Dawn Denby, Author at Production Systems | High Point NC

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

UL508A Standard for Industrial Control Panels

When it comes to UL508A certification, let’s start with the UL part. UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories; it is an officially recognized and authorized organization that conducts extensive safety research and develops standards in the US and Canada. Its goal is to assure consumers that the products they buy are safe. Underwriters Laboratories are most widely known for creating standards for electrical products. For example, every electrical outlet, light fixture, and light bulb in the U.S. has a UL symbol on it. A UL508A standard is a set of instructions regarding the manufacture of industrial control panels. Electrical inspectors look for the UL508A marking when reviewing a panel. The marking communicates to the inspector and the buyer that a third party examined the product, found it to comply with nationally recognized safety standards, and certified it. The certification also guarantees that the panel is compliant with national and local electrical codes. An industrial control panel, according to UL, is "an assembly incorporating two or more pieces of industrial control equipment or related control circuit devices, provided with interconnecting wiring and [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T13:35:28-04:00October 3rd, 2023|Control Panels|Comments Off

Paint Kitchen Add Ons

Industrial Paint kitchens are fire-rated buildings used for the safe storage of hazardous materials. They can also be used for applications such as paint mixing and pumping stations. There are many options and accessories that can be added to customize the design of your paint kitchen for your unique business applications. For instance, you can specify size requirements (to accommodate small, medium and large industrial operations) or if your kitchen will be used for indoor or outdoor applications. Depending on your operations, you may need specific accessories, such as a fire extinguisher system, floor grating, access ramps, air-conditioning units, convection heaters or water sprinkler systems. You can also order grate lifting tools, a parts hanger system, booth access tables, supply boxes, hose and spray gun hangers, shelving and various equipment hanger solutions. Other options may include exhaust ductwork, intake fan and a control panel. Custom-size doors are available for specific applications. You can also automate your paint kitchen to be intelligent. These systems contain a smart set of sensors, actuators and control modules that communicate to optimize paint supply and [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T13:32:09-04:00October 3rd, 2023|Mix Rooms & Paint Kitchens|Comments Off

Guidelines On The Storage And Mixing of Paint

There are many regulations regarding the mixing of paint, its storage, and its transference from one container to another. Since most paints and finishing materials are highly combustible, they can easily ignite. That’s why, it’s important for codes and guidelines to be met. One regulation requires that storage and mixing of paint be done in an industrial mixing room or a spray booth. When it comes to the storage of paint in a facility, there are guidelines regarding the maximum amount; this falls under the MAQ, or Maximum Allowable Quantity limit for hazardous materials allowed in an area without additional protection. The MAQ, which can be found in the International Fire Code, is dependent on the class of liquid and its container. Certain conditions and risk mitigating efforts can allow for an increase in the MAQ of a facility. For instance, if there is a sprinkler system in the building, the MAQ can be increased by 100%. If the hazardous material is stored in an exhausted area, such as a paint room, the MAQ can be increased by 200%. This [...]

Dawn Denby2023-09-05T14:00:48-04:00September 5th, 2023|Mix Rooms & Paint Kitchens|Comments Off

Improve Productivity, Efficiency and Safety with Industrial Conveyors Systems

There are many reasons conveyors are used in production facilities across the world and why the market for conveyors is growing rapidly. Because they are so useful, a broad range of industries use the technology. Manufacturing, packing, automobile assembly, logistics and distribution, agriculture, recycling, to name a few, use conveyors because of the undoubted benefits. Conveyors are the perfect tool for safely transporting materials from one area to another, and between different levels. Conveyors bring a number of benefits to a manufacturing and production plant. Some of the uses and benefits of conveyor systems include: Manufacturing engineers use conveyors to move goods or products from one location to another. Conveyors can greatly speed of this process while reducing the use of forklifts and other motorized equipment on the plant floor. Heavy products and raw materials can be moved around a facility and between processing and packaging machines that are too heavy for team members to lift. They not only lower labor costs but they also improve safety. Products can be assembled or added to while moving from point A to [...]

Dawn Denby2023-09-05T13:28:07-04:00September 5th, 2023|Material Handling & Conveyance|Comments Off

Advantages Of A Programmable Logic Controller

A programmable logic controller (PLC) is a computer system developed to control a manufacturing process. PLCs are used in assembly lines to run equipment and control robotic devices - any process that requires a high level of consistency and the ability to diagnose a problem. PLCs range from small devices with less than 100 inputs and outputs (I/O) to large modular systems with thousands of I/O that are often networked to other PLC and SCADA systems. PLC systems can be configured to withstand extended temperature ranges, electrical noise, vibration, and impact. The first PLC was invented in 1968 for General Motors. It was created to replace hard-wired relay logic systems with easily programmable controllers that are flexible and robust. With hard-wired systems, altering the automation process was difficult. A change in the process required the system to be rewired and the documentation to be fully updated. The entire system would fail if even a single wire or relay failed, requiring technicians to spend hours examining the wiring schematic. Early automation systems were unreliable, requiring strict adherence to specific working conditions, [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T13:31:19-04:00August 1st, 2023|Control Panels|Comments Off

UL 508A Standard For Industrial Control Panels

When designing industrial equipment, machinery, or processing equipment it is very important to be aware of UL 508A standards. By law, industrial equipment and control panels are covered under the requirements of the National Electric Code (NEC NFPA 70) and must be suitable for use. UL 508A is the UL standard for the construction of industrial control panels. Working UL 508A into your equipment design, right from the beginning, is a great idea since it allows you to be certain you are meeting conformity at the time of installation. It is also a good idea to have a third-party UL laboratory label or a field representative label on the new equipment being installed. A UL label signifies that the panel builder has met the requirements of UL 508A, and that their panels are subject to inspection by UL field representatives. Not every panel is inspected by UL, but panels are subject to inspection by UL depending upon the quantity of UL labeled panels made in a given time period. A UL follow up services representative inspects the facility and reviews [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T14:18:09-04:00August 1st, 2023|Control Panels|Comments Off

Risks And Safeguards Of Industrial Ovens

The primary risks with industrial ovens are associated with the high temperatures and volatile materials inside the ovens. As temperatures increase in an enclosed space, and combine with flammable gases and vapors, an environment is created where combustion or explosion becomes a concern. The first line of defense to ensure a safe process is to comply with NFPA standards. The NFPA provides a list of stipulations, requirements, and regulations for all industrial equipment. Effective training, proper use, and regular maintenance of an industrial oven goes a long way towards preventing dangerous situations that can cause substantial damage and personal injury. In addition to NFPA standards, oven manufacturers provide guidelines for processes and procedures. They consider the different types of materials since they have individual safety requirements. A safety form should be attached to the oven that shows the materials being treated, the operating temperature, and the rate of exhaustion. Safety Considerations Temperature Control – Temperature Monitors and Shutoff Devices Common sense dictates that the operating temperature in an industrial oven must be less than the temperature of combustion of the [...]

Dawn Denby2023-05-25T15:30:44-04:00May 25th, 2023|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

Industrial Ovens vs Industrial Furnaces

People often get industrial ovens and industrial furnaces confused. Both types of ovens provide high temperatures, both are housed in fireproof enclosures, and both are used for heat treatment in various industries. The major difference between the two, however, is simple – the temperature of the heat they provide. But there are other differences as well. Temperature The most notable difference between an industrial oven and furnace is the temperature. An oven operates at temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. A furnace heats to temperatures above 1000 degrees and can go to 2000 degrees or higher. Heat Sources and Distribution An industrial oven contains a chamber where the product is held and a separate chamber for the heat source and air recirculation fan. The air is heated then recirculated into the chamber holding the product, using a system of ductwork. A large amount of air is needed to transfer the heat to the product. In an industrial furnace, the heat is introduced directly to the chamber where the product sits. The heat source can be gas, electric, steam, or hot [...]

Dawn Denby2023-05-25T15:33:11-04:00May 25th, 2023|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

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