A collaboration between Pittsburgh-based PPG, Massachusetts-based IPG Photonics, a fiber laser technology company, and Michigan-based Whirlpool Corporation, a home appliance company, will accelerate the broad-scale commercialization of laser curing systems for powder coatings.
The collaboration will focus on identifying opportunities to increase finishing line speed while reducing curing costs and environmental impact.
“This collaboration, which represents a significant advancement in the coatings industry, positions us at the leading edge of powder finishing, highlights the strength of our partnership driven customer approach and reinforces our commitment to outside-the-can capabilities that bring value beyond our coatings,” David Bem, PPG senior vice president of science and technology and chief technology officer, said.
PPG’s powder manufacturing and technical facility in Strongsville, Ohio, recently installed a finishing line that features IPG’s PhotoniCURE laser curing system. It also has begun conducting pilot trials for Whirlpool that will evaluate various powder formulations cured with the PhotoniCURE laser system. Once the trials are completed, the process will be made available to other customers.
Laser curing uses infrared light to initiate crosslinking, a chemical reaction that transforms powder particles into a durable protective finish, to cure within minutes. The process is compatible with standard powder chemistries and those optimized for laser curing.