Key Players
Competitive Landscape
Drying tunnel systems draw three supplier groups: integrated finishing-line builders, radiation-curing specialists and web-drying engineering companies. Integrated builders control more line interfaces while radiation specialists compete on energy delivery, cure response and retrofit fit.
Competitive development shifted toward lower-energy curing and application-specific integration during 2026. Excelitas announced in March 2026 that its Noblelight portfolio would present UV curing and intelligent infrared systems for metal coatings at PaintExpo. Giardina Group prepared drying and finishing technologies for IWF Atlanta in July 2026. Line owners now compare energy use with commissioning support and recipe stability before approving retrofit work.
Company developments mapped to drivers, trends and opportunities (2026-2036)
| Development | Driver | Trend | Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|
| In January 2026, IST Metz introduced LEDcure NX for flexible integration into existing UV production systems. | Printers need curing upgrades that fit installed presses without rebuilding the full line. | Water-cooled LED UV modules are being packaged for retrofit into established production systems. | Retrofit engineering and commissioning can generate service revenue from installed press fleets. |
| In July 2025, Cefla documented two complete finishing lines installed for Taizhou Rayard with integrated drying. | Furniture producers need higher throughput without losing finish consistency during coating and drying. | Line builders are selling coating, drying and controls as one engineered process. | Controls upgrades and application support can extend revenue beyond the original dryer package. |
| In April 2026, Venjakob presented the Ven Spray Monopile by Rodopi mobile coating system at PaintExpo. | Heavy parts are difficult to route through fixed coating lines without costly handling. | Mobile coating automation is extending engineered finishing into oversized workpieces. | Custom mobility and drying integration provide a revenue route in wind-energy and metal fabrication. |
Spooner Industries and Dubois Equipment cover forced-air or configured finishing systems not represented in the development table.
Source: Future Market Insights, drying tunnel systems market and Web Coating Equipment Market Reports, 2026-2036.
The company set covers complete finishing lines and web handling together with forced-air dryers, radiation curing and service-led retrofit work.
Who leads the drying tunnel systems market?
Cefla Finishing and Venjakob hold broad integrated-line positions together with Bürkle and Giardina Group. IST Metz and Excelitas Technologies hold stronger positions in radiation-specific curing and industrial heating.
Which suppliers have documented qualification or quality approvals?
Venjakob publishes ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certificates in its media center. Sakurai reported ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification in its 2025 business report.
Which companies provide inline web and printing drying products?
Natgraph and Spooner Industries address continuous web drying. IST Metz and Sakurai serve print workflows where curing must match substrate transport and downstream handling.
Which suppliers serve Europe and North America?
Cefla Finishing and IST Metz maintain service reach in Europe and North America. Bürkle and Spooner Industries also serve both regions alongside Natgraph and Giardina Group.
Representative Company Overview
| Company | Positioning | Verified Development |
|---|---|---|
| Cefla Finishing | Integrated finishing-line company with drying, curing, handling and controls engineering for wood and industrial coating lines. | In August 2026, Cefla published its Puertas Proma project covering a long-running integrated finishing relationship at a Spanish door-production site. |
| Venjakob | Integrated coating-line builder with spray application, transport, drying and automation for industrial surface-finishing projects. | In June 2025, Venjakob presented a six-sided battery-cell coating process using 100% UV coating at the Battery Show Europe. |
| Excelitas Technologies | Industrial photonics company supplying UV LED curing and infrared heating platforms through the OmniCure, Phoseon and Noblelight portfolios. | In September 2026, Excelitas launched an enhanced OmniCure AC Series UV LED curing platform for integration into new and existing production lines. |
| IST Metz | Specialist company for UV and LED UV systems serving printing, converting and industrial curing applications. | In June 2026, IST America implemented LEDcure NX on a Heidelberg XL 106 at Phoenix Color for end-of-press and interdeck drying. |
| Bürkle | Surface-finishing OEM supplying coating and UV-curing modules for wood, furniture and panel production. | In January 2026, Bürkle announced a stronger craft-market focus and a KA UV roller-coating system with an integrated UV dryer for Holz-Handwerk. |
| Natgraph | Printing and web-drying specialist serving screen print, packaging, electronics and continuous substrate applications. | In April 2025, Natgraph previewed a conformal-coating system integrating drying and curing for solvent-free PCB materials. |
| Sakurai | Screen-printing equipment company serving production lines that integrate presses with drying and downstream processing. | In November 2025, Sakurai announced the MS-102DDS for release in April 2026 as the next size in its direct-servo screen-press series. |
| Giardina Group | Integrated coating-line builder with spray, flash-off, drying and UV-curing equipment for furniture and panel production. | In December 2025, 3P Evolution introduced a Giardina automatic coating line containing flash-off and drying units. |
Research Methodology
The companies mapped here illustrate drying tunnel systems market structure rather than an exhaustive ranking. Inclusion requires current, verifiable evidence that a company supplies industrial drying, curing or integrated finishing equipment within the defined market scope. Evidence comes from company announcements, formal quality records, public filings and documented customer projects. Capabilities are attributed to the stated drying, curing or finishing platform rather than generalized across broader corporate portfolios. Market-share estimates remain proprietary FMI assessments for the forecast period.
