Product designers often are asked to do the impossible – like creating a hard, durable surface that remains flexible to withstand extreme forming specifications. Prepainted metal comes to the rescue.

Coating formulators have developed polyurethane coatings that are flexible enough to withstand extreme forming, folding, and embossing without cracking, chipping or scratching. Unlike post-painting processes, prepainting and forming work by first precleaning, pretreating, prepriming and prepainting the metal, then forming it after these processes have taken place. Often, the applied coating is more flexible and forgiving than the metal itself!

Prepainted metal can be adapted to fit most product designs that currently use bare flat sheet or coil stock with only slight modifications. The National Coil Coating Association (NCCA) recommends multi-stage forming when producing rigorous bends. Warm forming at 125-160 degrees can help in cases of severe fabricating. The equipment supplier can provide expert advice on exact specs.

The fact is, with some proper planning and engineering, coil coated metal can be formed, even to extreme specifications, with no damage, loss in surface quality or beauty.