Sherwin-Williams ‘Waterborne Challenge’ Goes to Canada for WMS 2017

Sherwin-Williams, through its Industrial Wood Coatings Division, is inviting industry professionals attending Woodworking Machinery and Supply Expo and Conference (WMS) 2017, which runs from Nov. 2-4, to take the Waterborne Challenge in booth 1517. 

The Waterborne Challenge emerged out of a need to dispel the common misconception that waterborne coatings are inferior to solvent-based coatings.  
 
“With today’s waterborne advancements, it’s really tough to tell the difference between a quality waterborne finish and a traditional solvent-based finish,” said Joe Kujawski, Global Director of Marketing, Sherwin-Williams Industrial Wood Coatings. “The Waterborne Challenge puts this to the test.” 

Participants taking the Waterborne Challenge will be asked to look at 14 panels and determine whether each panel was finished with a waterborne or solvent-based topcoat. When it debuted at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas in July, the results were in line with a random coin toss – 51 percent of all responses were correct, with no one participant identifying more than 11 panels correctly.  

“The Waterborne Challenge results from AWFS are a good indication of what we’ve been saying all along – if you haven’t tried waterborne today, you haven’t tried waterborne. Today’s waterborne finishes are light years ahead of what was available even five years ago,” Kujawksi said. 

Sherwin-Williams developed an infographic that dispels popular myths surrounding waterborne coatings:

• Myth No. 1 – Waterborne coatings are more expensive than solvent-based coatings;
• Myth No. 2 – Products finished in a waterborne coating have a poor look and feel;
• Myth No. 3 – Waterborne coatings don’t perform as well as solvent-based coatings;
• Myth No. 4 – Waterborne coatings won’t help industry professionals grow their business

“Waterborne technology is a bottom-line differentiator for manufacturers of kitchen cabinetry, wood furniture and wood building products,” said Kujawski. “Manufacturers who use solvent-based finishes today can take advantage of the new waterborne options to enhance the look and feel of their finished goods while meeting their sustainability goals, and we look forward to explaining more about this technology and demonstrating it at WMS.”

The five Waterborne Challenge participants with the highest scores at WMS 2017 will receive a Warrior hockey stick finished with Sherwin-Williams waterborne coatings.