From LucasNews & Press
Why Release Agents Matter More Than They Used To
I have written a piece for the Autumn edition of Baking Europe, in my role as bakery consultant to Dübör, on PFAS-free tin coatings and why the choice of release agent has become a far more important decision than it used to be.
The industry is moving away from PFAS coatings on tins and trays. Legislation is tightening, sustainability targets are real, and customers are asking the question. It is the right direction.
What is less widely discussed is the practical problem that comes with it. A release agent that worked perfectly well on an older fluorinated coating cannot simply be assumed to be the right choice for a modern PFAS-free surface. The new coatings behave differently, and they ask more of what goes on them.
Get that pairing wrong and the consequences are not subtle. An unsuitable formulation can shorten the working life of a baking tin considerably, push up maintenance, and show up on the line as product sticking, higher reject rates and more downtime than anyone has budgeted for.
If there is one thing I would want a bakery to take from the article, it is this: stop buying release agent on price per litre. That number tells you almost nothing. A cheap product that halves the service life of your tins, increases your cleaning cycles or costs you product is not cheap — it is just cheap at the point of purchase. The honest figure is the total cost of ownership, and tins are a serious capital investment to be protecting.
The other trap is the obvious one. When release starts to fail, the instinct is to apply more. That makes it worse — more build-up, more aggressive cleaning, more stress on the coating, and you are into a cycle that ends in premature failure. The answer is to step back and look at the whole system: is the agent right for the coating, is it being applied at the correct rate, is the spray equipment properly calibrated, and are the tins being cleaned, handled and stored the way they should be?
Falling release performance is usually telling you something. It is worth listening to it before the coating goes.
Read the full article in Baking Europe, Autumn 2026: bakingeurope.com
“The performance and selection of release agents can become more critical than ever.” — Lucas Fussnegger, writing in Baking Europe
Frequently Asked Questions
What are PFAS-free tin coatings?
PFAS-free coatings are non-stick surfaces for baking tins and trays made without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The industry is moving to them in response to legislation, sustainability commitments and customer expectation.
Does a new coating need a different release agent?
Potentially, yes. A release agent suited to an older fluorinated coating is not automatically the right choice for a modern PFAS-free surface, because the coatings interact differently with the formulation applied to them.
What happens if you apply too much release agent?
Over-application increases build-up, waste and cleaning requirements. Under-application causes sticking and inconsistent product. The aim is a consistent, controlled film across the whole surface rather than simply more product.
How can a bakery extend the life of its baking tins?
By matching the release agent to the coating and the product, controlling application rate, maintaining spray equipment, cleaning without excessive abrasion, and handling and storing tins carefully.
