Sherwin-Williams Unveils New Waterborne Wood Coating Technology

Paints and coatings manufacturer Sherwin-Williams (Cleveland, Ohio, USA) recently introduced its SHER-WOOD environmentally adaptive (EA) Hydroplus technology, which it describes as a revolutionary new waterborne wood coating that can be applied across a wide spectrum of environmental conditions. According to the company, it can be applied without the productivity-sapping performance tradeoffs that are commonly associated with waterborne coatings.

SHER-WOOD EA Hydroplus is a high-quality, self-sealing, water-reducible acrylic system available in both clear and pigmented finishes. With performance characteristics rivaling of its solvent-borne counterparts, it provides outstanding film hardness and chemical resistance that finishers demand, according to Sherwin-Williams. It’s an ideal choice for manufacturers in the kitchen cabinet, furniture, and building products markets that seek versatile and reliable coatings in a wide range of colors.

With the ability to adapt to many environmental conditions, SHER-WOOD EA Hydroplus can help industrial wood shops stay productive and efficient by eliminating the compensatory application measures typically associated with waterborne coatings—all while achieving a superior, high-quality finish.

“There is massive demand for a waterborne product that can perform across a wide range of environmental conditions,” says Kevin ONeill, marketing director for the industrial wood business. “Our customers have asked us for a solution like EA Hydroplus. Our goal was to provide a robust technology that performs the same on a hot day or a cold day, in a dry environment or a humid one, helping wood shops maintain optimal production without the need to compensate for less-than-ideal environmental conditions.” 

According to the manufacturer, this technology features the unique ability to hang in vertical spraying applications without running or sagging. In turn, this allows wood shops to maximize production while seizing the inherent benefits of waterborne coatings. These include: 

  • Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) content and GREENGUARD Gold certified, helping shops meet sustainability goals;
  • No pot life—products can be stored after use for the next job;
  • Easier cleanup and disposal of waste;
  • Safer storage and transportation.

“EA Hydroplus is a game-changer in terms of how a waterborne coating is applied,” Oneill adds. “We achieved desirable, consistent performance in every scenario we tested the product in—and it has outperformed competitive formulations when applied to substrates in terms of flow, leveling, and hang.”

Additional benefits include:

  • Applicable with Sherwin-Williams’ Color Express program to deliver tight color strength designed to provide excellent batch-to-batch consistency;
  • Excellent flow, leveling, and hang for a beautiful, smooth finish;
  • Superior resistance to scratching;
  • Improved sandability;
  • Self-sealability, with excellent hide in two coats; 
  • Meets or exceeds KCMA test requirements when properly applied.

To learn more about how SHER-WOOD EA Hydroplus solutions can bring the benefits of waterborne technology without compromising performance, visit www.Sherwin-Williams.com/EAHydroplus