As 2024 marked Orion Industries’ 60 years of service in the functional coating industry, we have reflected on the evolution of the industry, and contributed the following article featured in the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) Illinois Manufacturer magazine
Looking back over the years we can see examples of how our curiosity, often spurred by production challenges, has helped inspire innovative solutions in functional industrial coating formulations and coating application technologies that influenced the industry.
The industrial functional coating industry emerged during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by the need to protect, improve performance of, and increase the useful life of products during rapid industrialization. As the manufacturing industry grew, the demand for coatings that offered protection against corrosion, chemicals, wear, and environmental damage became critical. This necessity led to advancements in a variety of functional industrial coatings.
For example, automotive coatings improved vehicle performance, durability and lifespan, while protective coatings in construction and energy extended the life of their infrastructures. The aerospace and marine industries also benefited from specialized coatings for extreme environmental conditions. By providing solutions that enhanced the performance and longevity of products, the industrial functional coating industry became integral to the broader evolution of manufacturing across various sectors.
For Orion, our customer challenges are the ultimate catalysts that drive new and innovative solutions. Through the years, manufacturers of products and components came to us looking to resolve issues such as friction, sticking, corrosion, noise, and abrasion. It became critical to understand each project’s technical requirements and match these findings with the right coating formulation and application process to improve the performance of finished products and components while at the same time increasing their value and lifespan.
Coating applicators continued to discover new and different ways to use the growing number of industrial functional coatings, including Teflon™, the most notable of all coatings ever developed. Orion became one of the few authorized licensed applicator of Teflon™, also known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), in 1979. Increased experience and pioneering experimentation with this inert fluoropolymer that offers superior non-stick and low friction properties has helped us expand into new industries and markets, and diversify capabilities based on our customer’s unique needs and the industry standards governing them.
Continue reading article on Page 30 the IMA’s Illinois Manufacturer magazine.
Learn more about Orion’s functional industrial coating capabilities and how we can help to improve the performance or your product, part or component.
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