AkzoNobel Wood Coatings is expanding the resources and technical support available to wood product manufacturers evaluating UV and UV LED curing technologies as they look to improve production efficiency, reduce energy consumption and support more sustainable manufacturing operations.
The initiative includes the launch of a new digital calculator designed to help manufacturers assess the potential cost, energy and productivity benefits of UV curing for their individual production lines.
Rolling out across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, the expanded customer support programme includes educational content, technical guidance and expert insights aimed at furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building product manufacturers.
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The resources are designed to help manufacturers understand how UV curing can be incorporated into existing production processes and where the technology could deliver operational benefits.
The initiative forms part of AkzoNobel Wood Coatings’ wider “It all adds up” sustainability programme, which focuses on practical operational changes that can deliver measurable environmental improvements.
The focus comes as manufacturers continue to face pressure to improve production efficiency while managing rising and volatile energy costs.
Understanding UV curing technology
At the centre of AkzoNobel’s initiative is a series of educational resources covering how UV curing technologies work, where they can be used in different production environments and the factors manufacturers need to consider when evaluating a potential transition.
The resources are intended to support early-stage assessments and give manufacturers a clearer understanding of the technologies before making changes to their finishing processes.
They include:
- A UV curing Q&A guide explaining key technologies, processes and terminology.
- An educational video showing how UV curing works in practice.
- A dedicated website hub bringing together technical information, insights and guidance.
- Ongoing expert-led content including talking-head videos and technical perspectives.
Together, these resources are intended to help manufacturers understand both the potential advantages of UV and UV LED curing and the practical considerations involved in implementing the technology.
UV LED curing and energy efficiency
Alongside its educational material, AkzoNobel is providing tools and technical services designed to help manufacturers move from initial evaluation towards practical implementation.
These include the newly launched Cost2Coat UV calculator, which AkzoNobel uses to help customers assess how efficiency and sustainability could be improved based on their specific production line configuration.
The company is also providing access to its Technical Application Center (TAC) facilities across EMEA, North America and Asia-Pacific. Strategic customer projects can be tested using UV coating systems at these facilities, allowing production conditions to be simulated and finishing processes to be optimised.
Additional support includes:
- Technical service and R&D expertise to help with coating selection and successful line setup.
- Collaboration with equipment and lamp suppliers to ensure compatibility across different curing technologies.
This combination of digital tools, education and technical expertise is designed to give wood manufacturers a clearer understanding of how UV and UV LED curing could operate within their own production environments.
Potential benefits of UV curing for wood products
When applied appropriately, UV curing technologies can provide a number of operational benefits for manufacturers of wood products.
UV LED curing systems can offer energy efficiency advantages compared with conventional curing technologies. Energy consumption reductions of up to 50-70% have been reported in some applications, although the actual saving depends on factors including the production line configuration and equipment used.
UV coating systems can also support reduced emissions and efficient material usage.
One of the key production advantages of UV curing is the ability to cure coatings almost immediately after application. Finished components can therefore be handled or stacked directly after curing rather than requiring extended drying periods.
For manufacturers, this can help reduce drying times, minimise work-in-progress and increase overall production throughput while maintaining finish performance. Depending on the coating system and application, UV-cured finishes can provide properties including resistance to staining and scratching.
The technology can therefore be relevant to a range of wood manufacturing applications where production speed, finishing quality and energy consumption all need to be considered.
Helping manufacturers assess UV curing
Although many manufacturers are already familiar with UV curing technology and its potential benefits, determining how those benefits translate to an individual production line can be a more complex challenge.
Sarah Skinner, Product Marketing Director at AkzoNobel Wood Finishes, says:
“UV curing technology is a proven solution but for many manufacturers the key question is how these technologies can be applied within their own production environments.
“Through the resources and tools, we will be providing practical, accessible guidance that helps more customers understand not just the benefits of UV and UV LED curing, but also what is required to implement them successfully. By combining educational resources with technical expertise and tools like the Cost2Coat calculator to support application, we can help manufacturers make informed decisions based on their specific needs.”
The emphasis on application-specific guidance reflects the fact that UV curing performance and potential energy savings can depend on the individual production process.
Factors such as coating requirements, line configuration, curing equipment and production conditions all need to be considered when assessing the suitability of the technology.
More than 40 years of UV curing experience
AkzoNobel has more than 40 years of experience in UV curing technologies and supports customers across global markets with coating systems for applications including furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building products.
By combining educational resources, digital assessment tools and technical expertise, the company aims to help wood manufacturers optimise their finishing processes while balancing coating performance, production efficiency and sustainability considerations.
For manufacturers considering UV or UV LED curing, the expanded support programme provides resources to help assess the technology at an early stage and understand what may be required to integrate it into an existing finishing operation.
For more information about UV and UV LED curing technologies, visit the AkzoNobel Wood Coatings UV curing resource hub.
