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.