Dawn Denby, Author at Production Systems

Step 1 Of The Powder Coating Process: Pretreatment

The pretreatment stage of powder coating process, also known as parts prep, is crucial to the success of the finish. Ensuring that the parts are properly cleaned and prepared to accept the powder coating may be the most critical step. This step ensures the powder coating adheres properly, resulting in a long-lasting, corrosion-resistant, protective layer. Most defects in a powder coated part are due to inadequate pretreatment. Different materials require different pretreatment approaches and often, there are strict guidelines that need to be met. Step one in pretreating parts begins with cleaning – mostly with chemicals. The amount of cleaning required is dependent on the condition of the parts. Is the part brand new and relatively clean? Or has it been sitting on the manufacturing floor or outdoors for weeks and gotten rusty? Is there oil, grease, or welding spatter on the part that needs to be removed? Manual pretreatment cleaning methods, such as using a pump sprayer or spray wand, are common for most shops. With this set-up, an operator manually applies chemicals using specific equipment. Sometimes pretreatment with [...]

Dawn Denby2024-11-11T12:54:01-05:00November 11th, 2024|Company News, Pretreatment & Surface Prep Booths|Comments Off

Types of Spray Machines And The Latest In Technology

When it comes to spray machines, the various types are ideal for their respective application. Fan coaters are used most often for applications such as trim, siding, and molding. A fan coater is a compact machine that applies a mist of coating to a surface. Fan coaters are used for water-based and UV coatings on substrates up to 12 inches wide. Reciprocating spray machines are best for large-scale, continuous coating of flat surfaces. They use oscillating spray guns to apply the coating in overlapping waves. They provide an extremely high-quality consistent finish. The benefits of this precise method is that overspray is reduced and material waste is minimized. Reciprocating spray machines are often used to coat panel products like doors and cabinets. Rotary spray machines have rotating arms with spray guns that move in patterns to create a fine mist. The machine identifies the shape and size of the part as it passes under a scanner, and then adjusts the flow speed and rotation to provide a high-quality coating. Rotary spray machines can achieve feed speeds of more than 30 FPM and colors [...]

Dawn Denby2024-10-07T14:56:33-04:00October 7th, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Paint Booths & Industrial Spray Applications

Industrial paint booths play a crucial role in ensuring consistent and high-quality paint finishes by containing overspray and preventing contaminants from affecting finishes. This results in a professional-looking paint job that is both durable and long-lasting, ultimately enhancing the overall appearance and value of the product. Additionally, paint booths improve efficiency by reducing the amount of time and effort required to complete the painting process. Production Systems provide a complete line of paint booths and finishing systems including: Open face, cross draft, dry filter paint spray booths Enclosed, pressurized and non-pressurized paint spray booths Large equipment industrial paint booths, cross draft, semi-down and down draft Linear automatic paint spray booths Circulating air flow paint booths We design and build paint booths for many different industries, for various spray applications, such as: Furniture manufacturing: Paint booths are an essential component in furniture manufacturing, as they provide a controlled environment for applying paint and coatings to furniture pieces. The booths are equipped with ventilation systems to remove overspray and fumes, ensuring a uniform and high-quality finish on each piece of furniture. By [...]

Dawn Denby2024-10-07T14:23:09-04:00October 7th, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Comparing Batch vs Conveying Powder Coating Systems

In order to add value to their customers, metal fabricators are increasingly adding powder coating to their offering. In-house powder coating means the manufacturer does not have to rely on an outside source for this process. Not only does this reduce the cost, since a separate company is not handling any part of the process, but there is less risk of damage to the parts; Damage that can occur when multiple people are handling a product. Less transport and less handling before the part is coated and thus protected means less risk. In-house coating also means schedules are easier to maintain and deadlines met. However, companies interested in installing an in-house powder coating line should investigate their options. Why Powder Coating? For metal fabricators, powder coating is the preferred finishing option because of its durability and resistance to general wear. Metal parts that are powder coated do not scratch, chip, or fade. Powder coating protects metal components from environmental factors, such as moisture and sunlight. Batch vs Conveying Powder Coating Systems One of the main options available that should be [...]

Dawn Denby2024-09-02T14:13:40-04:00September 2nd, 2024|Powder Booths|Comments Off

Spray Booth Panels With Safety Edges

Production Systems offers single skin, 18 gauge, galvanized steel panels for booth enclosures featuring a safety edge. The standard width of these panels are 24", 30" and 36" and the standard lengths are 30" to 144" in 6" increments. All panels feature Production Systems' exclusive safety edge. The new safety companion flange feature a ‘tear drop safety edge’ which gives the panel more strength and rigidity while eliminating sharp edges. Production Systems design, fabricate, and install many different types of finishing systems for many different industries. We also supply various components and connections for both, spray booth panels and oven panels. Visit our website to view spray booth panel pricing and get a formal quote.

Dawn Denby2024-09-02T13:56:05-04:00September 2nd, 2024|Components & Connections|Comments Off

Regular Cleaning Keeps Your Paint Spray Booth Working Properly

Cleaning and maintaining your paint spray booth ensures the booth continues to produce a clean flawless finish. If your booth is not cleaned regularly, dust and dirt will get into what should be a controlled environment and create imperfections. Although the air in the booth enters through a filter, all air filters need replacing over time. And sometimes, dust enters the booth through the front door. Minimizing dust in the booth not only reduces the chance of imperfections, but also aids in preserving the components of the booth, such as the fan and the motor. Take the following steps to keep your booth clean: Clean and/or replace the air filters as needed. This will depend on how often the booth is used and the coatings that are sprayed. Clean the walls and the floor with a sponge mop or pressure washer. Do not use a cotton mop. Use an appropriate solvent-based solution to clean. Or install coverings on the walls and floor mats that trap dirt and overspray. Remove overspray from hoses and spray guns. Replace these if needed. Pointers [...]

Dawn Denby2024-08-05T17:05:23-04:00August 5th, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

New Coatings Require Evaluation Of Finishing Processes

The industrial coatings industry is experiencing enormous growth. Projections are expected to increase from $102 billion in 2021 to $116 billion by 2026. A large contributor to this increase is the availability of new coatings. Examples of these new finishes include ‘green’ coatings, or rather environmentally friendly coatings that reduce or eliminate the hazardous chemicals often seen in paints; Self-cleaning and self-healing coatings are other innovations that are making an impact on the market; And another trend is the increased demand for custom colors. With this wide range of new coatings on the horizon, being able to accommodate new materials in the finishing process is critical. Having the ability to switch between one coating and another, or one color to another, quickly and efficiently is becoming more and more important. Color changes can take hours to achieve. Figuring out how to do this quicker will be the difference in whether a job is profitable or not. Manufacturing companies are considering options to increase their ability to handle the changes that are happening and accommodate the needs of their markets. Many [...]

Dawn Denby2024-08-05T16:27:20-04:00August 5th, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Truck And Large Equipment Paint Spray Booths

The Down Draft Paint Booth configuration is versatile, functional and efficient. With this design, air is pulled in from the top of the booth, travels down the sides of the booth and exhausts out through the floor. Excess paint, dust, and other contaminants are pulled away from the product as the air flows around it. This airflow pattern reduces the risk of contamination and is an excellent design for finishing large vehicles and equipment. Although the benefits of a downdraft are many, this configuration can be more expensive to install; Because the air is filtered out through the floor, the booth must be raised on a platform, or a pit must be installed underneath. With the Side-Down Draft method, the air is pulled into the booth the same way as the Down Draft configuration. However, it is exhausted out the bottom of the side walls – near the floor but not actually through it. With this method, most of the benefits of a Down Draft booth remain, but there’s no need to install a pit or a platform. This makes [...]

Dawn Denby2024-07-01T13:51:43-04:00July 1st, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Second Wood Furniture Finishing Line For Gat Creek

From Gat Caperton, President of Gat Creek, "Production Systems just completed a second wood furniture finishing line for Gat Creek. Both are world-class. The first was completed in 2005 and helped lead our factory through a renaissance. Our product got better and customers & consumers noticed! The 2005 line also improved our productivity significantly. Though designed to be similar, the 2023 finishing line that PSI designed and installed outperforms the original. Too often, the quality of the design and craftsmanship of manufacturing systems decline when compared over time nut not with PSI. We have two winners on our hands and look forward to working with PSI again in the future. They have our highest recommendation." Initially Production Systems designed and built a tow line finishing system for Gat Creek. The tow line carries carts of case goods and chairs to be conveyed through spray booths, flash and cure enclosure. The system includes opposing, enclosed and pressurized spray booths, a heated flash enclosure with turbulent air flow, and a direct gas fired cure oven with turbulent air glow typical of furniture [...]

Dawn Denby2024-07-01T10:48:21-04:00July 1st, 2024|Company News|Comments Off

Powder Coating Process For The Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturers use many coatings and finishing processes to enhance and protect their products. These include cleaning, plating and powder coating. Based on the process and the coating, a specific result is achieved. Without finishing, parts and products would not be resistant to corrosion and wear, their lifespan would be greatly reduced, and the aesthetic of the product would be diminished. Steps In The Finishing Process The finishing process is the same, more or less, no matter who or where it is done. Pre-treatment of the part includes preparing the surface. The part is treated to remove any oils, grease, chemicals, or other cleaners before any coating is applied. Using baths and rinses, the part is physically and chemically altered. During post treatment, other finishing procedures are used to improve the properties of the part. Powder Coating Powder coating is regularly used in manufacturing to coat metal parts and machinery. Powder coating provides protection against corrosion, chipping, scratching, and general wear and tear. And of course, produces an attractive final product. Powder coating extends the life of the equipment, and its [...]

Dawn Denby2024-06-10T14:59:19-04:00June 10th, 2024|Powder Booths|Comments Off

About Dawn Denby