Positive Outlook for the Wood Coatings Market

JCT Coatingstech Magazine

March 2007

Volume 4, No. 3

Page 28-32

Excerpts from… “Positive Outlook for the Wood Coatings Market”

By Cynthia Challener, Contributing Writer

“Despite many challenges, the wood coatings market is expected to grow at a modest rate over the next five years. According to Dan Murad, President and CEO of The ChemQuest Group, Inc., the total volume of wood coatings in North America was estimated to reach 327 million dry lbs. in 2006. Kitchen cabinets account for the largest segment (36%) and are growing at 2% per year. Wood and composition flat stock has the fastest growth rate at 3.1% and makes up 28% of the wood coatings market. Traditional furniture accounts for 23% but is experiencing the slowest growth rate (1.3%). Office furniture is the smallest segment at 13% but is growing at a good rate (2.9%). Murad estimates that of the $11.5 billion North American architectural coatings market, about 30-35% is applied to wood.

Typical resins used in wood coatings include thermoset and thermoplastic acrylics (catalyzed acrylics), urethanes, polyesters, and alkyds. Waterborne coatings are becoming increasingly popular in response to stricter VOC regulations. These systems for furniture and cabinet applications currently present an overspray problem, according to Murad, with a haze developing on wood products in the overspray area.

Overall, the biggest challenge facing the wood furniture industry in North America has been the movement of furniture manufacturing to Asia.”

(To read the complete article…see JCT CoatingsTECH Magazine – March 2007 issue...”Wood Coatings Symposium to Serve Wide Audience……….Positive Outlook for the Wood Coatings Market”)