In this interview by Apratim Ghoshal, Editor-in-Chief of Wood & Panel, Wes Bryant, Strategic Account Manager at Cefla North America, shares insights on innovative finishing technologies at AWFS 2025. Bryant discusses Cefla’s Prima Evo, featuring an integrated fluid management system for catalyzed coatings that reduces waste and improves consistency. Get the latest updates on groundbreaking solutions revolutionizing the wood finishing industry.
Wood & Panel: I’m at AWFS 2025 and speaking with Wes Bryant from Cefla North America. Wes, how are you doing?
Wes Bryant (WB): Fantastic. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with us today.
Wood & Panel: So, how has AWFS been for you so far?
WB: There’s definitely been some anxiety leading up to this event, especially in the North American market. There were many questions about the turnout and attendance. But the turnout has been quite strong. Of course, being in Vegas, day one was a little slower as people were recovering from their extracurricular activities. But by the afternoon, the event was quite busy. Day two, which we’re currently in, has been absolutely fantastic. It’s been exciting to see the level of participation and attendance, not only from our company but from the entire industry.
Wood & Panel: That’s great to hear! So, what are you exhibiting here at the show? What new products are you highlighting?
WB: At Cefla, we are hyper-focused on continuous innovation and research and development, especially in the world of finishing. One of the key products we’re showcasing is our Prima Evo, available in both one-arm and two-arm versions. What makes it stand out is our integration of a fluid management system specifically designed for catalyzed coatings. We collaborated with Graco, based out of Minneapolis, to develop an automatic metering-based catalyzation system. It’s integrated directly onto the arms of the Prima Evo, both the one-arm and two-arm versions.
This system is particularly relevant for customers in North America because it significantly reduces the waste factor associated with coatings that remain in fluid lines. Traditionally, two-component mixing systems were implemented outside of the cabin, which worked well, but still resulted in a relatively high waste factor. With our integrated system, we’ve reduced material waste from 64 ounces between material changes down to just about 4 ounces. This not only reduces waste but also improves consistency in coating quality.
The other benefit of the system is that it helps in maintaining a consistent quality throughout the entire finishing process. When you catalyze materials by hand, the coating’s response and quality can vary from the start to the end of the application. With our automated system, the catalyzation remains consistent, improving the overall finish.
Additionally, the system is ideal for both solvent-borne and waterborne coatings, allowing customers to switch between materials in as little as 30 seconds. That’s the key innovation we’re excited to share.
Wood & Panel: That’s impressive! Are there other innovations you’d like to highlight?
WB: Absolutely. From a curing perspective, we’ve worked closely with Sunspot to introduce medium-wave catalytic infrared technology. This is a game-changer in terms of cost efficiency. The operation of this curing equipment is incredibly cost-effective—around $1 per hour to run a curing system, which is almost unheard of in the industry. The beauty of medium-wave catalytic IR is that it directly cures the coatings by penetrating and exciting the solvent or water in the coating, without affecting the surface temperature of the board. Unlike traditional short-wave IR, which is reflective in nature, medium-wave IR focuses only on curing the coating, leading to a more efficient process.
At the show, we are showcasing a few different solutions using this technology. The Uni-Dry is a linear oven that utilizes medium-wave IR and is manufactured in Charlotte, North Carolina. We also have the H2-Dry, which is ideal for retrofitting pre-existing curing rooms with this technology. For smaller facilities or those just getting started, we offer the Flex-Dry, a mobile solution that allows for curing 2D and 3D parts in a flexible and cost-effective manner. Finally, for those looking for a complete curing solution, we have the Opti-Dry, a turnkey solution with a variety of footprint options.
Wood & Panel: That sounds like a real step forward. How does sustainability factor into your production systems?
WB: Sustainability is a key focus for us, especially when it comes to our curing systems. Historically, curing systems have operated in a few different ways: either through electric power, hot water boilers, or short-wave IR. All of these systems are energy-intensive, whether it’s the electricity used to create heat or the gas used for hot water boilers.
With our collaboration with Sunspot, we’ve been able to develop a system that uses very little electricity to heat the elements, and then transitions to a low-pressure gas to create a medium-wave IR. This method uses significantly less energy compared to traditional systems and has a much lower environmental impact. For example, a high-production vertical oven typically requires upwards of 700,000 BTUs to maintain the necessary energy to cure coatings. In contrast, our technology allows for curing with minimal energy consumption, as low as $1 per hour. This has revolutionized the industry in terms of both energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Wood & Panel: That’s really impressive. Thank you so much for sharing this insight, Wes.
WB: I appreciate your time today. It’s been great speaking with you.
