Coatings World recently had the opportunity to interview a spokesperson from PPG on what’s new in the powder coatings market.

Coatings World: Have stricter environmental regulations benefitted the market for powder coatings?

PPG: Yes, definitely. In certain parts of the world and in certain industrial segments, we’re seeing tighter environmental regulations continuing to drive market preference for powder.  This is particularly true in architectural coatings, where we are seeing more lab requests and color-match requests for powder in applications where liquid has traditionally been the product of choice.

The trend is global. In China, the extrusions market is shifting from PVDF liquid to powder for projects spec’d to [AAMA] 2603 and 2604 standards, and the Chinese government recently imposed a sales tax on liquid coatings that don’t achieve a minimum VOC threshold, which also is driving the switch to powder there.

In Europe and Latin America, powder is continuing to gain position on liquid, and we’re seeing a shift from liquid to powder in the wood coatings/MDF segment as well.  In Latin America, the move toward powder isn’t being driven as much by government legislation as it is by new global manufacturing specs for low-VOC coatings.

CW: How did the market for powder coatings perform in 2014 and what are your thoughts for 2015?

PPG:  We saw continued demand for powder in 2014 globally and we expect that trend to continue in 2015 and beyond. It is being pushed in large part by government legislation, but also by other factors such as cost, ease-of-application, higher utilization rates, and other processing and performance benefits. 

We mentioned the architectural market earlier. Compared to Europe, the U.S. is still about 20 years behind in terms of transitioning from liquid to powder because architects still drive the spec and, in North America, they still prefer liquid. 

Even so, we’re seeing an increase in color-match requests for powder in the [AAMA] 2605 platform, and higher demand for powder in seacoast environments where customers find advantage in a direct-to-metal product.

CW: Which regions offer the best opportunities for growth?

PPG: The number one market is China, where GDP continues to grow. Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa also are growth markets. Demand in those regions is being driven by market growth.  In the other EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) countries, increased environmental regulation will continue to drive powder growth versus liquid coatings.

CW: What are the latest products being launched by your company?

PPG: Our most recent breakthrough in powder is an exclusive cross-link polymer technology, which we introduced with ENVIROCRON HTE coatings, a new product that improves transfer-efficiency rates for difficult-to-coat applications and surfaces. 

This product is different from other powder coatings because it enables applicators to achieve higher transfer-efficiency rates based on the chemistry of the product rather than application method, application equipment or skill of the operator. As a result, applicators can achieve first-pass transfer rates of up to 85 percent, while more efficiently applying coatings to product assemblies with recessed cavities, odd shapes and complex surfaces.  The coating is great for spray-to-waste applicators looking for ways to reduce product loss, and ideal for finished goods like refrigerator racks, patio tables and architectural components. 

Other powder coating products we’ve recently introduced include a low-cure coating for the appliance industry in Brazil, and a highly flexible coil-springs coating that features improved corrosion resistance and that cures quickly at lower temperatures to lower energy use and VOC emissions.

CW: On what new technologies is your company focusing its R&D work?

PPG: Our customers are continuing to push for extended durability, lower VOC emissions, faster cure rates, lower cure temperatures and other developments such as compact process systems that remove cost and complication from coatings application processes.  

We’re also seeing a trend towards developing powder coatings with increased functionality, such as the ability to self-clean, impart anti-microbial properties and increase light reflectivity.