The Powder Coatings Market

There are a number of factors that have contributed to powder coatings growth�its durability, unused or oversprayed materials can be recovered, reducing environmental waste and saving the customer money and, of course no solvents are used, making powder coatings environmentally preferred.

Many powder coating manufacturers are starting to branch out into plastic and wood, as well as other areas once exclusively the domain of liquid coatings.

According to Thomas Frauman, global marketing director, Morton Powder Coatings, a business unit of Rohm and Haas, the powder coatings industry is a $3.5 billion business worldwide. "However, we stand in the shadow of the industrial coatings industry with roughly 10% share of total industrial coatings," Mr. Frauman added.

But powder coating suppliers are out to change that. Trends in the market such as thin-film powders (one mil or thinner), lower temperature cure powders, UV-cured powders and powders that are resistant to high heat clear coats are key technologies driving growth, said Jeff Palmer, communications director, Powder Coating Institute (PCI). "All of these trends would work t