1. Low-Temperature Curing Redefines Industry Standards
Covestro Launches ResiCoat® LT Series (February 23, 2025)
Debuted at Powder Coatings Week 2025, Covestro’s ResiCoat® LT polyester powder enables curing at 120°C (vs. traditional 180–200°C), cutting energy consumption by 35%. Ideal for heat-sensitive substrates like MDF and plastic composites, it has secured trial orders from IKEA and Haier.
2. Functional Coatings Gain Momentum
- Antiviral Solutions: KCC Group’s ISO 22196-certified BioShield® coating (99.9% E. coli inactivation rate) now adorns Japanese hospital walls and cold-chain equipment.
- Self-Healing Innovation: China’s Wanshun New Materials developed microcapsule-based self-repairing powder, enabling scratch recovery within 48 hours. Mass production is slated for Q4 2025.
3. Regional Market Highlights
- China’s Yangtze Delta Expansion: 12 new production lines (450,000-ton annual capacity) opened in Jiangsu/Zhejiang (Jan–Feb 2025), serving NEV battery casings (BYD orders up 210%) and solar mounting systems.
- EU Regulatory Shift: The revised REACH Restricted Substances List (effective Jan 2025) bans 18 traditional additives, accelerating Europe’s shift to polyester powder. AkzoNobel has converted 2 solvent-based lines to bio-based polyester production.
4. Circular Economy Breakthroughs
- Coating Recycling: Soochow University’s plasma stripping tech (Patent CN202510345678.9) achieves 95% coating recovery, with regenerated powder matching virgin material performance. Industrialization expected by 2026.
- Sustainable Packaging: Dow’s starch-based biodegradable powder bags (90% decomposition in 6 months) won the 2025 iF Design Award.
5. Key Industry Events
- EEPS 2025 (Shanghai, March 15–18): Focus on anti-corrosion solutions for offshore wind towers (5,000+ hours salt spray resistance). BASF and PPG to unveil new products.
- Powder Coating Tech Summit (Beijing, April 8): Topics include AI color-matching systems and the China Polyester Coatings Low-Carbon Development White Paper.