"Waterborne paints have the future!"

That water-based paints are low-emission and environmentally friendly is well known. But can they match solvent-based products in terms of surface quality and processing? Anyone delving into today's water-based paints will find that they certainly can - and in some areas are even better. Leon Cremers, director of ADLER Benelux in Heeze, talks more about it in this interview.

"Modern water-based paints now have no disadvantages compared to solvent-based products - but decisive advantages! First of all, water-based paints are good for people and the environment due to their low VOC content. In addition, many water-based paints consist largely of renewable raw materials. Waterborne lacquers also offer many advantages in terms of the working conditions at the processor's premises: there is no strong, unpleasant odor of solvents during the lacquering process, there is less fire risk and health risks are lower - not least because hardeners, which contain isocyanates, can be avoided. In addition, diluting paints and cleaning machines is much easier, as this can be done simply with water. In addition, the disposal of paint residues, filters and cleaning materials is much less complicated."

"Moreover, water-based lacquers offer clear added value for the customer. High-quality wooden furniture stands for durability, for an environmentally friendly indoor environment. Here, finishing with a water-based lacquer is the icing on the cake, so to speak."

"All in all, the advantages of water-based paints already outweigh the disadvantages. This will only increase in the future. The laws and regulations regarding solvent-based products are likely to become stricter, and customer demand for ecological and sustainable products will also increase. Those who anticipate this now and commit to environmentally friendly materials and processes will benefit."

"There are still many preconceptions about water-based lacquers: the surface is said to be sensitive, application is difficult, the lacquer dries slowly... This may have been true in the past - but it is long gone now. Modern water-based lacquers achieve the same chemical and mechanical resistance as solvent-based products, and in some cases - such as with our furniture lacquer ADLER Bluefin Resist - even without the addition of hardeners. This is because solvent-based lacquers are often processed 2K. Water-based lacquers are much more flexible: often the same product can be applied 1K as well as 2K."

"Modern waterborne lacquers have also caught up in terms of drying speed. ADLER's universal furniture lacquer Bluefin Unistar, for example, can be sanded after only one to two hours and is stackable after drying overnight. And when conditions are right - ideally a drying room with adjustable temperature and cross ventilation - water-based lacquers can dry even faster than solvent-based lacquers."

"No, not at all. On the contrary, it is relatively simple. Of course, it requires paint equipment suitable for water-based paints, but since most modern machines are made of stainless steel anyway, this is generally not a problem. However, it is helpful to take a course that teaches users how to optimally process water-based paints. ADLER also offers such training courses."

"In our range, processors will find a suitable water-based paint for every application: in any color, for any substrate and in any gloss level. In addition, we have numerous water-based effect paints in our range."

"Working with water-based lacquers is more economical. Although the price per liter of a water-based lacquer is slightly higher, because less lacquer is needed in use, the processor ends up being more economical. When a water-based lacquer 1K is used, users can save up to 15 percent. In the future, this price difference will become even greater, as solvent-based lacquers become increasingly expensive."