The Powder Coating Guide – From Start to Finished

Powder coating: What, why, where

Every day you come into contact with powder coating, whether on household appliances, cars, bicycles or electronic products. This reason powder coating is on thousands of products is simple: it is extremely durable, and as well as that it provides an attractive finish. It can protect the hardest-wearing machinery and make your barbecue look good. For this reason they are the most-used industrial coatings in the UK.

The powder coating process can be broken down into 3 basic steps:

1. Substrate preparation/pre-treatment
2. Powder application
3. Curing

The powder application process uses a spray gun which gives the powder an electrostatic charge. When sprayed at the grounded substrate, the powder will accelerate towards it, and the electric attraction is what makes it stick. The substrate is then put into an oven which cures the powder, causing it to melt and react into a uniform film. The part can also be heated before the powder is applied, or in the fluidised bed method the substrate is heated and dipped into an aerated, powder-filled bed. The essential process is still the same.

Top 5 benefits of powder coating

Powder coating is already a billions-of-pounds-a-year business, and is only getting bigger.  Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Durability: It is more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than liquid coatings.
2. Appearance: Unlimited colour and finish choice (including gloss, matt, iridescent, glitter, and candy)
3. Environmentally friendly: Solvent-free, very low VOC and the excess powder can be recovered and reused, so minimal waste. There are also low energy powders.
4. Cost efficiency: It is cheaper than liquid paint, and with minimal to no wastage. Plus it is very long-lasting.
5. Flexibility: Suitable for a wide range of materials, such as metals, plastics, glass and even wood and MDF.

The aforementioned benefits make powder coating a go-to solution for many industries including automotive OEM and aftermarket coatings and household appliance manufacture. Due to the fact that the substrate range becomes greater by the day, powder coatings have been introduced to the furniture and fixtures industry, as well.

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Find your powder coating specialist in the UK

Only the most dedicated, hardcore DIY-er would attempt powder coating at home. It requires specialised equipment and know-how (not to mention abrasive blasting capabilities), but fortunately there are many expert powder coaters operating in the UK. There are facilities for smaller consumer projects such as powder coating wheels, as well as for larger projects and industrial coating needs.

To connect with the powder coating suppliers and experts in your area, follow these links:

• London
• Birmingham
• Manchester 
• Scotland

Powder coating: Manufacturers, equipment and prices

With powder coating being such a big business, it is no surprise that there are several companies and manufacturers operating in the UK, including AkzoNobel, Valspar, GKL Coatings Ltd and Powder Coatings Ltd. For a cost breakdown of powder coat treatments as well as equipment, visit our pricing page.