IPG Photonics Corp., PPG Industries Inc. and Whirlpool Corp. have entered into a partnership that combines IPG’s high‑efficiency fiber‑laser platform with PPG’s powder‑coating chemistry and Whirlpool’s manufacturing footprint to bring laser‑based powder‑curing systems to market faster.
The collaboration is already in motion: PPG has installed a pilot finishing line featuring IPG’s PhotoniCURE™ laser‑curing system at its Strongsville, Ohio facility, and Whirlpool is conducting pilot trials of the same technology in its production lines. The pilot line demonstrates the system’s ability to cure powder coatings in seconds, a dramatic improvement over traditional oven‑based curing times.
From a financial perspective, the partnership comes at a time when each partner is navigating distinct market dynamics. PPG reported net sales of $15.9 billion in 2025 and an earnings‑per‑share increase that year, reflecting strong demand for its coatings. Whirlpool’s 2025 net sales were about $16 billion, but the company’s EPS has declined in recent years, underscoring the need for cost‑saving innovations. IPG Photonics, meanwhile, experienced a decline in EPS in 2024 and 2025, although it beat expectations in Q4 2025, indicating that the company is still pursuing growth through new applications.
Strategically, the alliance positions all three firms at the forefront of a sustainability trend that favors powder coatings for their low VOC emissions and energy efficiency. Laser curing can reduce energy consumption by up to 70 % compared with conventional ovens and can increase line throughput by up to 50 %, offering a compelling value proposition for manufacturers seeking to lower operating costs and meet stricter environmental regulations.
David Bem, PPG’s Senior Vice President of Science and Technology, said the partnership “represents a significant advancement in the coatings industry, positioning us at the leading edge of powder finishing and reinforcing our commitment to sustainable manufacturing.” Mira Sahney, IPG’s Global Laser Systems Senior Vice President, added that the collaboration “will accelerate the adoption of PhotoniCURE systems in volume manufacturing, driven by the growing demand for energy‑efficient, high‑speed curing.”
No financial terms or specific deployment timelines have been disclosed. The partners have stated that the goal is to accelerate commercialization, but they have not yet set a public roadmap for broader market rollout beyond the pilot and Whirlpool trials.
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