Many plastic parts used in today's cars still require a factory-applied coating, and stainless steel autos would be prohibitively expensive and so heavy that fuel efficiency would dramatically drop. The coil coatings industry is one of those economic sectors that at first glance is virtually invisible to consumers. But its products are the primary raw material for a huge variety of manufactured goods on which we all depend daily. Coil coating is the high-speed application of industrial coatings to continuous sheets, strips and coils of aluminum or steel. The pre-finished metal is then shipped to manufacturers who convert it to finished products ranging from metal siding, gutters and downspouts to mobile homes, auto parts, metal cans and appliances.
Coil coating saves the finished-goods manufacturer both money and regulatory worries.
Coated coils are also a testament to the integrity of the paint and coatings industry. Suppliers must produce a coating that will still be showroom-perfect after being transported through rough industrial environments, and being twisted, turned, stamped and shaped in the manufacturing process, without chipping, cracking, fading or scuffing. Every time consumers reach for a cold can of beer or soft drink, they are placing their trust, probably without appreciating it, in the paint and coatings industry. Industrial coatings also provide sealants against leakage on food and beverage cans, not to mention the vast array of colors and marking capabilities that let consumers discern one can from another. Without coatings, these manufacturers would not be able to produce vehicles, appliances, equipment and furniture as appealing, enduring or marketable as they can today.