UV-Curable Coatings for Aluminum Can Production

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Project Title: UV-Curable Coatings for Aluminum Can Production

Date Last Updated: 9/99

Project Summary:
This project investigates advantages of an improved external surface printing and protective over-varnish curing process used in manufacturing aluminum beverage cans. The project focuses on overcoming the technical, economic and regulatory barriers to widespread use of UV-curable aluminum can coatings by quantifying and advertising energy savings and pollution prevention.

The Coors Brewing Co. is a major, world-wide supplier of beer and related products. Coors produces over 12 million aluminum beverage cans/day in its Golden, Colorado plant. Conventional technology uses solvent-based printing and over-varnish coatings that are applied to the aluminum and then cured (dried) by convective heat and mass transfer in gas-fired ovens. Coors uses coating materials that cure when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.

The goals of this project are: (1) to identify alternative, less-costly formulations of UV-curable coatings, including consideration of economies achievable through a factor of 25 increase in market size; (2) to confirm the energy savings and waste reductions achievable through full implementation of UV-curable system in the U.S. aluminum can manufacturing industry; (3) to establish the regulatory status of the technology as a means for compliance with Clean Air Act provisions, including RACT, BACT, MACT and LEAR determinations; (4) to evaluate the cost-benefit impact of the technology on the industry; and (5) to encourage widespread recognition and acceptance of the technology through technical papers and presentations.

The project is complete. The benefits of using the UV coatings vs. traditional VOC coatings have been documented and presented at conferences, and are available to the public.

Project Keywords: aluminum finishing, beverage industry, brewing industry, containers, coating processes, convection, curing, heat, mass transfer, metal coating, printing, solvents, ultraviolet curing

Organization Performing Research: Coors Brewing Company

Primary Research Contact:
Erik Donhowe
Coors Brewing Co.
Golden, CO 80401
phone: 303-277-2282
fax: 303-277-2463

Date Research Started/Completed: 4/94 - 1/96

Publications Based on Research: no information available

Approximate Project Budget: $500,000

Primary Project Funder: US Dept. of Energy, Asst. Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Industrial Technologies

Funder Contact:

Lisa Barnett
Invention Coordinator
DOE/HQ, Office of Industrial Technologies
EE-22, 1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585
phone: 202-586-2212
e-mail: lisa.barnett@hq.doe.gov
web: http://www.oit.doe.gov/iplocator.shtml