Despite our industry being quite small there is still many hundreds of
thousands of dollars being spent every year on research and development. Much
of this research is completed by overseas suppliers who’s markets in Europe,
Asia, and America are many times larger than ours.
There are companies in Europe who are purchasing more lacquer per year
than does the entire Victorian Market.
Where a few years ago many suppliers would have a different lacquer for
each individual purpose nowadays many suppliers are producing one lacquer and
then a series of additives that can be added to suit the individual needs of
the final user.
We commonly use additives in our lacquers to allow us to cater for
differing needs. We add chemicals in to allow our paint to stick to the back of
glass and acrylic. We can make lacquer stick to copper or brass without the
need for an etch primer. Additives can make a lacquer more UV resistant, or
more scratch resistant. Additives can turn a lacquer into a graffiti resistant
paint, or we can make a lacquer flexible enough to allow it to be applied to a
trucks side curtain. We can make lacquers resistant to excessive wax present in
MDF and also resistant to silicone contamination, all through the addition of
additives.
We can make lacquer shinier or more satin, and we can also make it fire
retardant.
The science behind all these additives is quite complex, with some
additives being able to be combined and some that can’t be mixed.
At Simmonds polishing we endeavour to have a lacquer available to meet
all the complex needs of our clients. For that reason, we regularly meet with
our suppliers to keep abreast of new technologies and new systems. We also only
purchase lacquer from those suppliers who have full research and development
teams in their overseas manufacturing plants.
So, if you have a specification from a client that is a little unusual
or if you are concerned about the specific use of your joinery finish, don’t
hesitate to give us a call. We’re sure we will be able to find a lacquer and an
additive to meet your client’s needs.
