ALUMINIUM 2026 has put aluminium processing and surface technology back in focus. In its official final report published on 15 October 2026, organiser RX reported more than 800 exhibitors and partners and 21,115 trade visitors at the Düsseldorf event on 6–8 October. Surface treatment was among the technologies covered across the exhibition.
A separate Henkel announcement dated 17 September 2026 described its planned exhibition offer: a preview of APNR 2.0, a rinse-free adhesion promoter for aluminium pretreatment, alongside chromium-free treatments for aluminium coils. This was a preview announcement, rather than evidence of commercial results after the show.
What the pretreatment news means for powder buyers
For buyers of outdoor coated metal, the practical connection is the interface between the substrate and the finish. Choosing an exterior powder does not remove the need to qualify cleaning, pretreatment, film build and curing together.
Henkel's coil examples should also be read within their application scope. A treatment described for aluminium coils cannot automatically be specified for an extrusion line or a fabricated steel part. The actual substrate and production process determine what must be validated.
Specify the metal and exposure first
DAMEI's outdoor pure polyester powder coating is developed for exterior metal applications, including architectural metalwork and aluminium profiles. Buyers can start with the DAMEI product range, then define the grade and finish against the project requirements.
A useful specification identifies the alloy or metal, pretreatment route, location, sunlight, moisture, salt exposure, colour and gloss. Windows near the sea and sheltered inland profiles may require different evaluations, even when their colour reference is identical.
Turn the TDS into a production trial
The aluminium profile powder coating TDS resource provides a starting point for discussions about pure polyester powders for industrial, architectural and furniture profiles. It should be matched to the selected formulation and the buyer's line conditions.
During sampling, record the pretreatment used, dry film thickness, adhesion and coverage around edges and recesses. A flat colour panel is useful for appearance approval, but representative profiles reveal whether the proposed process reaches difficult areas consistently.
Verify curing through the measured metal temperature of the workpiece and the time it spends within the specified curing conditions. Oven air temperature alone does not establish that a thick or complex part has received the required cure.
Request evidence from the complete system
Agree on the test method and acceptance criterion before comparing results. DAMEI's powder coating quality control tests page helps frame the checks to discuss for the selected project.
Weathering and corrosion evidence should identify the formulation, colour, substrate, pretreatment, film thickness and cure. Salt spray exposure hours do not convert directly into a guaranteed number of outdoor service years.
DAMEI's quality and standards article collection can help organise questions about sample records, batch documentation and production consistency. A supplier's management certificates should not be treated as product-specific architectural approvals.
Build the sample request around acceptance
Before ordering, send DAMEI the project requirements: the substrate, exposure, colour reference, finish, required tests, available pretreatment and production conditions. Agree on a representative sample and the evidence needed to approve it. This makes the outdoor coating decision traceable from the original requirement to the trial result.
Cover illustration: outdoor metal coating concept, not a photograph from ALUMINIUM 2026.
