AkzoNobel Announces IONOMY™ Ecosystem For Coil Coaters

Representatives from the IONOMY ecosystem partners (from left): Karl Swanson (PCT), Diego Pedemonte (Globus), Brice Lequette (Novacel), Oliver Starzmann (IST), Tessa Slagter (AkzoNobel), Sebastien Villeneuve (AkzoNobel), Giulia Allegramente (Globus), and Christopher Bradford (AkzoNobel).

Columbus, OH - AkzoNobel Coil & Extrusion Coatings is introducing a consultancy-led, not-for-profit partnership dedicated to making energy curing a viable, scalable reality for coil coaters and integrated steel manufacturers, globally. This initiative – called IONOMY™ – unites partners in technology and solutions, including materials, curing, systems integration, software and hardware.

In addition to AkzoNobel Coil & Extrusion Coatings, the IONOMY ecosystem includes the following partners: PCT Ebeam and Integration,  supplier of ebeam systems for coil lines; IST METZ GmbH & Co. KG, involved in UV and LED curing systems; Globus srl, a reference in coating systems and machines engineering for coil; and NOVACEL SA - involved in processing and protective films for materials.

While energy-curable products are available for coil coating, AkzoNobel attributes slow adoption to the complexity of transition, with many businesses unsure how to adapt their operations in order to seize the renewable energy-curing opportunity.

“It isn’t just about making a tweak to the process,” explained Sebastien Villeneuve, Transformation Manager, Coil Coatings, AkzoNobel Coil & Extrusion Coatings. “Energy-curing is a complete reimagining and transformation of how coating lines are designed, operated, and optimized. We see the enormity of the challenge through our customers’ eyes, and this is why we have created the IONOMY ecosystem.”

The name IONOMY is derived from "ionization" and "economy". Ionization refers to the critical role energy plays in triggering the cold curing process – a cornerstone of the renewable energy curing technology. Economy reflects the significant business benefits of energy curing: lowering energy costs, faster throughput, improved sustainability, and long-term profitability.

IONOMY is described as "a cross-functional partnership that supports every stage of the energy curing journey – from diagnostics and road mapping to line redesign and long-term optimization. It is designed to give businesses the tools, expertise, and confidence to adopt energy curing that unlock measurable efficiency and performance gains, while reducing exposure to energy costs volatility and tightening sustainability regulations."

Built on experience across adjacent sectors like automotive, wood, and packaging (where energy curing is described as well established), AkzoNobel brings these findings into the complex, high-throughput world of coil coating.

It was noted that "with the IONOMY ecosystem there will be no prescribed architecture or predefined solutions. Whether a customer is a coil coater, steel producer, or new entrant, the IONOMY ecosystem will help shape a path based on their unique needs, constraints and goals to give them access to operationally feasible, and commercially smart transformation that fits each business."

Chris Bradford, Market Director, Coil & Packaging Coatings, AkzoNobel said that the creation of IONOMY stems from AkzoNobel’s core values: “We’ve been guided by the values of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability to step forward and help our customers unlock change. No one company can deliver this kind of transformation alone, which is why the IONOMY ecosystem is built on collaboration to guide the industry into its next chapter."

About AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel manufactures coil and extrusion coatings for metal construction. For more information, visit https://coilcoatings.akzonobel.com/us.