Opportunity or tasteless UV furniture paint how far the road of green revolution

In the "Twelfth Five-Year" development plan of China's coatings industry, it is clearly proposed to take environmentally friendly coatings as the development goal and structural adjustment as the industry's orientation. This shows that the state encourages the development of water-based coatings and light-curing coatings. At the same time, due to the rising costs of labor and raw materials, as well as the end consumer's green and environmentally friendly consumption concepts, furniture manufacturers also urgently need some coatings with better comprehensive benefits. Compared with traditional furniture paint, UV paint (also known as ultraviolet curing paint) has the unique advantages of fast curing speed (second curing speed), no VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions, labor saving, high comprehensive coating efficiency, etc., attracting cabinets , Wood flooring and other manufacturers' attention.

The research and development of UV paint is increasing

The development of UV furniture paint began in the 1960s, and the true development of UV paint in China was in the 1990s. In recent years, with the continuous introduction of national environmental protection policies, professional furniture coating companies have increased their research and development of UV paint. Coating companies have invested in UV paints of different scales. China Resources Coatings announced that UV paints were launched as early as 15 years ago. Jiabaoli, Changrunfa and Zhanchen have also been involved in different degrees in this regard, but the traditional The sales of PU paint and PE paint still account for the vast majority of their total sales.

Opportunity or how far is the green revolution road of UV furniture paint

Industry associations and local governments have issued policies on encouraging the development and use of UV coatings, such as Shenzhen, Guangdong, and Beijing. Throughout several major furniture exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Sichuan in recent years, UV paints have frequently appeared, and many customers have come to consult with them. Exhibitors also tirelessly introduce them. However, through careful comparison of the samples on display, it was found that from the perspective of coating process and quality of paint film, the effect of the samples of UV paint and traditional furniture paint is very different.

How long will the green revolution come

However, in the applause of UV furniture paint, it also faces difficulties in technology, application and promotion. At present, there is no iconic UV coating brand in the furniture paint industry, and no furniture coating manufacturer regards UV paint as its main business. The reasons for this status quo mainly include the following aspects:

First, the UV paint technology is weak, and R & D investment is insufficient. UV curing is the use of a UV lamp as a radiation source, irradiating a liquid formulation with a photoinitiator, the photoinitiator absorbs UV light quantum to initiate a chemical reaction, and instantly transforms the liquid resin formulation into a solid film, which involves UV materials and UV equipment. And professional operators. Most of the products developed by domestic furniture paint companies are roller-coated UV transparent bottom (top) paint and UV white bottom (top) paint, while solid color paint products have a single brand and few breakthroughs. The key technologies of UV materials and formulations are in the hands of developed countries such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea. The UV equipment is the most advanced produced in Germany. The imported equipment requires professionals to install, operate, debug, and maintain. However, due to the lack of domestic UV professional R & D personnel, insufficient attention by enterprises, insufficient independent innovation capabilities, and relatively lagging government guidance, although after rapid development, UV paint has not yet been popularized in the field of furniture.

Second, marketing and promotion are difficult and costly. Chinese companies like to innovate in imitation. When there is no precedent to imitate in China, they will be moved abroad. However, foreign things imported may not be completely suitable for the national conditions of the country. If they are improved, it will cost more. and time. Although the UV paint has high comprehensive efficiency, the initial investment in equipment is large, which is more suitable for large furniture factories because they have strong capital and stable order quantities. In the furniture industry in China, the vast majority are small and medium-sized furniture factories. It is a long and difficult process for a UV paint seller to let a furniture factory accustomed to a mature traditional coating production line transform the coating production line. . An industry source said that some furniture companies spent a lot of money to buy a batch of equipment, but suffered from not operating, almost became a decoration, and even turned into scrap iron, can not play a role. UV paint manufacturers and equipment manufacturers lack integrated and quick-response integrated services, which adds a lot of difficulties to downstream users.

Secondly, the coating process of UV paint is not mature enough. Due to the mechanized production of UV paint in the coating process, the construction environment is required to be clean and free of dust particles, otherwise it will affect the effect of the paint film, and it is difficult to complete the coating operation of some shaped furniture.

It can be seen from this that the development of UV furniture paint is full of difficulties and temptations. In the development process, there will always be some explorations and difficulties. However, UV furniture paint is a trend in the development of the industry and has become an indisputable fact. This is also an opportunity for enterprises to carry out differentiated transformation, which requires courage. Some companies regard it as an opportunity and have elevated it to the level of development strategy; some companies regard it as tasteless, tasteless, and abandon it, but only follow in small steps; some companies have been waiting and seeing.

From the analysis of the current situation, the situation with solvent-based coatings as a whole is difficult to change in a short time. Therefore, it is too early to say that the green industrial revolution in the furniture coatings industry has begun.