Product Showcase

03/04/2024

U–C Coatings Branding Paint Goes “All Season”

Since 1985 U-C Coatings based in Buffalo, NY has been producing and selling Gempaint® branding paint. Gempaint® is a water-based paint developed specifically for application on the ends of lumber bundles. Gempaint® can be used to easily identify different lumber types, as well as enhance the appearance of dried lumber. With a viscosity similar to latex paint, Gempaint® can be applied to green, kiln-dried, or air-dried hardwood or softwood lumber.

In 1996 Gempaint® Plus was introduced. This premium version offers better total coverage for more porous wood species. Just like the original Gempaint®, Gempaint® Plus can easily be applied with a brush, roller, or sprayed on. U-C Coatings also offers a full line of sprayers and parts. Both varieties can also be cleaned up with just soap and hot water and are non-hazardous and solvent free. U-C Coatings offers the paints in over 35 standard colors.

For 20 plus years Gempaint® and Gempaint® Plus were offered in both summer and “non freeze” winter formulas. In 2022 an initiative to condense these formulas into one “all season” formula was launched.

This initiative was multipurpose driven. It would allow for seamless production of both paint lines. Meaning that the production facility would not have to switch over from summer formula to winter. The fact that U-C Coatings would no longer need to stock two varieties of each color, in their warehouses significantly helped with more timely and prompt order fulfillment.

U-C Coatings’ Director of Technical Services, Michael Maue spearheaded the development of the “all season” formula. This involved establishing the freezing points of the previous formulas. Michael also froze the existing formulas solid and thawed them 7 times, checking for viscosity change, separation, spray ability and film appearance after each freeze thaw cycle.

This extensive research led to the development of the “all season” formulas of both Gempaint® and Gempaint® plus, which has a lower VOC, with the same coverage and endurance. In conversations with plant personnel, including the plant manager, everyone agrees that this change has helped substantially with production efficiency and storage.

It also eliminated the always fluctuating “transition time” between winter and summer formulas each spring and fall.

U-C Coatings customer service manager summarized the advantages of the “all season” formula by stating that “It helps simplify the ordering process, by not needing to know the temperature at customers locations, or what type of conditions and temperatures the product may incur in transit” She added “It helps to be able to stock more in our offsite warehouses, being a single formula.”

Northern key Account manager, John Stenson agreed “The all season formulas of Gempaint® and Gempaint® Plus have really helped production, purchasing and stocking all become more efficient.” He continued “It eliminates the guessing game of needing the winterized formula, or not”

Dave Sondel, U-C Coatings East Coast Sales Representative echoed those opinions, stating “I think both the customers, and our order takers in our customer service department, have to be happy that they no longer have to differentiate between the two formulas.” Sondel added “This helps limit any possible mistakes as well, and the warehouses don’t have to keep both variations in stock.”

Dave also added that he has been asked by several customers when U–C Coatings plan on making a single formula of Anchorseal® and Anchorseal® 2… At the time of publication, all this author can say is Stay Tuned!

 

Join Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association today!

Learn More

The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA)

Provides proven leadership in the Lake States Forest products industry for over 70 years. GLTPA is a non-profit organization proud to represent members in Michigan and Wisconsin and is committed to leading Forest Products Industry in sustainable forest management.

Sign Up For Our E-News