WATERBORNE – A REAL ALTERNATIVE TO SOLVENTBORNE COATINGS FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS?

Waterborne coatings for industrial applications in the Refinish Industry have been available for many years, but their adoption has been limited. That’s now beginning to change.

In the past, the main impetus for switching from solventborne was the introduction of stricter volatile organic component (VOC) regulations. However, the performance of waterborne coatings and their application equipment and technology have improved over the last years. International consumer trends favouring products that address problems of air and water pollution and help mitigate the climate change are all now combining to further accelerate this shift.

Let’s take a look at some of the industries and applications that are already benefiting from a move to water based technology and dispel some of the myths surrounding their performance.    

WATERBORNE DIRECT-TO-METAL THAT’S AS EFFICIENT AS SOLVENTBORNE? THAT’S JUST NOT POSSIBLE. 

Wrong! Not only is it possible, it’s already happening.

Direct-to-metal (DTM) coatings deliver the performance of a traditional primer-topcoat system, but in one coat. As a result, application times and material costs can be reduced, leading to increased cost savings and process efficiencies.

Most DTM systems are still solventborne but due to advances in formulation, products like Selemix Waterborne Single Stage are now competing head to head with solventborne solutions and are winning customers and market share from them.

Selemix customers gain the added VOC reduction and wider health and safety benefits that a waterborne system can deliver, but without any need to compromise on the ease of application, finish quality, cost and other process efficiencies they expect from a DTM system.

Companies with larger coating facilities such as manufacturers of containers, storage units, machinery, metal applications, signage or shutters, for example, are already reaping the benefits, but waterborne DTM is suitable for most light to medium industrial fabrication.

Waterborne DTM’s? It’s a win, win solution.