Dawn Denby, Author at Production Systems | High Point NC

Different Types of Powder Coating Ovens and How to Choose the Right One

For professional results in powder coating, choosing the right type of curing oven is essential. A high-quality curing oven will produce superior results, as well as save money in energy costs. There are many options in powder coating ovens, each with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. The two main types of powder ovens include infrared and convection curing. The main difference between these two ovens is how they work. Convection Powder Coating Ovens Convection ovens use convection heat, transferred through the air, to increase the temperature of the oven and the product surface. Curing in a convection oven starts on the outside of the product and works in. This outside-in method means it takes longer to cure the powder coating than it would with infrared. Due to the longer process, convection ovens are more often used for small production shops. But because convection ovens cure slower, they generally cost less than infrared ovens to purchase. There are two types of convection ovens: electric and gas-powered. Electric ovens usually have smaller variation in temperature control and cost less to [...]

Dawn Denby2023-03-07T13:09:24-05:00March 7th, 2023|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

Maximizing Efficiency with Industrial Powder Coating Ovens

To maximize the efficiency of your industrial powder coating operation, it's crucial to ensure that your batch powder curing oven is performing at its best. The following information outlines items to consider that may help solve curing issues, improve your efficiency and increase the lifespan of your equipment. Air Temperature And Airflow One of the key factors that can impact the quality of your finished products is the air temperature and airflow within the oven. It's important to note that temperature uniformity can vary from oven to oven. Be aware that ovens with ceiling ducts may be cooler at the floor level, while ovens with wall ducts may have cooler areas in the corners and close to the floor. It's crucial that you regularly monitor temperature levels with an oven data recorder and keep a log of the results. To prevent changes in the way the oven functions, it is essential to check for modifications in the movement of air within your building. Is there wind blowing into the structure from outside? Were building exhaust fans deactivated but vents left [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T14:30:23-04:00March 7th, 2023|Design & Engineering, Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

The Benefits of Investing in High Quality Custom Finishing Systems for Wood, Metals and Plastics

Investing in custom finishing systems for wood, metal or plastic products offers unique advantages that you won't get from standard, general purpose configurations. Read on to find out why a custom solution from Production Systems is worth the investment! Flexibility. There are no limitations when constructing a custom paint booth. Based on your finishing requirements, you determine what is and is not needed. Some items to consider are booth height & length, how much lighting is required, inside access lighting requirements, what style doors will be installed (bi-fold, trifold or drive-thru doors), rear exhaust location, air make-up units needed, and number of HEPA filters required. Improved Productivity and Efficiency. Investing in custom finishing systems can help you save time and money – giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your project. Custom-made finishing systems also boast higher levels of efficiency than standard systems, as they are tailored to give you exactly what you need to complete the job correctly and efficiently. In some cases, this increased productivity can even translate into cost savings! At Production Systems, we [...]

Dawn Denby2023-05-25T15:32:46-04:00February 7th, 2023|Finishing Systems|Comments Off

Powder Coating. Steps To A Perfect Finish

Powder coating is a process that adds an attractive durable coating to metal. In this process, a dry powder fuses to a metal surface using an electric charge. The metal with the coating is then baked in a curing oven. The result is a smooth hard coating that is tougher than conventional paint. Paint has a liquid carrier, whereas powder coating does not. For that reason, powder coating be applied more thickly since there’s no risk of running. This makes it possible to produce a thicker coating than paint. Powder coating delivers a solid consistent color finish that’s extremely beautiful. Powder coating creates a strong layer that protects from scratching, chipping, fading, and corroding. Powder coating is a durable long-lasting finish for all types of metal. In addition, once the set-up is completed and the necessary equipment is purchased, the process is very economical. Steps To Powder Coating: Powder coating is a multi-step finishing process. Step 1: The metal part is cleaned and prepared for coating. Step 2: The part’s surface is completely coated with a fine powder. Step 3: [...]

Dawn Denby2023-06-20T12:27:45-04:00February 7th, 2023|Powder Booths|Comments Off

Heating Sources For Industrial Ovens

When it comes to industrial ovens, the first two things to consider are the source of the heat and the airflow pattern. The fuel for the heat that’s introduced into the oven can come from a variety of sources including gas, steam, water, electricity, or ultraviolet light. The fuel an oven uses dictates how it works. Gas Ovens There are two types of gas ovens, direct and indirect. In a direct gas oven, a gas or propane burner heats the air that is circulated through the system using a fan. They generally operate at temperatures between 200° F and 500° F, but can reach up to 1000° F. Indirect gas ovens use a gas or propane heat exchanger. A circulating fan pushes air through the heat exchanger to radiation tubes. With this format, the flame is enclosed within a sealed combustion chamber away from the work area. The flame never touches the circulating air. Steam Ovens With a steam oven, water is heated to the boiling point; the resulting steam is used to heat the oven. This is a slower [...]

Dawn Denby2023-01-03T14:38:54-05:00January 3rd, 2023|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

Recirculating Paint Booth Versus Conventional Paint Booths

To understand a recirculating paint spray booth, we must first consider the conventional paint booth and its process of operation. In a conventional paint booth, air makes only one pass through the system and no air is recirculated. Conventional spray booths have an exhaust fan that draws air through the work chamber, across the part being painted, through an air cleaning apparatus (dry filter or water scrubber) and finally, is exhausted outside the building. In recirculated paint booths the volume of air being moved through the spray area of the paint booth is often the same as with a conventional booth. However, instead of all air being exhausted, a portion is looped back to the booth air supply. A side stream of the recirculation loop is drawn off and exhausted. Fresh air is supplied to the recirculation loop at the booth supply plenum to offset the amount of air being exhausted. The benefits of a recirculating paint booth are substantial. These types of paint booths require less heating and cooling, provide accurate control of climate and airflow, while also providing [...]

Dawn Denby2023-08-01T09:37:51-04:00January 3rd, 2023|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Industrial Ovens – What Types Are Available?

Industrial ovens are used to cure coatings, condition metals, and treat parts using high temperatures. Most ovens fall under one of two categories – batch or continuous. Batch ovens treat large quantities of products at one time and come in sizes ranging from a few cubic feet to several cubic meters. They are manufactured in benchtop versions for smaller products and walk in versions for large scale production. They are generally heated by direct or indirect electrical elements or burners. Continuous ovens, also known as conveyor ovens are part of a mass production system that are continuously fed products. They are designed to fit into a specific manufacturing process that includes a conveyor system. Continuous ovens are used for a variety of purposes including drying, curing, bonding, forming, and more. They may have multiple heating and/or cooling zones. What Are The Different Types Of Industrial Ovens? Industrial ovens come in endless varieties and new ones are constantly being designed to meet specific needs. However, below are the most widely manufactured and used industrial ovens. Curing ovens, also known as baking [...]

Dawn Denby2022-12-06T12:37:07-05:00December 6th, 2022|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

Levels of Automation in Finishing Systems

Automated finishing systems enhance the quality of the finished products by consistently providing the same finishing touches to each component of your product line. These systems are used by all major coating technologies, including liquid, powder, electrocoat, anodizing, and plating. Increasingly, finishing systems are being built with expanded automation capabilities. This automation creates greater efficiency, flexibility, and scalability, making operations smoother and more cost effective. There are basically 5 levels of automation with regards to Automated Finishing Systems: Most conveyorized finishing systems are at the hardwired control level. This level provides very little automation, and these systems tend to be older models. They are notoriously built to be very robust and durable but offer very little flexibility due to the lack of automation. The first level of automation begins at the Mimic Pane level. This level provides a small level of automation and most of the troubleshooting can be performed by most electricians. It still requires a great deal of operator intervention. This type of automated finishing system is uncommon due to the cost to design and build it. At [...]

Dawn Denby2022-12-06T12:46:48-05:00December 6th, 2022|Finishing Systems|Comments Off

Air Flow Options In Paint Spray Booths Provide Various Advantages And Disadvantages

When it comes to air flow in a paint spray booth, the idea is to move air around the object being painted out of the area, so that overspray does not get deposited back onto the new coating. Advantages and disadvantages of various types of drafting systems result from the direction of the air. Since the air must flow from one end of the booth to the other, it stands to reason that in some instances dry overspray will end up on an area that has not yet been painted, or even worse, an area that has. A good painter knows how to work within the parameters provided by the system to provide a flawless finish, however, it takes effort. Turbulent Airflow Some types of booths create turbulent airflow. Turbulence is created when two banks of air turn and collide with each other on their way to the other side of the booth. This happens again when the air has to separate in two to be exhausted. Turning Air In booth styles, air comes into the booth and must turn [...]

Dawn Denby2023-08-01T09:35:24-04:00November 1st, 2022|Design & Engineering, Spray Booths|Comments Off

Production Systems Provides Finishing System To Gat Creek

Speaking to Manufacturing Today, Gat Caperton, President of Gat Creek, shared his interesting and impressive story about how he started his furniture manufacturing business. Gat Creek, now 26 years old with $25 million in sales and 165 employees, creates residential home furnishings built from Appalachian hardwoods. In the article, Caperton spoke about his ethos regarding the use of sustainable, locally harvested hardwoods and his work with The Conservation Fund, where he learned about protecting the forest. As a wood furniture maker located in Berkley Springs, the geographical center of the Appalachian Forest, Caperton is proud of the fact that there are more trees there now than at any time in the past 100 years. Also a source of pride for Caperton is the fact that domestic manufacturing is experiencing a revival and companies have reshaped the way they make products. Technology has changed the way Gat Creek manufactures furniture. It’s no longer an assembly line approach; artisans have their own work bench where they work on one to five pieces of furniture a day. When this person is finished, they [...]

Dawn Denby2023-01-03T10:24:28-05:00October 18th, 2022|Company News|Comments Off

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