In a powder coating shop, the oven is the biggest energy consumer. A standard powder cures between 160 and 200 °C. For the past three years, the major manufacturers have been making more and more announcements of powders that cure cooler or faster. Here is where that race stands.
What the manufacturers are announcing
In November 2023, AkzoNobel launched Interpon D1036 Low-E, an architectural powder that cures at 150 °C, which is 30 °C lower than a conventional powder, or up to 25% faster at normal temperature. The manufacturer claims energy savings of up to 20%. A superdurable version followed in September 2024. For its part, PPG places its low-bake powders between 121 and 163 °C.
Laser curing, still at the pilot stage
The most surprising announcement dates from March 2026: PPG, IPG Photonics and Whirlpool are working together on a laser powder curing process, which promises curing in a few minutes. A pilot line is installed in Ohio and trials are being run on appliance parts. It is a pilot project, not yet a technology offered on the market.
What is proven, and what is not
All the savings figures we found come from the manufacturers and are worded with an "up to". We found no independent measurement. An article in PCI Magazine, written by a PPG product manager, names the limits itself: these powders are best suited when the appearance requirement is less strict, and a single oven cannot efficiently cure low temperature powders and standard powders at the same time.
Why this interests us
Curing cooler is not only a matter of the energy bill. A lower temperature is easier on heat-sensitive parts, reduces outgassing on cast parts and shortens the heat-up time of heavy parts. For a shop like ours, which works with several suppliers and hundreds of colours, the obstacle remains selection: not every colour and every finish exists yet in a low temperature version. We are following this closely.
In summary
- Low temperature powders cure at around 150 °C, sometimes as low as 121 °C, compared with 160 to 200 °C.
- The announced savings, up to 20%, are manufacturers' figures.
- Laser curing has been a pilot project since 2026.
- The choice of colours and finishes remains more limited than with standard powder.
