Curtain Coating
Curtain coating formulations custom engineered to improve your production process.
Partner with RDC Coatings to engineer custom curtain coating formulations that maximize line speed and finish performance.
A curtain coating application delivers a continuous, uniform coating over moving substrates by precision-controlling flow rate and line speed. Once applied, the liquid coating solidifies rapidly using advanced ultraviolet (UV), Excimer UV, or electron beam (EB) energy curing technology.
Ideal for furniture manufacturing and flat, rigid surfaces, this technique creates a smooth, blemish-free finish on wood, metal, and other rigid substrates. Custom-engineered RDC formulations set faster than off-the-shelf coatings, directly increasing line speeds and overall plant throughput.
RDC’s sustainable, 100% solids UV and EB curtain coatings provide nearly 100% transfer efficiency in clear topcoats, opaque colors, and wet-on-wet base coat systems. Customized to your gloss and pigment specs, our formulations deliver superior adhesion alongside extreme resistance to scratches, chemicals, and water.
Key Benefits of Custom Curtain Coating Formulations
Make RDC Coatings your resource for curtain coating formulations that enhance your application process. Your custom engineered finishes will match the parameters of your production line, application and curing equipment, environment, and product.
Curtain Coating Formulations & Process Support
Whether you are evaluating an existing curtain coating formula, introducing new finishes, or building a new production line, RDC delivers end-to-end technical support. We begin with on-site process audits to analyze your line, allowing our engineers to custom formulate your curtain coating and validate performance in state-of-the-art testing labs. Beyond formulation, RDC provides ongoing process management and technical support services to maximize uptime and efficiency.
Equipment-Specific Coating Formulations
RDC custom-engineers your curtain coating solution to maximize the efficiency of your specific application equipment. By precisely optimizing each coating’s rheology, we ensure a smooth, uniform flow through your machines. To further boost plant productivity, we provide your curtain coating formulation in container sizes tailored directly to your operational workflow.
Curtain Coating Formulations Optimized for Your Curing Process
RDC formulates ultraviolet (UV), Excimer UV, electron beam (EB), and water-based coatings engineered for rapid curing and uniform finishes. For facilities relying on a UV curing process, our curtain coating chemistries are built to accommodate real-world line variations—delivering consistent lot-to-lot results whether your curing bulbs are brand new or near the end of their lifespan.
Curtain Coatings That Provide Year-Round Stability for Non-Climate-Controlled Plants
Most manufacturing plants aren’t climate-controlled, so RDC engineers each curtain coating to deliver reliable, year-round performance. Our formulations are built to withstand plant-floor fluctuations, ensuring smooth, even finishes regardless of extreme seasonal temperatures or humidity shifts.
Curtain Coating Formulations Built for Your Product Requirements
RDC custom-formulates every coating chemistry to meet your end product’s exact performance requirements. From chemical resistance and scratch and abrasion resistance to specific gloss levels, weatherability, and adhesion, we engineer the precise properties your application demands.
FAQs about Curtain Coating
What is curtain coating and how does it work?
Curtain coating is a flat-line application method where liquid coating is pumped into a specialized head to form a continuous, falling fluid “curtain.” Rigid substrates travel through this falling stream on a high-speed conveyor, receiving a completely uniform, blemish-free coating layer.
How does curtain coating compare to spray coating or roll coating?
- Vs. Spray Coating: Curtain coating provides nearly 100% transfer efficiency with virtually zero overspray waste, resulting in significant material savings.
- Vs. Roll Coating: It eliminates roller marks or film textures, delivering a smoother, mirror-like topcoat on flat panels at higher conveyor speeds.
What types of formulations work best in a curtain coater?
Curtain coating relies on precise fluid dynamics to maintain an unbroken curtain. 100% solids UV-curable, Excimer UV, Electron Beam (EB), and specialized water-based coatings work best. Each formulation must be custom-engineered for optimal viscosity, rheology, and surface tension.
Why choose UV or EB energy-cured curtain coatings?
Energy-cured UV and EB formulations solidify almost instantly upon exposure to light or electron energy. This eliminates the need for massive thermal drying ovens, reduces shop floor space, lowers VOC emissions, and speeds up processing time while delivering superior scratch and chemical resistance.
Your partner for sustainable, compliant energy-cured finishes
All RDC UV curable finishes are environmentally friendly and comply with globally accepted safety and sustainability standards, including…
- Low or No Volatile Organic Compounds (Low-VOC/Zero-VOC)
- California Air Resources Board (CARB) Compliant
- American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act Compliant
- Meets or exceeds American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA), and Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association (SEFA) Testing Requirements
How Can RDC Coatings Help You?
Manufacturers in multiple industries apply RDC Coatings’ custom formulations to a wide variety of materials and products. Leverage RDC Coatings’ 35-plus years of experience in engineering, developing, and manufacturing custom, energy-cured coatings to address your unique needs.