Giants are increasing their investments! How do AkzoNobel and PPG view the future of powder coatings?

Huizheng News, the application scope of powder coatings continues to expand, primarily due to its numerous advantages. The main markets include the automotive industry, consumer goods industries such as home appliances, industrial applications, and infrastructure sectors.

Jeff Jirak, Business Director of AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, stated that the powder coatings market has maintained steady growth in recent years, and the company expects this trend to continue in the short term. "The global growth rate is expected to remain around 2% to 3%, with variations across regions and industry sectors," Jirak added. "Although some industries are currently facing growth challenges, we remain confident in the long-term prospects of powder coatings, thanks to their durable properties, sustainability advantages, and expanding range of applications.".

Marizeth Carvalho, the head of PPG's global powder platform and general manager of Latin America, noted that PPG has witnessed robust demand for powder coatings in various key industrial sectors this year. "We continue to see development opportunities for powder coatings, despite fluctuations in different sectors globally, such as the construction, automotive, and home appliance industries," Carvalho added. "Due to the environmental benefits provided by powder coatings and technological advancements that enhance performance durability and extend product lifecycles, the market's attention to them continues to increase.".

Mark Vogel, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Diamond Vogel, stated that the powder coating market has remained stable. "Although it has slightly declined from its pre-pandemic peak, it has now stabilized," Vogel said. "Today, powder coatings have penetrated into most application areas, including leisure products, store merchandise and facilities, lawn care, and building materials. The key lies in the ability to bake and cure the coatings, which requires the substrate to have a certain level of heat resistance.".

Advantages of powder coatings

What are the advantages of powder coatings? Vogel believes that predictability and curing characteristics are its core strengths. "Once the powder coating process is completed, the product performance is predictable and can be shipped immediately," Vogel said, "You can plan and rely on the production process, which is crucial for end users.".

"Powder coatings have extremely low or even zero volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which is an important environmental advantage. However, the reality that needs to be balanced is that using powder coatings requires more energy consumption," Vogel added, "both the pretreatment and curing processes consume energy.".

Jirak also believes that powder coatings possess a range of practical and sustainable advantages. "They are VOC-free, which helps reduce emissions and supports environmental goals," Jirak added. "Powder coatings are renowned for their durability, maintaining their color and surface effect over the long term, and exhibiting excellent resistance to fading, peeling, and corrosion, even in demanding environments.".

Jirak also pointed out that powder coatings typically achieve better edge coverage and more consistent surface effects with a single application. "The efficient application process helps reduce energy consumption and accelerate production, while requiring less training," Jirak said. "With minimal waste from recyclable overspray powder and innovations such as low-temperature curing and thin-film technology, powder coatings continue to drive more efficient and sustainable manufacturing processes.".

Carvalho emphasized that powder coatings possess significant advantages in products across multiple fields. "These coatings offer excellent durability, resistance to peeling and wear, and are specifically formulated without solvents that release VOCs," said Carvalho. "With high transfer efficiency and recyclability, they are also cost-effective. For applicators, powder coatings have low entry costs and a smaller environmental footprint compared to other coating technologies. In most cases, powder coating processes do not require special storage or transportation conditions, and generate very little hazardous waste.".

The main market for powder coatings

Powder coatings are the ideal choice for markets demanding durable, sustainable, and high-quality surface treatments. "They are well-established in the automotive, construction, home appliance, general industrial, and agricultural equipment sectors, where corrosion resistance, UV resistance, and wear resistance are of utmost importance," said Jirak. "In the construction sector, powder coatings provide durable protection and design flexibility for aluminum facades and metal components. The electric vehicle (EV) sector is another rapidly growing market segment, where powder technology is being customized to meet evolving performance and sustainability requirements.".

Carvalho pointed out that the use of powder technology is growing in industries such as extrusion molding, general painting, shipping containers, and those related to infrastructure like electric energy. "Compared to previous years, we are also seeing more powder coating applications in the automotive sector," Carvalho added. "In addition, powder coatings are leading in growth areas such as electrification and autonomous vehicles. For example, PPG ENVIROCRON® dielectric powder coatings achieve better thermal management by preventing overheating, thereby enhancing the lifespan, reliability, and safety of electric vehicle batteries. With the increase in global investment in electric vehicle production, this demand is growing. Due to performance characteristics, application efficiency, and sustainability advantages, applicators and manufacturers across various industries are increasingly interested in switching their production lines from liquid coatings to powder coatings.".

Vogel pointed out that powder coatings are primarily applied to metal substrates, and there are still some fundamental challenges in their application to non-metal substrates. "Significant thought has been put into researching more heat-resistant and sensitive substrates, and although it is feasible, it requires more additional consideration from end users to succeed," Vogel said. "The issue of non-conductivity must be addressed to achieve adhesion before curing, which requires pre-static treatment, such as pre-treating non-metal substrates to improve conductivity. The consistency of non-metal substrates has not yet reached the production level.".

Jirak stated that powder coatings are entering new application areas that were not widely used in the past, which were previously mainly limited by curing temperature, material restrictions, or aesthetic requirements. "Thanks to advancements in low-temperature and UV curing technologies, as well as the development of special effect topcoats, powder coatings are now gaining attention in these emerging markets," Jirak pointed out.

"For example, we have noticed that in the furniture and retail equipment sectors, there is an increasing application of heat-sensitive substrates such as medium-density fiberboard and engineered wood. Customers are seeking more durable and sustainable alternatives to laminated boards or liquid coatings," Jirak added.

"Similarly, architectural applications are expanding, with a growing demand for special effect finishes that mimic natural metals and stones, offering both the aesthetic appeal of the real thing while reducing practical challenges and providing greater design flexibility," Jirak pointed out. "This shift marks a significant expansion of powder coatings beyond their traditional roles in automotive, home appliance, and industrial equipment, driven by evolving performance and environmental demands.".

"We are seeing more businesses across various industries shifting towards powder coating technology," said Carvalho. "For instance, this technology is gaining popularity in construction applications due to its durability and environmental benefits. Furthermore, advancements in resins, pigments, and chemical formulations have enabled powder coatings to be applied to a wider range of substrates, including heat-sensitive substrates such as wood, which have traditionally been unsuitable for powder coating.".

New technological advancements

Vogel discussed the technological advancements achieved in the field of powder coatings. "If handled properly, powder coatings can be very durable," Vogel pointed out. "Powder coatings have been around for a long time, but they were not accepted until they could be cured more flexibly, otherwise delamination issues would occur. Liquid baking coatings are the predecessor of powder coatings, but powder coatings are almost plug-and-play. For example, light-gauge metals such as shelves could be effectively cured a long time ago, but in the early 1990s, technologies with a wider curing range were developed, which could effectively cure heavier-gauge products.".

"We continuously improve the edge coverage of the final product to provide better corrosion resistance," Vogel said. "Coated steel only gets one chance. Powder coatings turn into liquid in a very short time, and it's a natural phenomenon for the liquid to flow away from sharp edges.".

Vogel pointed out that today's performance requirements are much higher than before. "We produce more powder primer than we did 20 years ago because powder is being applied in more extreme environmental scenarios," Vogel said. "Primer can enhance the corrosion protection of the coating. A single coat can achieve performance that was previously unattainable, but a two-layer system of powder primer and topcoat can take the final product to a higher level in more challenging applications. At the same time, research is also being conducted to reduce curing temperature to reduce energy consumption.".

Future growth

Powder coatings may experience further growth in the future. "The conversion process from other technologies such as liquid coatings has slowed down in recent years," Vogel pointed out, "We have good opportunities, but the specific effects remain to be seen.".

Jirak stated that AkzoNobel anticipates sustained growth in the powder coatings market in the coming year, driven by a wide range of industry trends and the company's commitment to innovation. "Key drivers include rising global demand in core sectors, particularly the expansion of electric vehicle production, and the increasing demand for durable, weather-resistant topcoats in construction projects," he noted. "These trends continue to broaden the scope and relevance of powder coatings in various applications.".

"At the same time, low-temperature curing powder technology enhances production by reducing energy consumption and shortening cycle time - which is particularly valuable in a period of shortage of skilled construction workers and production line operators, as well as rising labor costs," Jirak added.

"We have also noticed a strong interest in solutions that reduce material usage per square meter and total energy consumption, which helps customers maintain their competitiveness. Technologies such as thin film powder, our coatingAI Flightpath Pro construction tool, and the Eco+ Cure energy calculator - which help optimize curing temperature and production line speed - are all designed to support higher efficiency, lower costs, and more sustainable production," Jirak pointed out.

Carvalho stated, "We anticipate growth in the transportation, heavy equipment, automotive, and infrastructure-related sectors such as construction, power, and building. As macroeconomic trends continue to evolve, we see powder technology occupying a favorable position due to the increasing demand for sustainable development. PPG powder coatings are at the forefront of this movement, as they not only meet regulatory requirements but also assist companies in achieving their own sustainability goals."