Swiss powder coating specialist takes the next step toward making ultra-durable powder coatings even more sustainable

A coating should not only make a surface look good, but above all keep it looking good and protected for as long as possible. That’s exactly where sustainability begins, says Erwin Kleuters, director of IGP Benelux. But IGP is now looking beyond service life alone. With IGP-HWFsmart 59 and the subsequent Biosource variant, the Swiss powder coating specialist is also focusing on reducing the environmental impact of both the coating itself and the application process. The goal: to combine high quality with ever-decreasing energy and raw material consumption.

Less energy, lower costs

IGP-HWFsmart 59 brings Low Cure technology to the highest quality segment. This ultra-durable powder coating cures completely at a substrate temperature of 160 °C for 15 minutes. This allows applicators to either lower the oven temperature and save energy, or shorten the turnaround time and increase their production capacity. According to Kleuters, the real benefit often lies in combining these approaches. "For example, if the temperature could be lowered by 10 degrees during curing (resulting in approximately 6% energy savings), then the dwell time in the ovens could potentially be shortened, thereby increasing the process speed.”

This not only reduces energy consumption and environmental impact, but also processing costs. This combination makes high-quality coatings more economically accessible for a wider range of applications. The wide curing window also ensures high color and gloss stability, even under varying process conditions. This increases process reliability and simplifies production.

Stays beautiful and protected longer

HWFsmart 59 also offers benefits after the coating process. Its enhanced scratch resistance reduces the risk of damage during production, transport, and assembly. The integrated DURAclean effect also reduces dirt buildup and allows for longer cleaning intervals. Less repair work, maintenance, and cleaning agents thus contribute to a lower Total Cost of Ownership.For Kleuters, this is also an integral part of sustainability. A coating must not only ensure long-lasting color and gloss retention, but above all protect the coated product for as long as possible, thereby extending its service life.

Next step: the raw materials

With IGP-HWFsmart 59 Biosource, the focus is also shifting to the beginning of the supply chain. In addition to opportunities for energy savings during the application process, IGP is committed to replacing fossil-based raw materials with biobased and biocircular alternatives. This further reduces the environmental impact on the raw materials side, while maintaining super-sustainable performance. ISCC PLUS ensures traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain. EPDs provide insight into the environmental impact and make it usable in building sustainability assessments, including BREEAM and LEED.

Ultimately, both developments thus come down to the same basic principle. Preschoolers: "If aluminum and steel aren’t protected, nature is only too happy to reclaim them through oxidation or rust. You try to prevent that for as long as possible, using as little energy, raw materials, and environmental impact as possible."