UV coatings in the Auto industry
Automotive sector quick to benefit from UV curable powder coatings
11 June 2001
The latest automotive application for UV curing is in the coating of engine
components. And this new market is being revolutionised by UV curable
powder coatings, reports a new study from Frost & Sullivan, the
international marketing consulting company.
As Brian Balmer, Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan explains, "The UV
curable powder coatings combine the benefits of conventional powder
coatings with lower melting temperatures. This allows the automakers to
coat pre-assembled components that contain heat sensitive parts which has
not been possible before."
Powder coatings have traditionally been used in the automotive sector for
the protection of metal parts such as those found in the engine,
transmission and drive systems. However, their high melt temperatures
precluded their use on pre-assembled units which contain heat sensitive
parts such as rubber O-rings and insulated electrical wires. The UV powder
coatings create an opportunity for post assembly coating at temperatures as
low as 100oC.
The total market for UV curable coatings in the automotive industry was
valued at $38.9 million in 2000 and is predicted to grow at a rate of 6.4%
per annum to reach over $60 million in 2007. The introduction of these new
UV curable powder coatings will be the single most important market driver
over this period.
The majority of coatings used in the automotive sector are not supplied
direct to the OEM but to their suppliers. The report indicates that this
will be the most significant restraint in the market since it limits the
potential for increasing the range of products purchased by a single
customer.
There are currently three key players in the market who are recognised
powder coating specialists for example DuPont. But, there is an indication
that several other companies have spotted the potential and are now
developing UV curable powder coatings ? and these may not be traditional
powder coating companies. "Companies like Red Spot who are the most
specialised producer of UV curable coatings for this market are in a prime
position to enter this market," concludes Balmer.
The report is a comprehensive study of the market for UV curable coatings
in Europe and includes data on the automotive, furniture & construction,
electronics & telecom, printing and packaging and consumer goods
industries.