Powder-Coated and Proud: What Makes Our Panels Durable, Slick, and Kinda Cool to Watch

You’ve probably seen the phrase “powder-coated aluminum” on our site, product listings, or that one Reddit reply. But what actually is powder coating? Why do we use it? And what’s up with those little bare spots on the inside of your panel?

Turns out, there’s a good reason — and a good story — behind the finish that makes your tonneau panels look like they were dipped in matte-black excellence.

What Is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing process that uses electrostatic charges to bond powdered paint to metal. The powder (which looks a lot like flour but definitely isn’t) gets sprayed onto grounded metal parts. Then it’s baked in an industrial oven until it melts and hardens into a smooth, durable finish.

Think of it as oven-baked armor for your truck gear.

It holds color better than liquid paint, shrugs off scratches, and doesn’t involve solvents or toxic sludge. Just metal, powder, heat, and a lot of care.

Why We Use It 

Every Interrobang tonneau panel is made from aluminum and finished with a textured matte-black powder coat. Here’s why that matters:

• It’s tough. Powder coating resists dings, scratches, and UV fade better than most paints.

• It’s clean. That uniform finish is part of what makes our panels look stock — in a good way.

• It’s consistent. We can replicate the look and feel across all batches, so a replacement panel won’t stand out.

• It’s repairable. If you do manage to gouge it, it can be touched up.

But What About the Tiny Bare Spots?

Good eye. If you look at the inside edge of the groove-side panels, you might see a small uncoated area. That’s not a defect, it’s where the hooks grab the panel during coating.

The process requires each panel to be electrically grounded while the powder is applied. That means it has to hang from metal hooks. Where the hooks contact the panel? No charge, no powder.

That uncoated spot is always on the inside face which you’ll never see once it’s installed. It doesn’t affect strength, corrosion resistance, or function. It’s just the natural result of a coating process that prioritizes even, durable coverage over unnecessary tricks.

Final Thoughts: Built to Be Abused and Look Good Doing It

We don’t make fragile stuff. Our panels are built to be stepped on, rained on, snowed on, and still look good after a weekend of hard use. 

It’s the kind of process that makes shop nerds happy and keeps your gear from looking like it went through a wood chipper.

Next time you look at your cover and wonder how it stays that nice, remember: black powder and big ovens. That’s the secret.