Editorial -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 1/1/2006
Last Visited: 1/19/2006
Prices for all market segments, including appliance, are trending upward due to unprecedented raw material price increases, said Trena F. Benson, marketing manager, DuPont Powder Coatings USA (Houston, Texas, U.S.). Supplies of raw materials have been affected by consolidations, strong demand in Asia, and recent storms, all merging to cripple output.While sourcing activities are becoming more challenging, we do not see a problem in meeting our customers needs due to the leveraging power of our company.
Increasing energy costs are also driving coaters to re-evaluate their options, she said.As a result, interest is growing in our low-energy powder coatings to reduce their BTU usage.
Looking at usage trends, she sees appliance producers offering a greater variety of colors in an attempt to stimulate the industry.Also, she sees the dye sublimation process (digital transfer printing onto a powder coated surface) taking off in Europe, and she expects it to catch on in the U.S.