AKZONOBEL Wood Coatings is expanding the resources and tools available to wood product manufacturers evaluating how UV and UV LED curing technologies can improve production efficiency, reduce energy use and support more sustainable operations. The initiative coincides with the introduction of a new digital calculator to help manufacturers quantify potential cost, energy, and productivity benefits for their specific production lines.
Rolling out across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, the latest additions to AkzoNobel’s customer support program also include educational content, expert insights and technical guidance to give furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building product manufacturers the ability to evaluate how UV curing could be applied within their existing production lines.
The initiative, which forms part of AkzoNobel Wood Coating’s wider “It all adds up” sustainability program which focuses on practical and operational changes that deliver measurable environmental improvements, comes at a time when many manufacturers are facing ongoing pressure to improve efficiency and manage rising and volatile energy costs.
At the core of the initiative is a series of educational resources designed to show how UV curing technologies work, where they can be applied within different production setups, and aid early-stage evaluation.
These resources include:
- A UV curing Q&A guide, explaining key technologies, processes and terminology.
- An educational video focused on how UV curing works in practice.
- A website hub bringing together technical insights and guidance.
- Ongoing expert-led content, including talking-head videos and technical perspectives.
Alongside this educational content, AkzoNobel is providing a range of tools and technical services to help translate insight into practical implementation.
These include:
- The newly launched Cost2Coat UV calculator, used by AkzoNobel to help customers assess how efficiency and sustainability can be boosted with their unique line configuration.
- Access to AkzoNobel’s Technical Application Center (TAC) across EMEA, NAM and APAC, where strategic customers projects can be tested using UV coating systems, simulate production conditions and optimize finishing processes.
- Technical service and R&D expertise to guide coating selection and successful line setup.
- Collaboration with equipment and lamp suppliers to ensure compatibility across different curing technologies.
This combination of resources, tools and technical services is designed to give manufacturers a clearer view of how UV and UV LED curing could work in practice within their own production environments.
When applied appropriately, curing technologies can deliver a range of operational benefits for wood manufacturers. UV LED systems can offer energy efficiency advantages compared with conventional curing technologies, with potential energy consumption reductions of up to 50-70% reported in some applications, depending on the line configuration and equipment used. In addition, UV coating systems can support reduced emissions and efficient material usage.
Instant curing also enables finished components to be handled or stacked immediately after application, helping to reduce drying times, minimise work-in-progress and improve overall line throughput, while maintaining high levels of finish performance, including stain and scratch resistance.
While many manufacturers are familiar with UV curing technologies and the potential benefits they can offer, understanding how these advantages translate into their own processes is often the barrier to change, says Sarah Skinner, product marketing director at AkzoNobel Wood Finishes: “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.”
With more than 40 years of experience in UV curing technologies, AkzoNobel continues to support customers across global markets with coating systems designed for a wide range of applications, including furniture, cabinetry, flooring and building products.
By combining education, tools and technical expertise, the company aims to help manufacturers optimize finishing processes while balancing performance, efficiency and sustainability considerations.
See page 6 of our October/November 2026 issue on our Back Issues page.
