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Powder Coating vs. Anodizing?

Written by Winona Powder Coating | May 8, 2024 4:48:33 PM

Both powder coating and anodizing are popular metal finishing methods. And yes, a name like Winona Powder Coating, you'd expect us to be champions of powder coatings.

Downsides to Anodizing:

  • Limited to aluminum-based alloys.
  • Color can vary within the last part, especially around welds. 
  • Cannot be touched up easily. 
  • The anodized layer is very hard and susceptible to cracking. 
  • Anodizing is a relatively expensive finish. 

Advantages of Powder Coating: 

  • Powder coating can be applied to a wide variety of metals (aluminum, steel, galvanized, etc.). 
  • Powder coating offers exceptional durability, resistant to chipping, cracking and peeling. 
  • Architectural powder coatings (a Winona specialty) pass the highest performance standards for color and gloss retention. 
  • Powder coating contains no VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) so is a better for the environment, gains all-important environmental certification credits (such as LEEDS) and is a "green process" so no hazardous permits are required). 
  • Powder coating requires less labor and material use. It is generally lower-cost option. 
  • Powder can be supplied in a variety of textures and colors. 
  • The powder coating process results in higher film build around the edges when compared to anodizing process. 
  • If rework is required, powder coating is far easier to touch up than anodized finishes.


So, yes. We are biased but do believe that powder coating offers advantages for most applications.

Founded in 1974, Winona Powder Coating has evolved into one of the Midwest’s leading powder coaters and e-coating service providers. With two locations based out of Etna Green and Elkhart, Indiana, our company has served commercial metal finishing customers across a diverse range of industries for more than 35 years.