Bulk & Industrial Coatings
Specialist Coating Solutions for Commercial & Industrial Applications
Some material and imaging problems need more than an off-the-shelf solution.
Craftcoat works with businesses requiring specialist coatings for digital imaging, printing, laser marking, product decoration and related manufacturing processes.
Whether you need an existing Craftcoat coating in commercial quantities or you're trying to make a particular surface accept a print, image, mark or protective finish, start by telling us what you're trying to achieve.
You don't need to know what coating you need. Bring us the problem.
Bulk Supply of Craftcoat Coatings
Our existing specialist coatings can be supplied in commercial pack sizes, including quantities up to 25 litres per container, with multiple-container and ongoing production supply available for larger requirements.
Rather than applying a single bulk price to every customer, we discuss your expected consumption, ordering frequency and ongoing volume requirements before providing commercial pricing.
For regular users, planned ongoing supply can also be arranged around anticipated consumption, helping provide continuity for production environments.
Specialist Coating Development
Not every application can be solved with an existing coating.
A new substrate, manufacturing process, printing technology or imaging system can introduce very specific requirements. Craftcoat can work with businesses to investigate coatings for particular commercial applications.
This may involve adapting an existing formulation or undertaking development work to create a coating suitable for the required substrate, process and production environment.
Typical requirements may include:
- Improving ink adhesion to difficult surfaces
- Making manufactured products suitable for printing or imaging
- Preparing surfaces for laser marking or other imaging technologies
- Improving image quality or durability
- Developing protective coatings for use after imaging
- Solving inconsistent results from an existing coating process
- Developing coatings for new substrates or materials
- Adapting coating processes for commercial-scale production
Tell us what you're trying to achieve. We'll look at how to make it possible.
From Requirement to Commercial Production
Every specialist project is different, but our development process generally follows a straightforward path.
1. Discuss
Tell us about the product, substrate, imaging technology, existing process and the result you need to achieve.
We'll also discuss expected commercial volumes so we can understand the overall requirements of the project.
2. Evaluate
We'll determine whether an existing Craftcoat formulation may be suitable or whether further testing and development is required.
3. Test
Where physical testing is required, we'll normally ask you to provide representative samples of the actual product or substrate.
Testing the real material allows us to evaluate coating behaviour under conditions relevant to the intended application.
4. Develop
Where formulation or development work is required, the proposed development programme and associated costs will be discussed and agreed before work begins.
Specialist development and testing is a commercial service and is not undertaken free of charge.
5. Validate
Suitable formulations and application processes can be tested and evaluated before progressing to commercial production.
6. Supply
Once the coating and process have been established, we can move to repeat commercial production and ongoing supply.
Discuss → Evaluate → Test → Develop → Validate → Supply
From Difficult Substrate to Repeatable Production Process
A coating that performs well once isn't enough for a commercial production environment.
Repeatability matters.
Once a coating and application process have been established, ongoing production can be arranged to support repeat commercial requirements.
For customers with predictable consumption, supply can be planned around anticipated requirements rather than treating every purchase as an isolated order.
The objective is simple: once you've established a successful coating process, you need to be able to rely on it.
Who We Work With
Our commercial coating service isn't restricted to one particular industry or technology.
We welcome enquiries from organisations including:
- Product manufacturers
- Printing and personalisation companies
- Laser equipment manufacturers and dealers
- Manufacturers of products intended for printing or decoration
- Sign and display companies
- Packaging manufacturers
- Promotional product suppliers
- Businesses incorporating specialist coatings into their own production processes
We also welcome enquiries involving emerging technologies and applications that don't fit neatly into an established category.
If a surface needs to accept an image, print, mark or protective finish and the existing process isn't producing the required result, talk to us.
UK Manufacturing
Craftcoat coatings are manufactured in the UK by specialist chemical manufacturers working with us.
This gives us access to specialist chemical manufacturing expertise while allowing Craftcoat to concentrate on the application, process and result our customers need.
It also gives us the flexibility to support established formulations and investigate commercially viable adaptations and specialist development projects.
Technical & Compliance Documentation
Commercial customers can be supplied with appropriate technical and compliance documentation for their coatings.
Depending on the product and requirement, documentation may include:
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Technical Data Sheets (TDS)
- Batch information
- CLP/GHS classification and labelling information
- REACH information
- Certificates of Analysis where required and available
If your purchasing, quality or compliance department requires particular documentation, please include this when discussing your requirements with us.
Confidential Development & NDAs
We understand that coating development can form part of a new product, manufacturing process or technology that has not yet reached the market.
Confidential projects are welcome, and we're happy to discuss working under an appropriate Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
Prototype products and substrates supplied for evaluation can therefore be discussed and tested as part of a confidential commercial development project.
UK & International Enquiries
Our commercial coating service is available to both UK and international customers.
International supply will depend on the particular coating, quantities required, destination and applicable transport requirements. These can be considered as part of the initial project discussion.
Discuss Your Coating Requirements
You don't need to arrive with a chemical specification or know which formulation you need.
Start by telling us:
- What product or material you're working with
- What you're trying to achieve
- The printing, laser or imaging technology being used
- Any problems you're currently experiencing
- Your approximate expected coating consumption
- Whether samples of the substrate or product are available for testing
From there, we can discuss whether an existing Craftcoat coating may be suitable or whether testing and specialist development is required.
Have a coating problem, difficult substrate or commercial volume requirement?
Talk to Craftcoat about the application.