Ask five people in the ACP industry what coating they use and you will get five answers. PVDF, FEVE, PE, HDPE, nano, super-durable polyester — the names pile up. Most of the time the right answer comes down to two questions: how long does it need to last, and what conditions will it face.
The four coatings we apply
PVDF — polyvinylidene fluoride
The industry standard for exterior ACP, originally developed under the Kynar 500 brand name. The fluorocarbon resin resists UV, acid rain, salt spray and industrial pollution. We bake it at 230–250°C in two to three passes to build a film of 25 μm or more.
- Warranty: 15–20 years depending on colour and climate
- Best for: exterior facades, curtain walls, high-rise cladding
- Trade-off: slightly lower gloss than polyester; we use a 70/30 PVDF-acrylic blend to keep the colour library broad
FEVE — fluoroethylene vinyl ether
Often supplied under the Lumiflon brand, FEVE is the step above PVDF. Where PVDF loses a small amount of gloss over twenty years, FEVE keeps it, and the resin allows a much wider colour range including high-gloss and pearlescent effects.
- Warranty: 25+ years
- Best for: coastal projects, high-pollution industrial zones, signature buildings
- Trade-off: around 25% higher cost per m² than PVDF
PE — polyester
The workhorse of interior and short-term exterior panel. Easy to apply, available in a very wide colour range, and a fraction of the cost of fluorocarbon. The downside is weatherability: in direct sun standard polyester starts to chalk and fade after five to seven years.
- Warranty: 5–10 years
- Best for: interior decoration, short-term exterior signage, retail fit-outs, tight budgets
HDPE — high-density polyester
A modified polyester with a denser cross-link and a matte texture. The matte look hides fingerprints and surface imperfections, which is why it is a favourite for retail and lift interiors.
- Warranty: 10 years
- Best for: indoor feature walls, retail, lift interiors
Which one is right
- Building exterior, any height: PVDF. The default for around 90% of projects.
- Coastal, industrial or signature building: FEVE. Worth the premium for the extra decade of gloss retention.
- Interior decoration, retail, signage: PE or HDPE. PE for colour, HDPE for matte texture.
- Signage requiring UV printing: the matt polyester sign grade, formulated for ink adhesion.
Choosing the cheapest coating is rarely the cheapest decision. A 30% saving on a polyester exterior that needs replacing in eight years is a 100% premium over PVDF that lasts twenty.
How the coating is applied
All four go through the same line. Coil enters pre-treated from our chemosynthesis line, passes through a three-roller reversal precision coater in a sealed, dust-free environment where the resin is applied in two to three layers, then enters a four-zone curing oven. Final film thickness is 25–30 μm, mechanically bonded to the metal — no flaking, no peeling, even after twenty years outdoors.
