Despite the influx of imitators, RAPTOR remains the original and best in the market. Its proven track record, continuous innovation, and unwavering commitment to quality have solidified its position as the market leader and the brand of choice.
RAPTOR Coatings has set the standard for tough, reliable, and versatile protective coatings. Its journey from industrial origins to becoming a staple in the 4WD community and beyond is a testament to its exceptional performance and enduring appeal.
RAPTOR has firmly established itself as one of the bestselling 2K polyurethane tough and textured coatings in Australia. And for good reason – high performance.
Renowned for its durability and versatility, RAPTOR has become the go-to product for those seeking reliable protection for their vehicles and equipment. Its widespread popularity is a testament to its superior performance, ease of application, and the trust it has earned among users.
Originally developed as an industrial coating, RAPTOR quickly found a niche among ute owners and 4WD enthusiasts.
The texture and durability of RAPTOR resonated with the rugged off-road image of 4WD and has become embedded in the must-do list for vehicle makeovers and upgrades.
Beyond 4WD, car restoration experts, such as Perfection Body Worx in Sydney, use RAPTOR as an underbody coating, protecting vehicles from rust and damage.
As owner Scott McGuire put it:
“In car restoration, detail is everything. Why go to all that effort and forget about the most vulnerable part of the vehicle? We use RAPTOR because it’s a 2-pack paint that provides high film build that resists stone chipping. RAPTOR provides bottom-up protection.”
Industrial Applications
RAPTOR’s versatility extends beyond 4WD vehicles and is now widely used in various applications, including caravan and trailer manufacturing.
Returning to its industrial roots, RAPTOR is being used as a protective coating for equipment and machinery. Commodore Electrical, based in Shepparton, Victoria, designs, builds, and installs off-grid solar and pumping solutions for agricultural and industrial customers.
Drew Lythgo, design consultant from Commodore Electrical, explains:
“We ensure our solutions fit our customers’ needs. Whether for a small farmhouse or a large mining site with significant dust and UV exposure, we use the right components and paint from start to finish.”
One of their projects, a solar pump skid, features an IP55-rated cabinet for remote monitoring. The entire build is designed to handle robust conditions, including the paint.
Commodore Electrical chose RAPTOR coating for its UV resistance, anti-corrosive properties, and scratch-proof durability.
“It perfectly suits our long-term off-grid solar solutions. RAPTOR’s coating has been very easy for the team to apply at the final stage.”
The chemistry behind the toughness
What makes RAPTOR so tough? The answer lies in its chemistry.
U-POL, based in the UK, boasts a rich heritage in industrial chemistry that spans over 70 years, developing high-performance fillers, coatings, aerosols, adhesives, and paint-related products.
RAPTOR is a 2K polyurethane. Its two components chemically react to form a highly durable and resilient coating resistant to UV rays, solvents, and physical abrasion. The result is a tough, long-lasting protective layer ready for Australia’s brutal conditions, whether off-road, on a farm, at work in transport, or underground in mines.
RAPTOR was originally designed as a new industrial coating to replace traditional tough protective coatings that required labour-intensive preparation, technical ability, and other complications to achieve full strength and durability.
Horse urine and ASTMs
For testing the chemical resistance of industrial coatings, horse urine is top of the list.
As any owner of a horse float will confirm, horse urine is corrosive stuff and will eventually eat through an aluminium or steel floor—but not if it has been coated with RAPTOR.
ASTM is an internationally recognised technical standard for testing a wide range of materials, including industrial coatings.
RAPTOR Coating has been independently tested (and passed) the ASTM standards for salt spray resistance, water immersion, abrasion resistance, hardness, adhesion, chip resistance, impact resistance, anti-slip, UV resistance, and a range of chemicals and solvents, including xylene, sodium hydroxide, hydraulic oil, Petrol, diesel, water, ethylene glycol, motor oil, and, of course, horse urine.
For industrial applications, being able to produce ASTM certifications and Standard Operating Procedures for paint preparation and application is mandatory for manufacturing quality control and meeting the stringent requirements of large industrial users such as mining, oil, and gas companies.
This is another factor that sets RAPTOR apart from its imitators and instills confidence you are protecting the asset with the right product.
Imitators fall short
In the field, it’s difficult to compare two coatings objectively because factors like surface preparation, application film thickness, and curing times produce variations. In the laboratory, however, ASTM specifies standardised testing regimes resulting in objective testing across the full spectrum of qualities.
These results are graphically represented using a radar chart comparing RAPTOR with yet another recently launched imitator. While able to match RAPTOR on a few characteristics, the imitator fell short in key areas of adhesion, hardness, ease of application, and appearance. RAPTOR has been 20 years in development and has a considerable head start.
RAPTOR continues to innovate and expand its product range. The RAPTOR family now includes high-temperature aerosols, which can withstand heat up to 1,000°C, making them ideal for applications like engine manifolds, exhaust systems, brake callipers, and even pot-belly stove exhaust flues.
Additionally, new products such as RAPTOR 1K Tough Undercoating, Adhesion Primer, and 1K RAPTOR for household use have been introduced, further enhancing the versatility and application range of RAPTOR coatings.
Further exciting innovations are in development. Whether you’re protecting a ute, a caravan, or industrial equipment, RAPTOR is trusted for unparalleled protection and durability.
For more details, visit raptorcoatings.com.au.