An advanced method of applying a finish to metal (for either protective or decorative purposes) powder coating is found on everything from highway guardrails and hubcaps to range panels and filing cabinets. Indeed, it is the fastest-growing finishing technology in North America today and currently accounts for more than 10 percent of all industrial finishing applications.
When the charged mix of finely ground particles of pigment and resin is electrostatically sprayed onto the metal surface in question and then cured in the oven, the result is a uniform, high-quality, and attractive finish.
More than that, it’s a finish that will last for a long time and maintain its quality and colour throughout its life.
The days of metal manufacturers applying liquid veneers to their creations are numbered. Powder coating has emerged as the indisputably superior option for finishing metal thanks to its greater durability, cheaper price tag, and more compassionate regard for the environment.
What’s more, it is significantly easier on the environment than its liquid counterpart. Where liquid finishes are loaded with pollution-packed solvents, powder coating releases only negligible amounts of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.
This not only produces a kinder scene for the Earth but helps manufacturers comply with government-imposed pollution-control legislation and saves them the expense and trouble of investing in pollution-control equipment.
Which brings us to the third advantage of the powder coating: it saves money. Unused powder can be utilized in a subsequent application, and the increased efficiencies of working with this kind of coating generally result in lower operating costs.