AkzoNobel, a global leader in paints and coatings, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with IPG Photonics, a pioneer in high-power fiber lasers. The collaboration will focus on the development and application of laser technology for the curing of AkzoNobel's Interpon powder coatings, promising a significantly faster, more energy-efficient, and space-saving alternative to conventional curing methods.

The exclusive agreement will serve customers in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. The core of this innovation lies in meticulously calibrating AkzoNobel's Interpon powder coating formulations to achieve optimal results when exposed to IPG Photonics' advanced laser curing solutions.

Traditional powder coating curing typically involves placing coated items in a conventional oven for 15 to 20 minutes, a process that consumes considerable energy to heat the entire oven and can lead to heat loss into the factory environment. The laser curing technology offers a radical departure from this norm. By employing lasers to selectively heat the applied powder coating in what AkzoNobel aptly terms a "cold oven," the process eliminates wasted energy by directly targeting the coating. This precise heating also dramatically reduces curing times to just a few minutes.

Beyond the substantial energy savings, the partnership highlights the potential for significant space optimization. IPG Photonics' laser curing process requires less than half the footprint of a traditional oven, a crucial advantage for high-volume manufacturing facilities where space is often at a premium.

Interpon D is a powder coating range specifically designed for architectural and construction projects. Suitable for coating metallic surfaces such as steel and aluminium - including curtain walls, frames, shutters, beams and panels - the range has been developed to give exceptional performance and protection.

Jorrit van Rijn, Global Marketing Director of AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings business, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, "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. 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."

Trevor Ness, Senior Vice-President, Global Sales and Strategic Business Development at IPG Photonics, echoed this sentiment, adding, "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."