Results for category "Knowledge"

3 Articles

Sustainable Powder Coating for Wood and Plasterboard Substrates

Paints and coatings are a large contributor to pollution and reduced indoor air quality because they are typically water- or solvent-based products that emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) during application, drying and clean up.

Powder coating is referred to as a 100% solid coating system, which means no solvents/water are used to carry the pigments, resigns etc.  The upside is less waste with low or nil VOC’s emitted into the atmosphere.  This sustainable advantage is driving the adoption of powder coating in countries like Germany, where legislation has been in place to reduce airborne pollution caused by VOC’s from paint related industries e.g. car and furniture manufacturing.  BMW and Audi’s made in Germany now have a powder coat clear finish, instead of the traditional liquid based finishes.

Auckland based Climate Surfaces, after 10 years of development and operations, is a global leader in commercially powder coating non-metal substrates, such as MDF, Plywood and Plasterboard.  Powder coating on these substrates provides cost, performance and aesthetic benefits as well as a more sustainable coating solution compared to liquid or PVC based coatings. PPG Industries manufacture a specialised low cure powder for Climate, which is applied electrostaically and thermally cured to the substrate in a state of art factory environment.  No water or solvents are used in the process or materials and up to 95% powder utilisation is possible with any waste powder being reclaimed and reused.

Climate is poised to deliver greater advances in powder coating technology for a range of building product substrates, which will provide a more sustainable alternative without compromise on cost, performance and aesthetics.

Communicating Retail Branding through Colour

In the retail space, colour is a key element in communicating a company’s brand, displaying product and providing communication consistency across multiple outlets.

Ensuring the quality and consistency of colour in a retail fitout is every designer’s or marketer’s headache when it comes to material selection.

A major material component in most fitouts is decorative MDF board and paint finishes for furniture, point-of-sale displays, slat walls, shelving and feature panelling.  Powder coating on MDF helps solve these issues by offering the colour versatility of traditional paint technology with the durability and cost benefits of powder coating.

Climate Surfaces offers customised colours on MDF boards and flat-pack components, as well as on plasterboard for linings and ceiling tiles.  Retailers have been using Climate powder-coating technology on MDF for over 10 years in Australia and New Zealand. Its colour range remains available over time, and a metallic or stipple effect can be added.

Powdercoating a Sustainable Option for Non-metals

Powdercoating provides a sustainable option for those who need a durable finish to their interiors – and it’s no longer limited to metal surfaces. These days it can also be applied to non-metal surfaces such as plywood, MDF and plasterboard.

Large international companies, such as furniture manufacturers IKEA, are now adopting this method in order to reduce the environmental impact associated with the finishing of its furniture. Powdercoating contains no solvents, so it’s essentially a VOC-free coating.

In New Zealand, Climate Surfaces was one of the industry leaders with this method. Managing director Kyle True says it was 11 years ago that the company was involved with the creation of this coating methodology.

To manufacture this advanced finish for non-metals, Climate Surfaces has a specialist plant which uses significantly lower curing temperatures as well as infrared heat instead of convection. It’s a precise formula.

“Powdercoating is a baked-on finish so it provides an inherent durability. It’s also a more efficient way to apply coatings at a lower cost,” Kyle says.

Aesthetically, it provides a wide range of colours and finish effects which work equally well on both metal and non-metal surfaces, even when placed alongside each other.

Climate Surfaces