Powder coatings are a tough, durable and scratch resistant coating for metals like aluminum and steel. These protective coatings are found on many applications, from appliances and vehicles, to furniture, windows, retail and hospitality, bicycles and so much more.

However, powder coatings also have to look great. That is why powder coatings manufacturers have created a virtually limitless assortment of colors to choose from. As a specialist in powder coatings, Polychem is keeping a close eye on color trends, recently releasing its 2024/245 color trend palette.

A division of IFS Coatings, Polychem was founded in 1989, and became part of the IFS Coatings family in 2005. Fiona Levin-Smith, VP marketing and specification for IFS Coatings, noted that IFS Coatings is one of the largest privately owned powder coatings manufacturers in the US, adding that the Polychem team brings its vast knowledge and experience to the field.

“We still have loyal Polychem employees working for us who came with Polychem to IFS, and they bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise,” Levin-Smith said. “We are leaders in architectural and design powder coatings for both interior and exterior applications. The enormous range of Polychem powder colors and special effects for metal substrates is a huge part of the interior’s success.”

Levin-Smith observed that Polychem’s color team blends together influences from fashion, art, technology, design, architecture and interiors, wider societal trends and, of course, the colors and effects that the color lab is being asked to create, match or produce.

“There are trend reports and so many exciting inspirations out there, but we also need to take into consideration our end markets, the people who use powder and the speed of change that they experience when it comes to color,” added Levin-Smith. “In fashion, colors and styles change at least four times per year; interiors color trends change less frequently and in other areas it is much slower. This is why this Polychem trend palette is our 2024-25 collection.”

Levin-Smith noted that the Polychem 2024/25 collection consists of 30 powder colors and is based around four key themes that were consistently appearing in the company’s research: accessibility, stability, acceleration and community. She describes these trends accordingly:

• Accessibility: “Accessibility has become a non-negotiable requirement in a very short space of time. Technology is making the world more accessible – at least digitally. AI is taking our level of connectivity and accessibility to a whole new level. What’s more, professional level tools and services are now available to all of us – which opens a new window of possibility and creativity.”

• Stability: “We live in a very uncertain world – the economy, war, technology, personal interaction – all has changed so much in the last few years. It’s not surprising that now we look for serenity and calm, warmth and togetherness and a more personalized experience that makes us feel connected and safe.”

• Acceleration: “Data, robotics, AI – all are connected and all mean the speed at which we receive information, products, messaging and more is incredible. We can be experts, or have access to experts, extremely quickly. This in turn has been reflected in consumers demanding a more personalized, specialized approach to their products with the bonus of reduction in waste.”

• Community: “Our communities – and we belong to many – have become increasingly important after an isolated few years. Caring, sharing and collaboration are on the up, and we reflect back with nostalgia on times gone by with a desire to recreate in the here and now. Sustainability continues to be an important trend and one that we are building communities around and taking our ideas on environmental improvements, no matter how small, into our wider communities.”

“The 2024/25 trend palette oozes warmth, strength and stability,” Lauren Bayer, Polychem manager, noted. “Our designers and design-driven coaters will benefit from gorgeous, sustainable, and competitively priced powders for metal applications in the colors people are talking about now.”

Bayer noted that Polychem’s 2024/25 color trend palette features soft blues as a key element, even being represented in darker shades.

“Rather than the brighter pops of blue in the past, these more muted shades that we see in the gorgeous jeans metallic and the wonderful F/T Winding River fuse effortlessly into our themes of accessibility, stability and community,” Bayer said. “The mysterious darker shades are bold, perhaps looking black at first glance and then a blue undertone reveals itself.

“Complementary neutrals provide stability and warmth and warm pinks, peach and coral round out the collection,” Bayer added. “In terms of special effects, natural looking powder effects such as speckles, hammertones, textures and metallics dominate the palette bringing a true reflection of the variance of nature, the comfort of community and lending depth and interest to the colors.”

Levin-Smith pointed out that Polychem powder coatings are created for use on metal substrates like aluminum and steel and are easy-to-apply polyester-based powders that are available in flexible minimum quantities from 5 pounds upwards.

“Even our custom colors are available in 5-pound minimums and we have thousands of colors and special effects available,” Levin-Smith concluded. “It’s easy to check some of them out on the website polychemcoatings.com and talk to our Polychem, team who will order your powder quickly, efficiently and with minimum fuss. We’re always happy to talk to our coaters and our designers about their color coating needs.”