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 You’ll soon discover MDF cleverly disguised form made of
powder-coated wood components featuring many custom shapes
with rounded edges and graceful curves in any one of the
season’s current colors. In fact, this giant could be your
favorite color, whatever it happens to be. This giant (MDF)
could be hiding anywhere – in hospitals or medical clinics,
board rooms, kitchens, restaurants, hotels, retail stores and
in other products that demand high design presentation with a
durable, dependable surface.
Traditionally, powder coating has been a widely used surface
finish on metal because of its durability, but today is
proving itself a high quality, design friendly,
environmentally sound technology that offers a limitless
source of design creativity on wood.
In recent years, MDF has emerged as the substrate of choice
for wood powder coating as several MDF manufacturers have
specifically formulated it with low porosity and a homogeneous
nature to readily accept the powder, plus it has an eight
percent moisture content that makes it ideal as an
electrostatic conductor which is a necessary element of powder
coating and perfect for wood powder coating.
 Style, versatility, flexibility are current buzzwords for
what the consumer is looking for today and this product
delivers. Wood powder coating affords designers the option to
explore new and different shapes, colors and textures and it
responds well to the changing demands of the design-driven
savvy consumer. In addition, wood powder coating has seamless
edges giving designers the ability to create products with
contoured, bull nose and/or waterfall edges and meets these
demands with style.
Superior Performance
By comparison, wood powder coating is more dependable, durable
and is now considered an upscale alternative to traditional
overlays such as melamine, laminate, thermofoil or liquid
applications. Wood powder-coated finishes
meet or exceed most KCMA performance specifications and are an
ideal finish for vertical and horizontal surfaces such as
cabinetry and countertops. The Sleeping Giant of the Surface
Finishing Industry A sleeping giant is about to be awakened.
above: Quality powder coated wood requires state-of-the-art
technology. Opposite: Powder coated kitchen cabinetry makes a
beautiful statement. Powder coated raised-panel cabinet doors
provide a high quality and durable finish.
As stated earlier, moisture has met its match. A wood
powder-coated finish has proven to have long-lasting
properties that for even the most intense environments. It
will hold up to wet, humid environments, such as health club
locker rooms, garages, etc. It can also withstand the extreme
temperatures of hot, humid Florida summers or the frigid cold
of Alaskan winters. The uniform, seamless coating will not
delaminate from the substrate.
 State-of-the-Art Technology Makes It Possible
Powder-coated wood finishes have improved greatly in the last
couple of years. Powdercoated wood has caught the attention of
architects and designers because it creates a visually
appealing end product without the seams of laminates or
thermofoils. It is so strong it is stain- and
moisture-resistant and will not peel or delaminate even under
the most challenging of circumstances. Quality wood powder
coating requires state-of-the-art technology and experienced
technical manufacturing expertise in processing to create the
durability and aesthetics that make this so highly desirable.
High quality powder-coated wood finishes require investment in
millions of dollars of the most advanced technology and
equipment, such as automatic powder application systems. For
example, a 15-gun automatic system will provide a much more
attractive, consistent and uniform mil coverage than an
eight-gun or hand-sprayed finish. The process of pre-heating
and curing the board and powders requires technology with
digital controls that offer temperature and moisture controls
over exacting surface areas vs. limited controls.
Green Friendly and Healthy
Wood powder coating is environmentally friendly as the process
recaptures and recycles 95 percent of the powder. Plus, the
application process poses no environmental hazards. The
finished product is also environmentally superior to other
finishes and won’t negatively impact indoor air quality
because it contains no heavy metals or solvents and does not
give off-gas HAPs (hazardous air pollutants) or VOCs (volatile
organic compounds). Recycled MDF and formaldehyde-free boards
are also available. Wood powder coating has become a great
alternative to the growing concern of laminate PVC-edge
banding and its impending health threats.
Powder-Coated Wood Applications
This is a versatile product that has a wide range of
applications, many of which are just now being developed. As a
matter of fact, it is expected that in the next several years,
powder-coated wood may be the preferred finish in
a wide range of applications. Below are just a few of the
market niches and applications for this great finish.
Cabinetry and Countertops.
A high quality finish can only be achieved using the highest quality
technology, premium quality MDF, and with skilled
craftsmanship and documented process controls designed to
produce consistently smooth high-gloss finishes. Powder-coated
wood can be an excellent product for cabinet doors and drawer
fronts because it is more durable than wet paint, thermofoil,
or laminate finishes. Wood powder-coated components will not
delaminate or peel. Plus, because it is moisture and stain
resistant, it is a much more durable finish than most other
options. It is available in a variety of colors and stain
finishes with a host of shapes and styles. In the bathroom,
laundry room, garage, commercial buildings, etc. the moisture
and stain resistance prove to be a great benefit.
Bathroom vanity tops and serving islands are also great uses
for this product. About the only application not recommended
would be for kitchen counter tops since it can be vulnerable
to knife cuts.
Health Care.
Patient and waiting rooms in hospitals, doctor’s offices and
clinics, nursing homes and school nurse offices today are
finding the benefits of this product undeniable. For
additional protection, there is an antimicrobial additive that
is available for the powder that is embedded in the finish
which removes 99.9 percent of the bacteria from the surface
and provides more than eight years of active benefit.
Bacterial infections are a silent threat in these environments
and a finished product that will not crack, peel or delaminate
will reduce the effects of bacteria. Plus, it has the added
benefit of being seamless, so bacteria cannot infest and
spread.
This is a great product for many surfaces in this environment,
such as cabinetry and countertops, plus it works great with
hospital/clinic furniture, medical cabinets, laboratory
surfaces, cafeteria tables, medical products, and a host of
other applications limited only by the imagination.
School and Institutional Applications.
There are endless possibilities for this product in schools
ranging from desk tops, computer work stations (certain
finishes work great as a mouse pad), lab tops, countertops,
plus lockers and doors, and many other custom designed
applications to fit each facilities specific need. Plus the
flexibility of wood powder coating allows custom design and
branding using school colors and logos.
Hospitality and Lodging.
Powder-coated wood is a great choice for table tops, bed
headboards, furniture, built-in cabinetry, bathroom surfaces
and many other applications. Wood powder coating currently
suits an emerging trend worldwide as several hotel chains now
offer an entire floor of “healthy living” rooms that use
easy-to-clean wood floors, antimicrobial surfaces, no VOC
materials, no laminates with PVC edge banding, bacteria-free
ventilation systems, ductwork that has been treated with
antimicrobial powder coatings, and a host of other healthy
living elements.
Office Furniture.
Manufacturers are now offering powder-coated wood components
for desks and desk tops, computer work stations, boardroom
components, writing tables, office cube system components,
cabinetry door and drawer fronts and many other custom
applications. Powders used for this market can be formulated
to the guidelines of ANSI/BIFMA (American National Standards
Institute and the Business and Institutional Furniture
Manufacturers Association) standards. Today, many commercial
buildings are seeking greenfriendly LEED credits by using wood
powdercoated components that use recycled MDF and have no
VOC’s or formaldehyde additives.
Clockwise, starting at top left: Health care installations
benefit from powder coating’s seamless edges, antimicrobial
powders and great chemical and stain resistance. The
hospitality industry claims these healthy benefits as well.
Powder-coated office furnitureincludes cube systems,
conference tables, and computer stations. Powder-coated school
desks are seamless, and with antimicrobial powders, 99.9
percent of the surface bacteria is removed, providing for
healthier classrooms.
Store Fixtures and Display Applications.
Powder-coated MDF is currently being used in many retail
applications ranging from horizontal selling surfaces to
vertical cabinetry with decorative finishes. Since this finish
allows for embossing it can also be used for brand-building
efforts with embossed logos or messages. Retailers enjoy the
flexibility in shapes and designs that can be custom designed
for specific applications including cutouts for wiring, custom
footprints to hold products, business card holders, etc. A
variety of finishes and colors can be specifically matched to
complement current laminate finishes for custom color
coordination. Retailers benefit because this product can be
designed to fit so many different specific merchandising
needs.
Furniture.
Powder-coated wood, due to its construction, is an excellent
fit for ready-to-assemble furniture since there are no
concerns with edge banding. It works well for children’s
furniture because of the many fun and unusual shapes that can
be created, plus the antimicrobial powders provide for a
healthy surface and durable finish. In addition, there are no
health concerns with the powders used in wood powder coating
so it is very kid-friendly. Powder-coated wood is also
frequently used for electronic cabinets and stands, tables,
plus bases for furniture because of its moisture resistance.
The Future of Superior Wood Finishing Has Arrived
Watch as this sleeping giant wakens to the dawn of a
relatively new, exciting and expanding industry turning the
dream of a superior surface finish into reality. There will be
many more applications in the future for this versatile,
excellent product as wood powder coaters, powder and MDF
manufacturers and technology continue to improve. There are
many new methods and processes that are currently being tested
that will help this sleeping giant become a major factor in
the surface and panel industry. s&p
Editors Note: Craig Martin is
President of BTD Wood Powder Coating, contract manufacturer
of powder coated wood components. For more information on
BTW Wood Powder Coating, please visit the company’s website
at
www.btdwoodpowdercoating.com or phone (218) 828-4144.
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