Sep 16, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. TRADA Technology has been working with sister company FIRA and trade partners on ground-breaking laser coating technology to develop 3D wood surfaces for furniture and joinery components as well as flooring, TRADA reported. The GBP 1 million ($ 2million) Lasercoat project is a science to business project, part funded by the Technology Strategy Board (formerly DTI), which has been running for nearly three years and is now poised to move into a new phase. TRADA finishes specialist Peter Kaczmar has worked closely with Sue Calver at FIRA, who have pioneered the project. ‘We have been investigating ways in which patinas, using powder coatings, can be applied to the surfaces of complex profiled joinery and furniture parts. Computer-controlled lasers are used to produce pre-determined grain, texture or design effects on wood or wood-based materials. The results have been very encouraging and very exciting.‘ The ultimate aim of the research is to deliver commercially viable alternatives to the labour-intensive finishing processes currently in use. ‘The technology under development will allow for customised factory finishing and conceal unwanted knots or other blemishes such as disturbed grain. This in turn will reduce waste and maximise the use of materials.' The innovative coatings system has been patented by the TTL Chiltern Group.