Ever since it was introduced 40 years ago, powder coating in Ontario has become so popular that is used by a lot of manufacturers of industrial and household products. This kind of coating is done through a dry finishing process using fine particles of powder pigments and resin which are charged electrostatically. The charged particles then adhere to electrically grounded parts, which are then fused into a uniform, protective coating inside a curing oven. In North America alone, there are over 5,000 finishers use powder coats for a durable, high quality finish on various products. The popularity of powder coating in Ontario is booming, thanks to its resistance to corrosion, abrasion, scratches, chemicals and some solvents.
Over the recent years, developments in powder coating processing and application equipment have considerably increased quality and productivity of powder coating in Ontario. These include lower temperature cure components for heat sensitive substrates. In terms of powder pigments applications, they can be used on unique product surfaces such as glass, pultrusions and Medium Density Fiberboard or MDF. Also, the technology has been developed wherein powder coating pigments are sprayed on a heated mold cavity for plastic parts before the molding process starts. During the actual molding, the powder coat bonds to the molding compound and the process results to a chip and impact resistant product.
For products that require exceptional quality like automotive parts, multi-layer processes were developed where primers, base, and colour coats are combined with clear coats. This coating technology achieves both superb quality appearance and outstanding performance. The same advances in robotics and microprocessors also contribute to increased production in applying powder coating in Ontario. Today, powder coatings come in almost every colour, texture, and gloss. They are applied on thousands of parts and products, including shop fixtures, metal patio furniture, metal display racks, store shelving and wire-formed products for offices and homes.