B. The key benefits of PPC
B.1. PPC offers enormous aesthetic choice
There is a prejudice, amongst some specifiers, that PPC is functional, utilitarian, and dull. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
What is true, however, is that PPC is not good for super-funky art finishes, and/or faux finishes [like, say, finishes replicating naturally-patinated Copper]. High-end wet paint systems can offer this – but at a cost of somewhere between £200-400 per sq metre [or somewhere around 8-10 times the price of high-quality PPC]. In the real world, these kind of price premiums for specialist wet paint finishes are almost never justifiable for exterior, landscape products. In Plain English: what a client might be prepared to pay for a hotel reception desk, they will not pay for the planter outside the door…!
With the above caveat only, PPC offers enormous aesthetic choice, and creative licence to a specifier.
In addition to the standard RAL, BS, or Pantone colour series, there are myriad proprietary ranges available from specialist, high-quality paint manufacturers – such as Interpon/AkzoNobel, ISG, Tiger Drylac and Syntha Pulvin. These ranges include, inter alia:
- ‘Anodic’ ranges, which replicate the distinctive look of Anodized Aluminium.
- Bespoke, multi-tonal ranges which replicate the warmth and energy of Bronze, in all of its many shades.
- Metallic ranges which can achieve a depth of finish and metallic ‘bling’ indistinguishable from much more expensive, wet paint, liquid coatings.
- Bespoke, fashion-driven ranges, developed seasonally in association with trend and innovation consultants.
And the above is truly just the tip of the iceberg.
As the essential PPC application technology is common, new powder coat formulations tend to go from the development bench to market swiftly [without the ‘black arts’ of some wet paint innovations]. Thus new PPC ranges are being brought to-market all the time, further expanding the aesthetic choice.
B.2. PPC is very cost-effective
PPC is a very cost-effective paint finishing system; and it is often a half, or a third, of the cost of equivalent wet paint systems.
There are a number of reasons why PPC is so cost-effective – and these include:
- PPC is fast. A fabricated item can typically be through PPC paint finishing, packed, and dispatched – all in the same day. Thus a PPC paint facility can push through a much greater volume of product, quicker, than a corresponding wet paint facility; and a PPC facility can thus occupy correspondingly less space, with a lower capital expenditure overhead.
- PPC is accurate, and forgiving. Where complex shapes need coating, the powder coating process ensures complete coverage even on shapes with hidden surfaces, curves, angles. And, when cured in the oven, the powder coat particles melt, flow and cross-link to create a skin with a uniform finish, without ‘runs’. Compared to wet painting, PPC gets the right result first time, more often – without the cost of rectifying imperfections.
- There is minimal waste with PPC. Unused or over-sprayed polyester powder can simply be recovered and reused, economically, easily and above all safely.
- PPC facilities have a low cost of compliance. No solvents are used, there are virtually zero Volatile Organic Compounds in powder coating, and the essential processes are clean. PPC has been able to keep up with changing environmental pollution regulations in recent years, with minimal additional compliance costs.
The efficiency of PPC, and its corresponding cost advantage, is a core reason for its use in the landscape industry – where budgets are typically constrained.
B.3. PPC is a highly flexible technology, and it can be tailored precisely to the requirements of the brief
Perhaps the most common misconception about PPC, amongst specifiers, is that PPC is a fixed ‘thing’ – with a set of common properties.
In fact, ‘PPC’ is merely a generic description of a paint application process, which has a great many variables, which need to be defined in a precise specification – such as:
- The preparation regime for the metal prior to PPC application
- The number of PPC coats applied
- The exact specification and composition of the different coats
All of these variables impact on technical performance; and PPC is thus a highly flexible technology, which can be tailored precisely to the requirements of the brief.
And the good news, again [vs. wet painting] is that adding extra functional requirements to a PPC specification tends not to break the budget. Indicatively, the cost difference between a 'Rolls Royce' vs. 'Mondeo' specification in PPC might be 20% or so – whereas in wet painting it could quite easily double the cost.
IOTA is always happy to advise on what would be suitable PPC systems for a particular brief. However the specifier should at least give prior consideration to what are the requirements of the brief, on issues such as:
- The client’s expectation on Design Life Performance – specifically longevity.
- The environment in which the landscape product is to be located.
- The risk of abuse and/or physical damage to the product.
- Whether there will be a maintenance programme in place to rectify any such damage.
- Whether there are any additional, highly specific concerns in the brief – such as graffiti.
The above are the kind of considerations which would go into decisions on what would be suitable PPC systems for a given brief.
