PAINT & POWDER
Quality powder coating on a massive scale
Unique powder coating system doubles the productivity , reduces the color change time , and saves powder . All on an extra-large scale .
The Company
The Danish company Grædstrup Stål is at the forefront of innovative manufacturing with a continuous focus on quality , efficiency , and environmental friendliness .
Each year the company converts over 400 tons of steel into custom-designed rafters and structures for a wide range of agricultural , commercial , sports and industrial constructions projects . Grædstrup Stål follows a zero-fault approach to manufacturing – from the first cut or weld to quality powder coated , finished products . Most of the production , in the 14,000 m 2 facility , is fully automated .
While others in their industry paint with liquid , Grædstrup Stål believes powder coating delivers superior corrosion protection and finish quality with minimal environmental impact . " Coating our steel beams and rafters with powder offers numerous advantages ,” says production manager Allan Kåstrup Kristensen . " It makes our products much more durable and superior to conventional liquid-coated steel rafters under any conditions ."
The Challenge
Since 2000 , Grædstrup Stål operated one of the largest powder coating systems in Denmark handling products up to 5m in height and 23m in length . Although over the years the system had upgrades , by early 2018 the company realized the old booth was a hindrance . It took several hours to change colors which reduced operating flexibility and low conveyor speed which forced them to a 3-shift operation .
In early 2018 , company management started to look for a better solution to :
1 . Increase productivity 2 . Save time on color change 3 . Reduce powder consumption and waste
4 . Improve coating coverage of challenging welds and corners
5 . Minimize the environmental impact
Peter Johansen from Lakteknik , an experienced Nordson representative in Scandinavia , was very familiar with Grædstrup Stål and their system .
Using his experience in the industry , Peter helped to fine-tune the new system specifications and worked closely with the customer and the Nordson engineering team to design and deliver the perfect system .
The Solution
7.2m . tall booth with the Spectrum ® HD powder feed center is color changed in 15 minutes .
Gentle downdraft airflow assists the powder deposition . The automatic floor cleaning simplifies the color change .
The new ColorMax ® E booth measures 4.3 m long and 7.2 m tall . Yet , it can color change in 15 minutes – a major improvement from the old system .
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48 NOVEMBER 2020 read online : www . surfaceworld . com