Radcure Coatings Market is Growing

In the coatings industry there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly materials that can replace those harmful to health due to tighter regulation but also as a result of greater awareness among consumers. Technologies such as waterborne coating resins, powder coatings and radiation curable coatings are shining examples of the paint and coatings industry's innovation towards this end.

Radiation curable coatings are "cured," or dried, using energy from ultraviolet (UV) or electron beam (EB) sources instead of conventional heat and do so more quickly, using less energy and thereby at lower cost than by other methods.

Like other segments of the coatings industry the "radcure" market was impacted by the recession. "General macro-economic conditions drained most markets of cash and other drivers and resources," said Lou Palermo, partner at The Chemark Consulting Group. "Most UV/EB coatings segments took a significant hit mirroring the decreases in the general coatings market, while some specialty applications continued an above average growth rate due to the infancy of their product life."