Dawn Denby, Author at Production Systems | High Point NC

Three Advancements For Paint Spray Booths In The Automotive Industry

Car manufacturers and repair shops are asking for new features and capabilities to be incorporated into their spray paint booths. Below are some of the most commonly-requested elements from companies who use spray booths. Bigger Is Better. Companies in the automotive industry are wanting larger spray booth designs. What was once a standard-length size – 24 ft, is now increasing to 28 - 30 ft. This larger sized booth allows for oversized vehicles to be accommodated or for multiple treatments to be accomplished in each cycle. Standard height has been 9 ft; that is now becoming 12 ft. But the size of the booth itself is not the only aspect of the booth that is getting bigger. Companies want larger doors and windows, and more glass panels. Larger doors mean wider openings that make it easier and quicker to load and unload the booth. Bigger windows and glass paneled doors and walls allow for improved visual inspection of the process. More Automated Controls Manufacturers and automotive paint companies are more and more interested in more complex control systems that allow [...]

Dawn Denby2024-05-13T14:22:11-04:00September 6th, 2022|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Consider Oven Systems Early In The Paint Booth Purchase Cycle To Save Money

It is important to carefully consider what heating system will be needed before making a paint booth purchase. There are various factors that should be considered in order to make sure a wise investment is made. Consider the following when purchasing a paint booth and oven system: An oven often requires alterations to the plant’s infrastructure. Understanding the requirements can keep you from wasting money in the long run. The exhaust system from the oven may need to be routed through the facility and may require a considerable amount of floorspace. In some instances, installing a heating system may require major modifications and can be quite expensive; for example, adding heating to a cross air-flow booth. Some booths, such as vertical air flow booths, are more easily modified to add heating; however, exhausting it may require a more complex route due to its rear evacuation and need for additional duct work. This may end up being more expensive. If you decide to purchase an unheated booth with the thought of adding heat down the road, make sure to leave space [...]

Dawn Denby2022-08-02T13:06:13-04:00August 2nd, 2022|Industrial Ovens|Comments Off

Linear Automatic Paint Spray Booths

Linear spray booths are used to spray primer or a finish to flat straight items, such as door frames, doors, window frames, picture frames, moldings, flooring, and more. However, these spray booths can be adjusted to handle shapes and angles. They offer a fast and efficient way to finish larger volumes. Common materials that are coated include: Wood, plastics, composites, metals Commonly used materials that are applied include: Various paints, polyurethane, sealants, coatings Automatic linear spray machines consist of: the control panel air adjustment gauges conveyor for transport piece sensor spray guns recovery troughs filter unit exhaust fan pump The conveyor in a linear paint spray booth transports the work item to the spray guns. When the item is in position, the spray guns are triggered to apply the coating. When the item moves away from the guns, the guns automatically turn off until another piece is in place. This ensures the spray is only on when an item is in position, minimizing wasteful overspray and taxing the filtration system. Linear spray booths generally include three to six spray guns [...]

Dawn Denby2023-06-20T13:23:17-04:00July 18th, 2022|Spray Booths|Comments Off

Paint Booth Maintenance

It is critical that the area inside your booth, and the area surrounding your paint booth are as clean as possible. Below are some key elements that should be considered to keep your equipment worry-free. Changing Filters The primary function of Paint Booth filters is to efficiently maintain airflow in your booth. If the filters are not kept clean, or replaced in a timely manner, painting overspray will begin to build up and dust will start to accumulate. Typically, Paint Booth exhaust filters need to be changed every 100 operating hours or every three to four work weeks. All filters should be addressed including intake, exhaust and air heater filters. Keeping Your Booth Dust Free Over time, dust and debris builds up in your paint booth, substantially reducing its efficiency. One way to keep dust out of your spray booth is to make a habit of keeping the doors closed. When you do open the doors, make sure the booth is running so any contaminates are drawn into the exhaust filters. You should also regularly clean the floors and walls [...]

Dawn Denby2022-07-18T13:10:37-04:00July 18th, 2022|Spray Booths|Comments Off

New Conversion Coating Technologies

Traditionally, conversion coating pretreatment process options have been limited. For the most part, they include either an iron or zinc phosphate. Although these have been sufficient in performance in the past, concerns have recently risen regarding their inefficient energy and water usage. Iron Phosphate Pretreatment Systems Iron phosphate systems are most often used when a durable finish is required but the parts are not exposed to extremely corrosive environments. These systems involve up to six stages, including multiple cleaning and rinsing phases which require a lot of water and energy. Zinc Phosphate Pretreatment Systems Zinc phosphate coatings provide exceptional durability even in corrosive environments and they are capable of coating mixed metals. However, zinc phosphate systems require even more phases than iron systems. Zinc phosphate systems are different in a couple ways from an iron system. Primarily, the zinc system requires a surface conditioner stage, which happens just before the zinc phosphate stage. Since the surface conditioning chemistry is a colloidal suspension, it ages over time and must be dumped frequently to be effective. Again, wasteful in energy and water. [...]

Dawn Denby2023-06-20T14:04:29-04:00June 9th, 2022|Pretreatment & Surface Prep Booths|Comments Off

Preparing Metal Surfaces For Conversion Coating

When painting metal products, preparing the material for finishes is essential. The surface must be treated with a conversion coating. During this treatment, the metal surface undergoes a chemical reaction that and is essential for the durability of the finish, promoting adhesion and increasing corrosion resistance. Before applying the conversion coating, the metal must be prepared. Contaminants must be removed from the metal surface Prior to coating, metal surfaces must be cleaned. If the cleaning does not thoroughly eliminate contaminants, a uniform conversion coating will not be created resulting in a metal surface that is not properly protected from corrosion. The most common method used is aqueous cleaning; however, other methods include ultrasonic cleaning and vapor degreasing. With aqueous cleaning, the cleaner is water-based with various other chemicals mixed in, such as detergents and surfactants. In addition to the cleaner, heat and agitation are used to remove contaminants. Aqueous cleaning is highly effective in removing ionic contaminants, and is most often used when the process combines cleaning with the application of protective coatings or surface finishes. With vapor degreasing, solvent [...]

Dawn Denby2023-06-20T14:04:56-04:00June 9th, 2022|Pretreatment & Surface Prep Booths|Comments Off

Conveyor Systems Are An Essential Part Of Many Finishing Systems

The conveyor components transport products through enclosures of the finishing process, or move them from one process to the next. So, let’s look at what is happening in the conveyor system world. New conveyor systems are becoming quieter. Quieter components, especially rollers, are being incorporated into the conveyors for an overall quieter system. The loud path through a plant is becoming outdated. A quieter system makes for a more comfortable working environment and easier communication among workers. Simpler processes are becoming more and more automated. In the past, it was most often the complex processes that were automated. Now, companies are finding that automating the simple activities with a single conveyor can provide substantial results. And smaller companies can take advantage of these benefits since they do not require a huge capital investment. Robotics are being applied to conveyors. When a company needs to safely move and position large and heavy products, a pallet conveyor system is the solution. These systems are programmed for precise movement, specific starts and stops, and can be coordinated to work with other robotics. New [...]

Dawn Denby2023-06-20T14:10:28-04:00May 3rd, 2022|Material Handling & Conveyance|Comments Off

Effective Ventilation In Sanding And Grinding Booths Keeps Dust Out Of The Way And Saves Money

Having a sanding and grinding booth in your facility provides multiple benefits to your company. The main purpose of a sanding booth is to efficiently prepare items for finishing in a safe, clean environment. If you don’t already have a sanding and grinding booth with a ventilation system, the following benefits will convince you to install one. When preparing items for finishing, layers of coatings and contaminants must be sanded or ground off in order to create a surface that will provide a beautiful blemish-free finish. When sanding, these layers turn into dust. Dust can make a work environment hazardous and can contaminate the product. A good sanding and grinding booth will provide effective ventilation that captures and immediately removes dust from the environment. Your employees won’t be breathing in dusty air and the work surfaces throughout your entire facility will not be covered in dust. The booth’s ventilation system cleans the dirty air by running it through multiple filters that capture even the smallest of particles; 99% of dust particles are caught during filtration. The clean air is then [...]

Dawn Denby2023-10-03T14:33:03-04:00May 3rd, 2022|Design & Engineering, Pretreatment & Surface Prep Booths|Comments Off

Achieving Optimal Efficiency And Powder Reclaim In A Powder Coating Booth

Two major goals a powder coating manufacturer has is the ability to perform quicker color changes and obtain greater recovery of reclaimed material. Having the ability to reclaim overspray powder has been a big factor in promoting the growth of the powder coating industry. To achieve optimal efficiency and material reclaim, regular preventive maintenance must be performed as the equipment manufacturer recommends. Several factors that are needed for an efficient powder coating booth system follow: Maintaining incoming air quality is imperative for an efficient system and good powder utilization. For example, if the incoming air has water or oil in it, the finish can have fisheyes or craters in it; the application equipment may spit or surge. Rejected parts increase and so does powder usage. Parts must be recoated wasting even more time and energy. The powder coating application equipment, such as the track, racks, and hooks, as well as the booth itself must be properly grounded for optimal efficiency and safety. In addition to the regular maintenance, the air flow into the booth must be maintained. Gauges should be [...]

Dawn Denby2023-08-01T09:32:25-04:00April 5th, 2022|Design & Engineering, Powder Booths|Comments Off

Grinding Booths For Surface Prep

A vital step in many manufacturing processes is preparation of parts by grinding. Companies grind parts to remove coatings and prepare them for finishing. Coatings can include paints, metals or other materials. Once the grinding and sanding starts, particles go flying around often at high speeds. It can be a filthy dangerous task. That’s why, companies rely on grinding booths to separate this dirty process and help clean up the mess. When the grinding starts, sparks go flying. Particles and dust are flung all over the shop. Particles coming off the grinder are moving at a high velocity and can be thrown up to 10 feet. Particles are hitting walls and ceilings, as well as unsuspecting workers nearby. Larger particles pile up on the floor and smaller ones linger in the air waiting to be breathed in, some of which can be toxic. In addition, the grinding is loud and the job is hazardous. The answer to the challenges presented during the grinding process is a surface prep booth. A grinding booth is an enclosed room with a heavy-duty dust [...]

Dawn Denby2022-03-08T15:29:42-05:00March 8th, 2022|Pretreatment & Surface Prep Booths|Comments Off

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