When it comes to keeping up with today’s production needs, efficiency, quality of finish and cost-effectiveness are all key to success – and with the introduction of new regulations like Control of Substances Hazardous to Health and the Environmental Protection Act, it’s now more important than ever that the modern paint shop uses the latest coatings technology.
With environmental regulations being tightened up, wood finishing companies are increasingly looking for more innovative methods of application – and, according to Garry Dowling, managing director of surface coatings technology specialist Hi-Tec Spray, investing in top-quality spray equipment can reap huge rewards.
“There’s such a vast range of state-of-the-art spraying equipment on the market now that many companies are updating their application methods and are quickly discovering the benefits,” he said.
Time-efficient
Spray coating is very time-efficient, said Mr Dowling: “and in today’s competitive market, being able to meet customers’ demands quickly is very important. Choose the right spray equipment for your particular application and you can expect to cover in excess of 200m2 an hour, with transfer efficiencies as high as 85-90%.
“But it’s not just speed that makes modern spray equipment a good investment – it’s also the outstanding finishes that can be achieved,” he continued. “For instance, using air assisted airless/airmix spray guns gives you better control and allows you to achieve much smoother, more even coverage.
“Modern spraying methods also increase transfer efficiency (the amount of material that actually goes on the surface compared to the amount lost due to overspray), which, in turn, saves time and money and reduces spray booth maintenance,” said Mr Dowling.
One company that’s now reaping the benefits of introducing up-to-the-minute spraying technology is Country Vision. The company, which makes windows and doors in wood, PVCu and aluminium at its base in Dartford, Kent, opted for a new spray booth and spray equipment after deciding to upgrade its manufacturing process.
Richard Miller from Hi-Tec Spray, which supplied and installed the equipment and trained staff to operate it, said: “Country Vision used to hand brush the wooden doors and window frames. By using the new spray equipment, it can now coat a frame in just three minutes instead of 20.”
Country Vision’s managing director, Gary Oswald, is in no doubt about what the switch from traditional coating methods has meant to his company: “The new equipment has revolutionised the way we do business. We are forever up against tight deadlines and the fact that the spray booth allows us to turn jobs around quickly has helped us enormously.”
Tudor Oak (Kent) Ltd, a specialist manufacturer of English oak reproduction furniture, has been enjoying the benefits of spraying techniques for a number of years.
The company has just had a dry filter spray booth installed at its new factory site in Boughton Monchelsea, Kent, after relocating from Cranbrook, Kent. The booth, which has been manufactured and installed by Hi-Tec Spray, is used to apply the final lacquer coating to solid oak reproduction furniture.
“We do occasionally still use traditional hand polishing techniques if customers request it,” said Tudor Oak works director Douglas King, “but spraying cuts down on labour costs and actually offers a very high quality, more durable finish.”
Paint shop equipment
Today’s market offers a wide variety of paint shop equipment, ranging from Compliant and HVLP airspray guns to custom-designed complete paint shop systems.
DeVilbiss GTI or Compact Compliant and HVLP airspray guns, for example, offer the latest technology at relatively low cost. The guns improve material transfer by up to 40% compared to conventional airspray guns like the DeVilbiss JGA/GFG range or equivalent manufacturers’ guns but still provide the same, if not better, quality of finish and application speed.
For those taking on larger projects, Graco or Kremlin air assisted airless/airmix/aircoat units, in either standard or electrostatic versions, can be ideal. The equipment has all the benefits of a compliant and HVLP guns but can speed up application by up to five times – and that means much higher production rates.
“Improving transfer efficiency means a business can save money both on paint and on spray booth maintenance, while complying with the latest environmental regulations,” said Garry Dowling.
“It’s worth investing a little extra in the latest coatings technology – after all, if it allows you to produce the highest quality product possible, it’s going to reap dividends for the business in the future.”
