Coatings World - December 2010

EUROPE
BY SEAN MILMO
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
MILMOCW@RODPUB.COM

Powder coatings bounce back

A wider
array of
applications
is helping
the powder
market return
to pre-reces-
sion levels.

Demand for powder coatings in Europe showed strong underlying rowth before the recession. But
it was a rise that was subject to sharp
fluctuations.

In fact, after a rapid increase in sales from
a low base in the 1990s, the growth rate in
powder coatings consumption in Europe
began to decline in the first half of the
2000s—although the rise remained well
above the average increase for the whole
coatings sector.
At the start of the post-recession period in
Europe, however, powder coatings demand
is displaying a greater robustness based on
a broader foundation than before. The wide
application of innovative technologies is giv-
ing powder coatings producers the opportu-
nity to attack new segments.
Prior to the 2008 financial crisis the main
impetus behind the growth in demand came
from powder coatings applied to metal sub-
strates in architecture, domestic appliances
and automobiles.

Now a much bigger role is being taken by
powder coatings with low temperature coat-
ing processes which is opening up inroads
into sectors like wood and plastic coatings.

Also producers are being more successful
is exploiting the sustainability advantages
of solvent-free powder coatings, particularly
at a time when new European Union legis-
lation is restricting the emissions of VOCs.
Powder coatings can help to reduce energy
consumption and waste.
After a drop in sales in the first half of
2009, powder coatings sales are returning to
their pre-recession levels, according to
industry sources. This is around four to five
percent globally, bolstered by powerful
growth in emerging economies, and around
two percent in mature markets such as
Western Europe, in line with GDP but ahead
of average coatings demand. In the medium
term the sector in the whole of Europe is
seen as having a potential for even faster
growth especially due to an increased need
for powder coatings in Eastern Europe.

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