TORONTO - Sherwin-Williams will bring its Waterborne Challenge to another industry event - this time to professionals at the Woodworking Machinery and Supply Expo and Conference (WMS) November 2-4. In the Waterborne Challenge, Sherwin-Williams asks professionals if they can tell the difference between waterborne and solvent-based coatings. 
The Waterborne Challenge consisted of 14 panels finished in a variety of light and dark stains and paints. Participants were asked to identify which panels were finished with a waterborne topcoat and which with a solvent-based top coat. Of the 67 participants who took the challenge, only 51 percent of responses were correct. No participant reached 80 percent, with the highest scorer identifying only 11 correctly.
“With today’s waterborne advancements, it’s really tough to tell the difference between a quality waterborne finish and a traditional solvent-based finish,” said Joe Kujawski, Global Director of Marketing, Sherwin-Williams Industrial Wood Coatings. “The Waterborne Challenge puts this to the test.”
“The Waterborne Challenge results from AWFS are a good indication of what we’ve been saying all along – if you haven’t tried waterborne today, you haven’t tried waterborne. Today’s waterborne finishes are light years ahead of what was available even five years ago,” Kujawksi said.
Sherwin-Williams also developed an infographic dispelling popular myths surrounding waterborne coatings:
- Myth #1 – Waterborne coatings are more expensive than solvent-based coatings
- Myth #2 – Products finished in a waterborne coating have a poor look and feel
- Myth #3 – Waterborne coatings don’t perform as well as solvent-based coatings
- Myth #4 – Waterborne coatings won’t help industry professionals grow their business
The five Waterborne Challenge participants with the highest scores at WMS 2017 will receive a Warrior hockey stick finished with Sherwin-Williams waterborne coatings.
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