- Understanding Powder Coating Systems
- How to Choose a Powder Coating System: Factors to Consider
- The Importance of Purchasing from a Reputable Supplier
- Optimizing Industrial Powder Coating Systems with Proper Installation and Maintenance
- Find Your Ideal Powder Coating Solution at Bolair
Powder coating is used by a variety of industries and businesses around the globe to provide high-performance, protective and decorative coatings to materials, products, and surfaces. To meet this demand, there is a large selection of powder coating systems available, each with its own features and advantages.
Selecting the right system for your intended application can be complicated, but getting it right is crucial for positive business outcomes. This guide provides everything you need to know about choosing a powder coating machine that meets your operation's expectations.
Understanding Powder Coating Systems
Powder coating is an industrial finishing process that's used to protect surfaces from wear and improve their visual appeal. It features dry resins, mainly epoxy or polyester powder that is combined with other ingredients that are electrostatically applied to the surface via spray equipment and cured under heat.
Powder coating equipment varies extensively in both size and functionality. Every spray operation has different needs when it comes to application efficiency, resulting in numerous system designs and components.
Types of Systems
The most common industrial powder coating systems in practice today are manual gun units such as batch powder systems, automated lines, and custom designs. Understanding the use cases for each can help determine what type of system is right for your business.
Batch powder coating systems are ideal for small to medium-sized operations and rely on a spray technician to manually conduct the pretreatment process, as well as surface spraying and curing. Powder-coated parts are processed in groupings to improve efficiency and typically utilize different rooms and organized rack systems for easy physical relocation.
Automated lines are used in powder coating operations with increased production demands. They incorporate mechanized conveyor belts and rack systems to transition items from one process to the next quickly. In these systems, spray technicians typically remain in place as the products or parts come to them. In more advanced systems, robotics can be used to further expedite the process.
Custom solutions are much more versatile and can be designed to reflect the exact needs of a business. The customer usually works directly with an industrial supplier or equipment manufacturer to design a system that fits their operation's footprint and can keep up with production requirements.
Powder Coating Equipment Components
No matter which type of powder coating system you're considering, there are a few key components that are present in all of them. These include the:
- Spray Gun: Powder coating guns are the most important component of any system, as they control the application of the materials. This gun is either directly controlled by the spray technician or is integrated into an automated system. Various accessories work alongside the spray gun, such as the hoses and nozzles. Most manufacturers will provide a powder coating spray guns guide to help you identify the differences in models.
- Control Module: The control module is the brains of any powder coating system. This electronic component regulates variables such as voltage and pressure and can be adjusted to match the desired parameters. In addition, control modules often use smart monitoring technologies. Integrating smart technologies in powder coating systems helps to keep the entire system in check and allows a supervisor to monitor production metrics.
- Compressor: Powder coating machines use power and compressed air to move powder throughout the system, creating a uniform pattern while applying the right amount of powder on the part.
In addition, there are various other components that are necessary for the pretreatment and curing processes, such as Blasting, wash systems and ovens.
How to Choose a Powder Coating System: Factors to Consider
When choosing a powder coating system, there are multiple factors to consider to ensure that product requirements are met. For most operations, part size and production volume are the most important factors to focus on. The larger the pieces that will be sprayed, and the more there are, the higher the power of the machine that will be needed. It's important to analyze component specifications to ensure that they're capable.
You will want to consider what materials you will be coating and what they are made of. Also what preparation requirements they may need. For example, certain materials might need to be stripped with chemicals, whereas others need to be blasted or sanded to create a profile. Knowing these requirements will help with purchasing the right cleaning and curing equipment.
Space and square footage are often overlooked, but essential. You'll want to make sure that your desired powder coating system will fit into your existing building layout. The impact of environmental conditions on powder coating processes should also be considered, as workspaces with excess humidity or variable temperatures may need additional equipment to ensure quality control.
Best Powder Coating Equipment for Small Businesses
Small businesses have distinct requirements when it comes to powder coating. Typically, large, automated powder coating systems are overkill and it's best to leave the powder coating processes to individual spray technicians. In these instances, portable machines are often the most useful, as they allow versatility and mobility. The Gema OptiFlex Pro is perfect for these scenarios.
The Importance of Purchasing from a Reputable Supplier
As critical as it is to purchase equipment that's designed for your use case, it's also just as important to source the system from a reputable supplier. Doing so ensures that you'll receive a machine that has consistent performance.
Some key attributes that indicate a qualified supplier include:
- Products from Top Industry Brands (Gema, Rohner)
- Warranty Protection (5 Year Warranty)
- Support Services, Both Before and After the Sale (Local Service & Support)
- Positive Industry Reviews (In business since 1982)
Optimizing Industrial Powder Coating Systems with Proper Installation and Maintenance
Investing in the perfect equipment is pointless unless it's installed correctly and the recommended maintenance schedule is followed. Common best practices include cleaning the powder coating machine's hose of excess material at the end of every work day and thoroughly cleaning spray parts & surfaces to prevent grounding issues or cross contamination. Investing in training for yourself or your spray technicians can prove to be invaluable for the longevity of your system.
Find Your Ideal Powder Coating Solution at Bolair
Achieving flawless powder coating results and maximizing throughput are all made possible by investing in the right equipment. By understanding the types of machines available, their components, and what factors are involved in a powder coating operation, you'll be able to find an ideal system for your business's needs.
By relying on our team at Bolair, you'll receive tailored customer service that's guaranteed to align you with the right product. Browse our inventory and don't hesitate to contact one of our representatives for assistance today.
