Developed in Europe in response to environmental pressures, and driven by several major markets, powder coatings continue to replace liquid finishing as coating and application technology advance.
The concept of applying an organic polymer in powder form dates back to the late 1940s and early 1950s when powders were flame-sprayed on metallic substrates. During this time, Dr. Erwin Gemmer, a German scientist, developed the fluidized bed application for thermoplastic resins on metal as a more efficient alternative to flame spraying. A patent application for this new process was filed in Germany in May 1953, and the patent was issued in September 1955.