Coatings are applied to products to protect, preserve, and enhance their appearance. In addition, they provide the acquisition of different specialized properties, such as corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and fouling resistance. Applying anti-fingerprint coatings to a surface reduces or eliminates the visibility of fingerprints, smudges, and oil. Generally, these coatings are applied to surfaces such as glass, stainless Steel, and ceramic tile, and they are most commonly found on mobile phones and tablets. Typically, the coatings consist of fluoropolymers, which produce a hydrophobic and oleophobic layer on the surface. This shows that the coating repels water and oil, making fingerprints and smudges less visible.
With the evolution of global economic activity, consumer demand has rapidly transformed with the urbanization of developing and developed nations. The United Nations forecasts that the global population will expand from 7.8 billion in 2020 to around 9.9 billion in 2050. Emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil, South Korea, and South Africa are anticipated to account for almost 90 percent of the global population increase. With the rise of the upper middle class in these economies, several urban regions are anticipated to experience significant growth. This is expected to increase demand for consumer products such as tablets, smartphones, televisions, and wearable technologies, which will drive the use of anti-fingerprint coatings.
In consumer goods applications, the anti-fingerprint coating maintains the product's cleanliness and prevents the accumulation of fingerprints. In addition, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic qualities of anti-fingerprint coating assist in reducing the visibility of fingerprints, thereby enhancing the consumers' visual perception. Throughout the projected period, it is anticipated that the global market for anti-fingerprint coating will be driven by the factors mentioned above.
Increasing demand for anti-fingerprint coatings in the automobile industry, mainly from India, China, Taiwan, Thailand, and Brazil, is anticipated to expand the market. Moreover, large-scale investments by companies such as Fingerprint Cards AB to introduce biometric solutions for luxury and premium segment automobiles to increase security through driver identification and authentication are anticipated to expand the anti-fingerprint coating market during the forecast period.
China holds the largest market share and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.47% during the forecast period. China is one of the leading nations in terms of anti-fingerprint coating growth. The anti-fingerprint coating is widely applied to glass surfaces, and China is one of the world's leading exporters of glass. The Chinese government intends to create numerous coating R&D centers and projects for its Made in China 2025 strategy. PPG Industries, Inc. announced in August 2018 the opening of a paint and coatings research and development facility in China, which is expected to be finished by 2021. In China, the demand for anti-fingerprint coating is driven mainly by the construction, building, and stainless steel industries. China's recent emphasis on product quality and development has necessitated the implementation of coatings. Coating exhibitions and associations in China, such as CHINACOAT and the China National Coatings Industry Association (CNCIA), contribute to a greater understanding of the functional qualities of coatings and promote their growth in the country.
Europe is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.38% during the anticipated period. Since Europe stands on the edge of a technological revolution, the market for anti-fingerprint coatings is expected to experience substantial expansion. The government-mandated implementation of strict rules aimed at boosting the overall product quality is one of the key factors driving the growth and formation of the anti-fingerprint coating market in this area. Several European governments are vigorously pushing for a shift in their energy ecosystems by adopting sophisticated and effective technologies, which is anticipated to promote the expansion of anti-fingerprint coating in the region. In addition, the rapid development of the European vehicle and consumer goods industries presents the potential for using the anti-fingerprint coating. In the European area, prominent companies such as AGC Inc., Izovac Ltd., PPG Industries, Inc., NAGASE and CO., LTD., and Cytonix LLC drive market expansion. The anti-fingerprint coating market is anticipated to expand quickly in Germany during the forecast period. Germany is the highest-earning country in Europe and is expected to be the fastest-growing country during the forecast period.
The key global anti-fingerprint coating market players are AGC Inc., Cytonix LLC, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Essilor International S.A., Harves Co., Ltd., Izovac Ltd., Leader Optronics Technology Co. Ltd., NAGASE and CO., LTD., NANOKOTE PTY LTD., NanoSlic Smart Coatings, Natoco Co., Ltd., Nippon Paint Surf Chemicals Co., Ltd, PPG Industries, Inc., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., and TAIWAN FLUORO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.