NORDSON
Improve powder coating with " soft powder cloud "
Powder coating quality comes first
Miele is investing in a new powder coating system at its Lehrte plant and switching from Venturi pump technology to HDLV dense phase technology - with significant improvements on quality , flexibility and cost-effectiveness .
The Challenge
At its factory in Lehrte , Germany , Miele develops and produces appliances for commercial laundry care . This is supplemented by troughed ironers , household ironing systems , air purifiers and components for other Miele facilities . In addition to stainless steel fronts , powder coated surfaces are in particular demand for these appliances A variety of product types and shapes combined with individual customisation and comparatively low unit volumes are just a few unique challenges that Miele faces in this sector . This is why it was so important that Miele switch from a single-colour to a multi-colour booth .
“ Consistency of high quality is a clear promise from us at Miele ,” says Andreas Eichbaum , technical project manager at the Lehrte plant . " In the laundry care sector , a lot of work is done with alkalis and bleaches , which can also come into contact with the finish . Therefore , we have to prove the corresponding resistance and also guarantee it to the customer . At the same time , we have a strict visual aesthetic requirement i . e ., i . e . coatings are expected to look their best and must be professionally coated .” And Mr . Eichbaum adds : “ We want to ensure that components are coated uniformly and precisely every time . That also requires tight film-thickness specifications , i . e . having the right amount of powder on every part of the product .“
The Solution
“ When we were planning the new system , we familiarised ourselves with the current market and compared various providers ” says Rainer Freier , responsible at Miele for purchasing in this segment . “ In the end , two criteria were crucial . Of course , Miele stands for quality , or rather the quality of the powder coating . This comes first , followed by the price , which was comparable for all suppliers .” The quality of the powder coating , the mechanical and chemical resistance , but also how the design is reflected was very important in the procurement of the new powder coating system . In recent years , the design of commercial surfaces has changed from a glossy coarse structure to a finer structure with a matte finish . Those specific coatings and finishes require very different processes and process control than the slightly glossier finishes . “ That ’ s where we consider the very clear advantage in the new
Within the Miele Group , the Professional business unit combines all commercial products for the medical technology , catering , and laundry care sectors .
Nordson dense phase coating technology over the Venturi pump technology ,” adds Andreas Eichbaum . “ This also matches the recommendations of our powder supplier , which we incorporated into our decision .”
Tests at Nordson ' s lab in Erkrath , Germany , were also decisive for the purchase decision .
CONTINUED ON PAGE 48
46 FEBRUARY 2022 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag