Tikkurila Oy has launched a coating system based on UV curing. The system, which has been awarded an innovation prize, replaces existing solvent-borne coatings in the furniture industry.

The method consists of water-borne UV-curing coatings, a spray booth with a recovery system and a new 3-D UV-curing device, in which the curing of the water-borne UV lacquer takes place under an inert atmosphere in carbon dioxide.

The advantages of the economical method are the quality of the surface, low energy and carbon dioxide consumption, few volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and almost waste-free production.

Savings in time and money

"The method can achieve savings of between 40 and 50 per cent in materials and waste management costs," says Kari Soljamo, Vice President, R&D. "Investment costs are low as the spray booth and curing can be installed on production lines that are already running."

As a result of the method, the amount of overspray is reduced. "Most of the oversprayed lacquer is recovered and can be used again. If under the traditional method 80 per cent of the sprayed lacquer went past the chair and 20 per cent onto it, with the new method these figures are reversed."

Savings also come from the shortening of the production time. The products are immediately ready for packing after UV-curing. Thanks to the low curing temperature the method is suited even to heat-sensitive frames such as pine and plastic.

Completed opportunely

Tests have been carried out since last autumn on the first equipment designed for industrial use. Development work will continue until the autumn of 2006. "The equipment works extremely well. We are now presenting the method to customers and mapping out the markets. The reception has been very favourable," Soljamo says.

Tikkurila won a RADTech Europe award with its innovation in Spain in the autumn of 2005. The competition was open to all companies that utilize technology based on curing with ultraviolet radiation (UV) or electron beams (EB). The use of these technologies is increasing in various industrial sectors, because the pressure to reduce VOCs is growing all the time.

Tikkurila's method was completed opportunely with the VOC directive giving guidelines on the use of organic solvents in the EU and the restriction of VOCs. The company can now provide a new cost-effective method for furniture manufacturers who use polyurethane, nitrocellulose and acid-curing products.

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Tikkurila's innovative coating method is an economical alternative to traditional methods.