Web特集
June 24, 2008
Series: Focus on Paint Market in Japan
Market topics of roof and thermal barrier coating in 2008
Mounting expectation from evaluation of energy-saving effect
Upgrading mainly by Silicon base
The volume of high-reflectivity coating including high reflective pigments reaches at 2,500 tons and add thick film thermal barrier coating, finally total market size of TBC is estimated around 3,000 tons in volume and 2,500-3,000 mio Yen as sales revenue. Its annual growth rate continues around 10% averagely.
One producer said, "Growth rate slowed down last year in comparison with the year before last year when plant and equipment investment was active" and the other mentioned, "It grew more than double"; the difference between makers began to appear. The Ministry of the Environment booked 3,500 Mio yen in total in five years from 2007 and supports the business as anti-heat island measure. Government and local town push this trend and about 50 new products enter the market to follow this movement. As a result, it makes the competition much harder.
In order to expand the market, it is key to make sure the performance of energy-saving effect and to develop more application. First of all, JIS (Japan Industry Standard) plan to register new test method of solar reflectance regarding high-reflectivity coating within this year. Although the evaluation method of the performance is still being discussed, the study team of TBC in Japan Building Coating Materials Association has started the approval test for one-unit home and evaluated the energy-saving effect from last November.
Some concerns are pointed out in the market; "How effective it is for a house with many openings?" "Is it effective even if an insulation material is put in the garret?" "Its heating cost may rise adversely in winter?", but Mr. Masataka TAMURA , the leader of the study team, explained, "Its heating cost rarely changed" in winter. They plan to clarify other concerns with proving test. If its energy-saving effect is confirmed, it will be aggressively applied to house application leading a big market.
Until now, company articles such as factory or warehouse have been main market because the energy-saving effect is easily identified. However, the momentum is getting down because of worry about the economy situation influenced by revised Building Code and expanding profit gap between companies. Therefore, paint producer is aggressively developing application, plant facilities such as petroleum tank, and gasholder and cubicle to be avoided from the influence of heat. As for road surface, it begins to be applied to pedestrian road and parking lot.
The product development tends to upgrade the performance same as general roof coating. Top layer coat moves to Silicon base from Acrylic or Urethane and it is remarkable to add higher weatherability and lower staining property.
However, the share of thermal barrier coating is around 15% in total roof coating market. The swing-over from water borne to weak solvent base is found in all paint market. It is said the demand is shifting to weak solvent base because of serious concern on adhesive property with substrate affected by dew or rain. More than half of resin is Urethane and Silicon, some manufacturers ceased production of Acrylic base product, upgrade by Silicon mainly is on the move.
Responding this market trend, paint producers are actively supplying 2-component weak solvent base silicone resin paint. It meet needs for gloss and weatherability.
It seems waterborne system could be fundamental approach in the future, so product development including primer starts. From now on, the objective would be how to combine environmental aid and coating performance.
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