the recent past,
growth registered a five to six percent annual rate of
increase with the emerging economies in Asia leading
the way. In 2009, minimal worldwide growth is expected; recovery is expected thereafter.
Asia is the largest outlet for coating and ink additives taking 40% of the dollars. Japan and China are the leading consumers and highlight the growth variances between mature
and developing economies. Japan has seen only slight growth
in the recent past, while in China consumption has been
expanding at double-digit rates. Europe and North America
each consume about one-quarter of the additives with usage
in these regions projected to be down in 2009. Improved performance and environmental advantages are emphasized in
North America and Europe. The rest of the world takes some
ten percent of the additive value.
Rheology modifiers are the largest additives in coatings and
inks with about one-third of the global dollar value and dispersants are second capturing some 22% of the value. Foam
control additives represent 17% of the dollars; wetting agents
15%; and slip and rub materials 12%.
A PROFILE OF THE CENTRAL AMERICAN
AND CARIBBEAN PAINT INDUSTRY
Information Research (IRL) has published a report dedicated to the Central American and Caribbean paint markets titled, “A Profile of the Central American and
Caribbean Paint Industry.” The Central American paint
and coatings market has been estimated at 1.38 million
tons in 2008, of which Mexico accounts for about 1.1 million
and the other smaller countries about 280,000 tons. The
Caribbean paint and coatings market has been estimated
at almost 421,000 tons in 2008. The two largest markets
are Cuba and the Dominican Republic, with Puerto Rico
not far behind. Per capita paint consumption throughout
the whole region has been determined at 9. 5 kg/head,
which is very close to that seen in Mexico alone. However,
it also reflects significant differences in per capita paint
consumption, from Puerto Rico at the top end to Guatemala
and Nicaragua at the other. Overall growth in the Central
American and Caribbean paint market is placed at 3.1%
per annum for the next five years. CW
