Manufacturers have at their disposal many different methods for improving the overall quality or properties of a metal component. Electroplating is one of the better-known options. However, it is not by far the only one. One way of providing a metal component with protection is to apply an industrial powder coating.
What Is Industrial Powder Coating?
An industrial powder coating is a specific means through which an environmentally friendly coating is applied to any of a wide range of materials, including metal products and components. Industrial powder coatings may be applied in one of two main ways:
- Electrostatic Spraying: This utilizes an electrostatic powder gun
- Fluid Bed: This requires the implementation of a two separated chambers
Both methods are capable of providing the component or item with the qualities sought by the manufacturer.
Why Use an Industrial Powder Coating?
If a powder coating is chosen by a manufacturer to cover a part, this is to obtain a specific result. While appearance may factor into the equation, other elements are of greater importance. Industrial powder coating performs a specific function. They are there to:
- Enhance appearance: They accomplish this by giving the component a high-quality finish
- Increase durability
- Improve efficiencies
- Meet the restrictions of environmental legislation: A powder coating is environmentally friendly
- Provide color options: The range of colors, hues and subtle shades is very wide ranging
- Resistance to abrasion
An industrial powder coating is the choice of manufacturers looking for a simple and cost-effective way to reduce maintenance costs, to enhance physical properties and to improve the appearance of their parts and products.
Markets for Industrial Powder Coatings
The market for powder coatings continues to expand. Among the basic applications for an industrial powder coating system are:
- Appliances: These are as small as microwaves and toaster ovens, and as large as dishwashers, ranges and refrigerators
- Automotive parts: Including exterior trim systems (rigid and flexible), axles, body panels, steel and aluminum wheels, shocks and coil springs
- Automotive accessories
- Agricultural equipment
- Construction equipment
- Consumer electronics: Cell phones, computers GPS systems and laptops
- Residential and commercial building products: This includes but is not limited to such things as flooring accessories, architectural moldings, as well as flooring windows and doors,
- Transportation vehicles: This may be cab/bodies, commercial buses, school buses, trailers, and rail
The list is expanding arising from the overall ease and environmentally friendly of this method of protective coating.
Industrial Powder Coating
One method of providing components with the protection they require in trying environments is called powder coating. It is capable of preventing certain negative effects while being both cost-efficient and living up to the increasingly strict environmental restrictions. High quality production methods and increasingly innovative technology is certain to increase the ability of the industrial powder coating concerns to attract and hold an increased market share today and in the future.
