Axalta’s Michael Bollan has heard the ebb and flow of discussions about powder coating on wood substrates over the last few decades.
Michael Bollan“Powder really gained speed in the early 2000s with the office furniture market,” says Bollan, Americas Business Director for Axalta Powder Coatings. “But then it kind of lost its momentum.”
Bollan says the resurgence by many applicators of looking at possibly adding MDF as a coating substrate has to do in large part to better chemistry and equipment, and even an improved MDF board quality.
Advancements in Resins
“The substrate does play into the ability to apply the coating,” he says. “There have been advancements on the resin side, and that’s one reason we are always revisiting our own technology.”
But there is also another driving force behind the application of powder coating instead of liquid coatings, and its color is green.
“It’s being driven today by the high focus on sustainability and environmental,” Bollan says. “Powder is absolutely a perfect fit for that, and you are seeing a lot of companies and applicators who are seeing it as a way to get ahead of that curve.”
Axalta’s product in the heat-sensitive substrate market is Alesta ULB, which stands for ultra-low bake powder coatings. Alesta ULB has been around for more than 10 years and can be cured in conventional ovens at temperatures as low as 260°F in single or dual coat processes. It is usually applied at 4-6 mils.
Improvements in Board Manufacturing
“I think the board manufacturers have done a much better job with their product,” Bollan says. “That was always the big concern because the boards did contain moisture, so it helped in grounding the material. But too much of it could cause outgassing, and not enough causes cracking.”
As application equipment improved in controlling the charge and oven makers made curing a bit easier, Bollan says he looks forward to a resurgence in applicators looking into expanding into coating MDF.
“Whether it's infrared or gas convection — or a combination of both — they are now able to cure in a more specific way to MDF,” he says.
Uptick in Building Products, Too
With the climb in the usage of powder coating in building products such as cabinets and ready-to-assemble furniture, the increased use of coating on MDF would be a pleasant uptick for the industry, which saw sales lag a bit during the pandemic, as did most manufacturing operations.
“It’s something that we are definitely paying more close attention to the macro trends,” Bollan says. “We just see a huge advantage for powder coatings in a lot of ways moving forward.”
