Use the Buyers Guide as a Research Tool

By Kerry Crockett,

Kerry Crockett, MBA, CAE, CMP Fellow, DES, PCI Executive Director

As we close out 2026 and begin looking ahead to a new year, many companies are evaluating equipment needs, planning capital investments, reviewing suppliers and identifying improvements they want to make in their operations.

If that sounds familiar, this issue of Powder Coated Tough is a resource that I hope you will put to work throughout the year ahead.

The PCT Buyers Guide is designed to be a practical research tool for anyone looking for companies that provide products and services to the powder coating industry. Instead of starting with a broad internet search and sorting through dozens of companies that might or might not understand powder coating, the Buyers Guide gives you a centralized place to begin your research with PCI member companies that serve our industry.

The Guide includes companies offering auxiliary equipment, consulting services, custom coating services, powder application equipment and booths/system design, powder coatings, powder manufacturing equipment, pretreatment, quality testing equipment, raw materials, distribution services and much more.

It can also introduce you to companies you might not already know. We all tend to rely on the suppliers and business relationships we have built over the years, and there is certainly value in that. But our industry continues to evolve. New companies enter the market, existing companies expand their capabilities, and new products and technologies become available. It pays to know what your options are.

The Buyers Guide can be especially useful for smaller custom coaters and operations that may not have a dedicated purchasing department or an extensive network of suppliers. When you are wearing several hats every day, spending hours trying to identify potential vendors probably isn’t high on your list. The Guide gives you a convenient starting point.

Let’s say you need to replace your powder coating booth. Start by finding “Powder Application Equipment and Booths/System Design” in the category listings. Review the companies and identify several that might meet your needs.

From there, do your homework. Visit their websites. Look at their products and capabilities. Find out whether they have experience working with operations like yours. Then contact the companies that appear to be a good fit, ask questions, request information or quotes, and compare your options.

The Buyer’s Guide isn’t intended to make the purchasing decision for you. It is intended to help you make a more informed one by giving you a better place to start.

That is really what PCI should be doing: connecting the powder coating community with the information, resources, expertise and companies that can help businesses succeed.

So, as you make plans for 2027, keep this issue of PCT handy. The next time you need a new piece of equipment, a product, a service provider or simply want to see what else is available in the marketplace, start with the Buyers Guide.

You might find exactly what you need. And you may discover a PCI member company you didn’t know before.