For over 15 years, Custom Wytelyne has provided powder coating for Furnitubes International Ltd., one of the UK’s leading street furniture manufacturers. Over time, the protection extended across their entire product range: from outdoor seating, to bollards, planters, edging, cycle stands, and more. This case study examines a recent project: outdoor steel planter boxes for a high-end commercial plaza in London, but reflects the long-standing, collaborative relationship between the two.
Custom Wytelyne and Furnitubes are now partners. We have developed a consultative relationship where feedback flows in both directions to achieve the highest possible standards. All of Furnitubes’ diverse range of street furniture products go through Custom Wytelyne for powder coating. This collaboration extends beyond coating application to include ongoing technical consultation, with recent work including Furnitubes’ recommended colour palette that incorporated expertise from Custom Wytelyne’s team.
“We approached Custom Wytelyne with the intent of finding a reliable provider of metal finishing. They turned out to be so much more. They understood that we’re all about durability of furniture in a harsh environment and they made recommendations to our design team that helped make our furniture last even longer. We found that they are happy to partner up and make things work for us, all while being the friendliest people we could deal with. I can’t imagine entrusting our finishing to anyone else.”
Catherine Barratt, Furnitubes Managing Director
Client: Furnitubes International Ltd.
Application: Outdoor steel planter boxes for high-end commercial plaza in London
Material: Mild steel (3mm thick, fabricated and welded construction)
Coating system: Triple process powder coating (shot blasting + zinc powder primer + polyester topcoat)
Street furniture faces a relentless environment. Products installed in public spaces must withstand continuous exposure to moisture, road salts, UV radiation, and physical impact from daily use. Without proper protection, steel rapidly oxidizes, leading to corrosion, aesthetic degradation, and structural weakness that forces premature replacement.
The triple process coating system extends Furnitubes products beyond the typical 5-7 year lifespan of standard powder coating. With proper maintenance, coated products achieve their intended 15+ year service life in outdoor urban environments. This durability reduces replacement frequency, lowering lifecycle costs for Furnitubes clients and supporting sustainability goals by minimising waste.
The zinc powder primer’s cathodic protection means that even if the topcoat sustains minor damage, the underlying steel remains protected from corrosion. The coating system works as an integrated protective barrier rather than a single vulnerable layer.
Street furniture often forms part of larger architectural schemes where colour consistency matters. Custom Wytelyne matches colours across RAL, BS, and custom-matched standards, ensuring Furnitubes products meet exact client specifications.
For the planter box project, the specified RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey was matched within ΔE <1.5, a tolerance that ensures colour consistency across multiple production runs and individual products. This precision matters when products are installed as part of coordinated urban design schemes.
Beyond matching initial colour specifications, the UV-stable polyester topcoat maintains colour stability over time. The accelerated weathering tests showed minimal colour shift (ΔE <2) and gloss retention >90% after 1000 hours of UV exposure, equivalent to years of outdoor service.
Custom Wytelyne’s triple process powder coating system provides three layers of protection, each engineered to address specific performance requirements. This approach ensures products don’t just look good at installation but maintain their appearance and structural integrity throughout their intended lifespan.
The foundation of any durable coating system starts with proper surface preparation. Custom Wytelyne uses abrasive blasting to SA 2.5 standard (near-white metal) according to ISO 8501-1, removing mill scale, rust, welding slag, and contaminants that would compromise coating adhesion.
This process creates a uniform anchor profile that enhances primer adhesion and removes sharp edges from cut surfaces that could become points of coating failure. The surface roughness achieved provides the mechanical grip needed for the subsequent coating layers to bond effectively.
The zinc powder primer serves a dual purpose. First, it provides cathodic protection to the underlying steel substrate, meaning the zinc sacrifices itself to protect the steel from corrosion. Second, it creates a robust bond between the steel substrate and the final topcoat, ensuring the entire coating system works as an integrated protective layer.
The final layer delivers both protection and aesthetics. Custom Wytelyne applies outdoor-grade polyester powder coating engineered specifically for UV stability and weather resistance. For this project, the specified colour was RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, though Custom Wytelyne regularly matches colours across the full RAL and BS colour standards to meet precise client specifications.
Quality control: Gloss measurement (60 ±5 GU), colour match verification (RAL 7016 within ΔE <1.5), adhesion test per ISO 2409 (Class 0 achieved)
The triple process coating system underwent rigorous testing to verify its performance under conditions that simulate years of outdoor exposure:
| Test | Standard | Result | Outcome |
| Salt spray test | ISO 9227 (1000 hours) | No blistering, <2mm creep at scribe | Excellent corrosion resistance |
| Humidity resistance | ISO 6270-1 (1000 hours) | No blisters or rusting | Pass |
| UV accelerated weathering | ISO 16474-3 (1000 hours) | Gloss retention >90%, ΔE <2 | Excellent colour stability |
| Adhesion after aging | ISO 2409 | Class 0 | No loss of adhesion |
Laboratory testing provides controlled validation, but the true measure of any coating system is how it performs in actual service. After 12 months of on-site exposure in a London commercial plaza, inspection revealed no signs of rusting, chalking, or coating delamination.
The planter boxes maintained their appearance and protective integrity despite continuous exposure to British weather, urban pollutants, and daily public use. This real-world validation confirms what the laboratory testing predicted: the triple process coating system delivers protection that extends well beyond typical powder coating lifespans.
Street furniture manufacturers face unique challenges. Their products must be aesthetically pleasing at installation while maintaining that appearance throughout years of heavy public use and environmental exposure. The coating must look beautiful while being a fundamental component of product performance and longevity.
Over 15 years working together, Custom Wytelyne and Furnitubes have developed processes and communication patterns that ensure each project receives appropriate attention to both technical requirements and aesthetic goals. This collaborative approach benefits Furnitubes’ clients, who receive products finished to specifications that reflect real-world experience.
While the triple process coating system delivers long-term protection, proper maintenance extends product lifespan and appearance. Recommended cleaning schedules depend on environmental conditions:
Regular cleaning removes accumulated pollutants and debris that would otherwise accelerate coating degradation. This straightforward maintenance preserves both appearance and protective integrity throughout the product’s intended service life.
The Custom Wytelyne triple process coating system demonstrates how proper surface preparation, strategic primer selection, and quality topcoat application work together to deliver protection that extends product lifespan well beyond standard powder coating alternatives.
For Furnitubes, this translates to products that maintain their appearance and structural integrity throughout their intended 15+ year service life, even in demanding urban environments. The combination of corrosion resistance, colour stability, and low maintenance requirements reduces lifecycle costs while supporting sustainability goals.
The partnership’s longevity reflects more than technical capability. It demonstrates the value of a consultative relationship where both parties contribute expertise to achieve results that serve end clients effectively. This is powder coating as it should be: a finishing step that is also a critical component of product quality.
If you want great service, powder coating reliability and guaranteed quality at competitive prices, contact us now to discuss your needs with one of our friendly, professional team.
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