METALCON Features the Latest Coating Innovations for the Metal Construction Industry

METALCON, the metal construction industry’s largest international event for metal construction products, technologies and solutions, was held October 26-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Now in its 25th year, METALCON features an education program with general sessions running from 9:00 am – 9:45 am on Wednesday and Thursday and classroom session from 10:00 am – 11:45 am. Learning Zones on the show floor offer quick, free 15-minute instructional sessions on roof details, field techniques and product applications.

A number of paint and coatings manufacturers were showcasing their latest metal coating technologies.

Dura Coat Products Inc., an Axalta Coating Systems company, displayed its line of premium quality, high performance coil, extrusion and tube coatings at METALCON. In addition, NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon made a special appearance in the Dura Coat booth  to meet customers and attendees.

Dura Coat, a leading supplier of industrial coatings formulated to be environmentally responsible, offers an extensive range of coil coatings for use in building components and aluminum extrusions, as well as many other general industrial applications. Leveraging decades of coatings expertise and utilizing extensive research and development, Dura Coat products are ideal for manufacturers who prefer environmentally responsible products for use in industries that rely on metal such as HVAC equipment, appliances, construction, garage and entry doors, office furniture, lighting fixtures, and electrical insulation. At METALCON, Dura Coat featured its new air dry, water-based Hydropon coating along with the company’s other established brands including Durapon 70, a premium PVDF coating that is harder and more flexible than other PVDF coatings, and Ceranamel™ XT-40S, a polyester with a ceramic, porcelain-type finish. 

Hydropon is a new water-based, air-dry PVDF that is formulated to revitalize and transform old roofs and siding to look brand new again. Hydropon provides a smooth surface and restores beauty and resilience to mold, mildew, delamination and peeling in the face of exposure to the harshest weather conditions. With its fast and easy spray application, Hydropon is designed to adhere exceptionally well to previously coated metal. After a brief two-hour air dry process, in which the coating must be protected, the finish achieves full physical properties within one week.

Hydropon continues the Dura Coat tradition of offering tested and proven high performance construction industry coatings. The product’s solar reflectance value is more efficient than uncoated roofs in directing heat away from surfaces, thus keeping building attics and ducts cooler which ultimately helps to reduce cooling costs. Hydropon’s durability ensures protection from water, humidity, extreme temperatures, UV, oxygen and acid rain.

Speaking about Axalta’s recent acquisition of Dura Coat Michael Cash, senior vice president and president, Industrial Coatings of Axalta Coating Systems said “The one thing that has always stood out is that Dura Coat is very innovative. The company consistently launched four to five new products every year. We see an opportunity to use our size and scale to get their name out there.  Dura Coat has a great supply of powder coatings. We can offer one stop shopping for both liquid and powder.”

PPG debuted its newly reformulated DURASTAR ULTRA-COOL silicone-modified polyester (SMP) coatings and exhibit its flagship line of DURANAR high-performance coatings during METALCON 2016.

Reformulated to meet the increasingly rigorous demands of the building industry, Durastar ULTRA-Cool coatings combine new resin, crosslinking and tinting technologies developed by PPG for polyester coatings and unite them with Duranar coatings’ industry-leading pigment and primer systems. The coatings also feature PPG’s proprietary infrared-reflective (IR-reflective) ULTRA-Cool coatings technology, which deflects solar heat to help buildings stay cooler and use less energy.
PPG also displayed roof panels, siding panels and other architectural components coated with conventional and specialty Duranar coatings such as Duranar ULTRA-Cool and color-shifting Duranar VARI-COOL coatings. As PPG’s premier line of liquid coatings for coil, Duranar coatings are engineered for metal roof and wall-panel applications demanding high-end aesthetics and long-term weathering performance.

PPG showcased DURAFORM BP (building product) coatings. Formulated to deliver a higher grade of coating quality to value-driven building product manufacturers, Duraform BP coatings feature PPG’s proprietary polyester polymer to enhance forming flexibility and increase resistance to fading, chalking, dirt and stains.

Valspar had a number of its metal products on-hand. The company was promoting Fluropon Pure. Fluron Pure coatings are formulated with the environment in mid. Fluropon Pure can be used in LEED v4 and Living Building Challenge projects and can still maintain all the capabilities of the orginal Fluropon coatings, including energy-efficient cool roof formulations, according to the company.

Fluropon Pure is the first of its kind in the coil and extrusion coating industry, formulated with reduced hazardous materials. It can be used for metal roofing and wall panels, curtain wall, and window and door frames and is ideal for building with extreme environmental requirements.

On the suppliers’ side Arkema was highlighting its Kynar 500 FSF resin-based finishes for metal. According to Arkema Kynar 500 resin-based coaitngs outperform polyester powder, urethane, silicone polyester and acrylic coatings in every category, including better color retention and resistance to chalking. Kynar 500 based coatings are available in both liquid and powder forms. Kynar 500 resin-based finishes are available worldwide through a strict licensing program, ensuring consistency and high quality products.


Metalcon 2017 will be held October 18-20 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Las Vegas Convention C