Dawn Denby, Author at Production Systems

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

Achieve A Flawless Coating With A High-Quality Finishing System

Production Systems offers high-quality paint booths and comprehensive finishing systems for the automotive industry. Our offerings include a variety of paint booths, pretreatment and surface booths, mix rooms, paint kitchens, and ovens. With a focus on advanced engineering and paint technology, Production Systems designs and manufactures automotive paint booths that are not only industry-leading but also efficient, effective, and adaptable to different coating types. The company's high-performance booths are designed to fit the unique needs of each facility, whatever the size. With exceptional air flow, excellent controls, and high-end lighting, our booths enable professionals to achieve a flawless paint finish on vehicles. Production Systems booths are easy to install and maintain. Cross Draft Paint Booths Cross draft spray paint booths are an efficient way to produce a high-quality finish for the automotive industry. Air enters from the front of the booth, flows horizontally through the space, and exits through an exhaust plenum in the back of the booth. Cross draft booths are generally the most economical and are easy to integrate into a facility. This makes them the most popular [...]

Dawn Denby2024-05-13T14:25:48-04:00May 13th, 2024|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Focusing On Energy-Efficiency – A Goal For Finishing Systems Companies In 2024

In 2024, one of the main goals of companies in the industrial coating industry, when looking towards the future, is enhancing energy-efficiency in their processes. Technological advancements developed and incorporated in pursuit of these goals include energy-saving systems, usage of fewer resources, and software that helps promote the saving of resources. One finishing systems manufacturer is introducing an exhaust air treatment system that breaks down pollutants, such as solvents, in contaminated exhaust air through biological oxidation. Current systems for cleaning exhausted air use thermal afterburners; Thermal afterburners use a heat treatment process powered by gas to destroy industrial contaminants such as volatile organic compounds. This new treatment system works differently, eliminating the need for gas. Industrial finishing companies have in the past focused on building new facilities from the ground up, when needed. Today, many companies are deciding to modernize existing plants rather than build new ones. This shift in thinking – from greenfield to brownfield projects saves money while also incorporating efforts to optimize energy efficiency, and reduce emissions, and save materials. A new trend in finishing systems [...]

Dawn Denby2024-04-04T07:08:04-04:00April 2nd, 2024|Components & Connections|Comments Off

Production Systems Incorporates Slot and Tab Features Into Our Frame Designs For Easy Installation

Steel structures used in industrial environments are being designed to incorporate features that innately guide components into their correct positions during assembly. Known as ‘self-fixturing,’ this slot and tab design simplifies assembly and minimizes the need for adjustment. It basically makes assembly much quicker and easier, with minimal tools. And the structure stays the way it’s supposed to. Today’s machining technology has made it possible to design and produce components with slots and tabs. A few decades ago, when steel was cut using a shear press, this was not possible. New machines, such as the CNC and laser tables, have made this an option. In addition, only a few years ago, Solidworks introduced a “tab and slot” feature in their design software. This upgrade made the process of adding these assembly features quick and easy for designers. Self-fixtured steel designs assure that components when assembled align properly to each other. However, every tab or slot carries multiple stress concentrations, and when added to a steel component, there is a risk of disrupting the stress flow and creating high stress areas. [...]

Dawn Denby2024-01-08T16:12:29-05:00January 8th, 2024|Components & Connections|Comments Off

Finishing Systems For The Door Manufacturing Industry

Industrial finishing systems are routinely used in the door manufacturing industry. These door finishing systems are designed to provide a high-quality, durable and aesthetic coating for various types of doors. These systems can include spray booths, curing ovens, conveyor lines, dust collectors and other equipment that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of the door manufacturer. Some of the benefits of using door finishing systems are: They can handle different materials, such as wood, metal, fiberglass, composite and plastic, and apply different coatings, such as paint, stain, varnish, lacquer and polyurethane. This allows the door manufacturer to offer a wide range of products with different styles, colors and finishes. They can improve the efficiency, productivity and profitability of the door manufacturing process, by reducing waste, energy consumption and labor costs. They can also increase the output and quality of the finished doors, by ensuring a consistent and uniform coating application. They can enhance the appearance and performance of the final product, by providing a smooth, glossy and resistant surface that protects the door from scratches, stains, moisture and [...]

Dawn Denby2024-01-08T15:20:48-05:00January 8th, 2024|Company News|Comments Off

Maintaining Your Paint Line Conveyor System

Routine check-ups and preventive maintenance ensure your paint line conveyor system runs at peak performance, decreases the chance of unexpected shut-downs, and prolongs the life of your equipment. No one can deny that it’s better to schedule downtime for maintenance than to have an emergency situation that interrupts production, requires immediate attention for repairs, and necessitates replacement parts be expedited. Below are six maintenance activities that help keep your conveyor system running optimally: 1. Perform a quick checkup of your conveying system every day. While the conveyor system is running, look to see if there are any leaks, oil stains, or visual signs of wear and tear. Listen for noises that are unusual and could indicate worn parts. Always write down and record the results of your quick visual and audible inspection for future reference. 2. Clean your paint line conveyor system on a regular basis. Paint line conveyor systems are most often in facilities full of contaminants - from paint overspray to dust, dirt, and debris. Regularly cleaning contaminants and removal of built-up coatings now will decrease the likelihood [...]

Dawn Denby2023-11-07T13:18:03-05:00November 7th, 2023|Material Handling & Conveyance|Comments Off

Considerations When Choosing A Conveyor For Paint Finishing

There are many types of conveyors used for handling products through paint and other finishing operations. The type of conveyor selected for your operation will depend on the weight, shape and size of the items being conveyed. You also need to consider the type of finishing process being applied. Depending on your specific requirement, you can select a conveyor systems for use with dip lines, powder coating, wet spray painting, wood finishing, e-coating/plating and other finishing applications. Conveyor Considerations: What type of paint or process will be used (i.e. powder coating, plating, wet spray or chemical wash) in the finishing process? What is the environment of your finishing operation (i.e. dip tanks, ovens)? And what chemicals will be involved? What paint finishing quality is required? What type of material are you conveying; metal, wood, plastic, etc.? What is the size, shape and weight of the items? Will the items being finished be moved on a cart (at floor level) or can it be attached to an overhead conveyer? What size is the space where the conveyor will be installed (in [...]

Dawn Denby2023-11-07T12:31:45-05:00November 7th, 2023|Material Handling & Conveyance|Comments Off

EPA’s Best Practices For The Paint Mixing Rooms

According to a flyer published by the EPA, certain practices should be adhered to when working in a paint mixing room. Below is a summary of these best practices, and our thoughts on the points as well. 1) Keep Containers Covered The EPA recommends always putting the lid back on any opened paint containers. Solvents and paints contaminate the air when uncovered, and in reverse, air also contaminates the paint. By covering the container, you minimize the harmful vapors that leak into the air. And since paint and solvents evaporate, you can save money by keeping the lid on them. 2) Install A Ventilation System Or Buy A Prefabricated Mixing Room Many mixing rooms in factories have become mixing rooms by default – it’s just where people have historically mixed paint. That’s why they are often poorly ventilated posing a safety risk and a threat to the employees’ health. If your company has one of these, it is recommended you install a good ventilation system that will pull vapors away from work stations. A good prefabricated mixing room will already [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T14:39:47-04:00October 3rd, 2023|Mix Rooms & Paint Kitchens|Comments Off

About Dawn Denby