BAD SALZUFLEN, GERMANY -- Future-oriented developments in coating technology for wood and wood-based materials are among the hottest topics in the European furniture industry. At the "Day of wood coating" at ZOW 2013, the DFO – German Research Association for Surface Treatment, will present new concepts and technologies that can significantly improve quality, safety, economy, and sustainability in production. For example, the DFO experts regard as especially promising the new possibilities for assessing damage to wood coatings and the use of new surface types that use foil technology.

On the "Day of wood coating" 2013, participants can expect to receive the latest research and development information right from the source. In addition, DFO experts will present future trends in surface design for the furniture industry. This event is aimed at processors of lacquers and coating materials for furniture and wood-based materials as well as plant and equipment manufacturers.

Optimisation of lacquering processes and sustainability

For years, acceptance of 3D film-coated furniture fronts has suffered from quality problems, especially with respect to long-term bond strength. To assure a strong quality, therefore, a RAL quality association for 3D furniture fronts has been established. At ZOW, representatives of this new committee will present the goals and requirements for high-performance 3D foil coatings. Research results will be presented, which can be used to gain new insights into material behaviour and improve test methods.

The focus is also on the development of sustainable and more environmentally-friendly products. Today, lacquers containing solvents are increasingly being replaced by low-solvent or water-soluble lacquers. Of course their properties should be comparable to or even better than the solvent-based lacquers. Suitable testing and examination methods must be found, methods that allow short-term evaluation of the protective effect as well as predict the service life of wood coatings. Once suitable analysis data has been obtained that can be used to predict the long-term behaviour of unweathered and weathered wood coatings in a much shorter time, the next step will be to reduce the development times for coating materials. At ZOW, the DFO will inform visitors about the current state of research and development work.

Great interest in knowledge transfer at ZOW

Since 2010 the highly-regarded conference of the DFO German Research Association for Surface Treatment, Neuss, has been an annual guest at ZOW. This opportunity for knowledge transfer has found a constantly growing audience in Bad Salzuflen, confirms DFO Managing Director Ernst-Hermann Timmermann: "In recent years, ZOW has become a very important location for conferences of the DFO. The DFO series of events 'Day of wood coating' is a good addition to the long-established ZOW. In recent years, it has attracted more and more participants."

Register promptly with the DFO

The "Day of wood coating 2013" will take place on the last day of the ZOW trade fair, Feb. 21, 2013, in the Symposium Hall in Hall 21 (lectures in German only!). Anyone working in the furniture construction and mechanical engineering segment who focus on surface coatings can register now with the DFO for the event on Feb. 21, either by visiting www.dfo.info or by calling  Nicole Dopheide at +49 (0) 2131/40811-24. You will also find further information about the event there.

Preliminary topic overview -

1. Furniture and surface trends 2013/2014

2. RAL quality association for 3D foil-coated furniture fronts

3. Damage analysis for wood coatings

4. New demands on indoor furniture and products in the context of the RAL quality association

5. Use of UV-LED in wood coating

6. Development of processes for faster prediction of long-term protection by wood coatings for outdoor use

7. All the latest on the 31st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (BImSchV)

For current information about ZOW, visit: www.ZOWde.com

Source: Clarion Events Deutschland GmbH