Using a powder coating on products made from wood has been successfully accomplished for over 20 years. However, many people may not be aware that powder coatings have been used on a variety of wooden products such as toys, furniture, cabinets, grill handles, and other items. While the primary application, then and today, is applying powder coatings onto products made from engineered wood such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), other wood products like hardwoods and particleboard can now also take advantage of the benefits of powder coatings. Numerous technological improvements in materials and process equipment are bringing new opportunities and excitement into the marketplace.

The Root of the Matter While “wood” is a general term used by many people to describe all kinds of wood or wood-like products, all are non-conductive and sensitive to heat and moisture. Therefore, the premise of using electrostatic energy and heat to apply the powder may seem unrealistic. However, powder coatings have been applied for many years using these methods, producing long-lasting finishes with excellent appearance qualities.

Traditionally, wood products would be finished with one of the following: vinyl, melamine, paper laminate, or liquid coating. Regardless, powder coatings have proven to be an attractive coating alternative offering economical, ecological and performance advantages. The application of powder coatings onto MDF provides a seamless finish to curvilinear shapes, rounded or ogee edges, concave and convex surfaces, cabinet doors, drawers and multiple sides simultaneously.

Early adopters of using powder coatings on wood found major advantages in coating performance, operational costs, and environmental friendliness. For example, being able to design without limits is a big factor. Powder coatings help users avoid having to design around the limitations of laminates or pay the cost of liquid paint coatings.

Reduction in labor and simplified application processes are achieved by using powder coatings. Gone are the days of excessive sanding, priming and sealing for paint, or even the gluing and edge banding of laminates. Additionally, volatile solvents traditionally required by both are eliminated. Users are able to hang their products from an overhead conveyor and coat all sides of the object at once. No drying time or awkward handling is required.

Over the last decade, powder coatings have proven to be an excellent coating method for wood products offering advantages in economy, excellence of finish, and ecology. Considering the high cost of energy, labor and materials, users are looking to powder coatings as a more cost-effective and less wasteful process. Furthermore, consumers and other end-users are demanding newer designs and appearances, and higher quality and durable finishes, all of which fit with the value proposition offered when choosing to use powder coatings. As for our environment, many companies are faced with progressively more stringent regulations that are being aggressively enforced in an effort to control air pollution and hazardous waste disposal. Powder coatings evade these obstacles as an ecologically-friendly coating choice.