18 February 2026
Are Cold Paint Strippers Still the Industry Standard?
For years in the industrial paint stripping sector, cold paint strippers have been considered the most practical and effective solution. No heating, no thermal management, immediate action at room temperature.
Many of these products were formulated with methylene chloride and halogenated hydrocarbons: highly efficient chlorinated solvents capable of rapidly removing even complex coating systems. From a technical standpoint, the results were excellent. The problem is that this effectiveness comes at a cost. These substances are toxic to humans and harmful to the environment. They are highly volatile, spread easily in the air, and increase the risk of operator exposure. The same chemical aggressiveness that guarantees high performance is what makes them dangerous.
What They Can Cause to People and the Environment
From a health perspective, exposure, especially by inhalation, can affect the central nervous system, leading to reduced visual and motor functions. In poorly ventilated environments, vapors can accumulate, increasing the risk of asphyxiation. In the case of methylene chloride, part of the substance can be metabolized into carbon monoxide, further worsening the risk profile. From an environmental perspective, beyond airborne emissions linked to high volatility, these substances can contaminate soil and water in the event of uncontrolled release, generating impacts that extend far beyond a single production cycle.
Today, these products still exist and in some cases are still used, particularly where regulations are less restrictive. However, the industrial landscape has changed. Safety, sustainability, and regulatory compliance are no longer secondary aspects: they are integral parts of the process. The real question is not whether cold paint strippers work. They do. The question is whether they are consistent with a modern and responsible production model. In recent years, the sector has been moving toward less hazardous alternatives with a more balanced safety profile. In particular, hot paint strippers are taking on a central role: the controlled use of temperature makes it possible to reduce reliance on extremely aggressive substances while maintaining high performance. At ALIT, we work every day on this balance: industrial performance and health protection must move in the same direction.
The objective is clear: excellent results, without compromising operator safety or the environment. Cold paint strippers are not a taboo. Believing that performance alone is enough is.
