AkzoNobel teams up with IPG Photonics to advance laser curing technology for powder coatings.

AkzoNobel and IPG Photonics have formed a cutting-edge partnership centered around the use of laser technology to cure powder coatings.

This innovative approach fine-tunes AkzoNobel’s Interpon powder coating formulas to work seamlessly with IPG’s laser-based curing systems. The result is a significantly quicker and more energy-efficient alternative to standard thermal curing techniques. Under the terms of the agreement, the partnership will exclusively support customers across the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).

The technology uses lasers to selectively heat the powder coating within a "cold oven" environment—meaning no ambient heat is lost to the surrounding space and energy isn't wasted warming the enclosure or factory floor. The high-powered lasers dramatically cut curing times down to just a few minutes, compared to the 15–20 minutes required by conventional ovens. Additionally, the laser curing setup requires less than half the space of traditional systems, further enhancing its efficiency.

“This is a hugely exciting partnership which has the potential to offer customers game-changing benefits in terms of process speed, efficiency and energy savings,” says Jorrit van Rijn, Global Marketing Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business. “It’s yet another example of how our commitment to painting the future is driving our innovation so we can help make the powder coatings industry even more sustainable.” 

Adds Trevor Ness, Senior Vice-President, Global Sales and Strategic Business Development at IPG Photonics: “We’re delighted to partner with the EMEA powder coatings leader to accelerate market acceptance of our game-changing modular laser curing solutions. By aligning our laser innovations with AkzoNobel’s Interpon powder coatings capabilities, we anticipate a shorter time to market and added value for our customers. Together, our companies will realize a new level of efficiency and value for the powder coatings industry.”  

Laser curing presents several advantages, such as the ability to directly target and heat the coating itself rather than the material beneath it. This makes it ideal for use with temperature-sensitive substrates and removes the need for extended cooling periods commonly seen in conventional production lines. In high-volume manufacturing settings, this technology can lead to cost savings of over 50% in both capital investment and operational expenses, while also significantly lowering energy use and carbon emissions.

Source: Akzo Nobel N.V.