PAINT & POWDER
The fast color change system includes the Spectrum HD powder feed center with PowderPilot HD control system , ColorMax3 booth and seven Encore HD automatic powder guns .
Relies on modern metal processing and finishing technology
Efficient and consistent powder coating
Four years ago , Linak Profiles , known until 2018 as AKK Industri ApS in Sønderborg , Denmark , converted its production to solve its growth-related capacity requirements for lifting columns while at the same time increasing production efficiency . LINAK Lifting Columns are hi-tech electrical devices able to convert rotational motion in low voltage DC motors into linear push / pull movement . In the newly built hall , state-of-the-art robots and production facilities have since then ensured extensive automation of the processes involved in the manufacture of lifting columns for height adjustment of modern office desks .
The Challenge
In order to raise or lower the desk , precisely engineered profiles are required ," explains Kim Paulsen , plant operator at Linak Profiles . " Also , to meet the high design demands , it is important to provide these profiles in a wide variety of shapes and colors ." In addition , the sliders of the multi-part columns have very narrow tolerances and must have a uniform coating for accurate mobility .
The solution
Linak Profiles decided to build a completely new production line in 2016 , equipping it with state-of-the-art technology and relying on a high degree of automation to achieve a higher efficiency and throughput . In a production area of around 6,500 m2 in Sønderborg , around 50 employees have been developed and produced approximately 20,000 lifting columns engineered to the highest quality every week since its opening . The welding is carried out by robots with extreme precision and high speed . In powder coating the Venturi spraying system is replaced by the high-performance dense phase technology with Nordson HDLV pumps .
The efficient powder coating system is divided into pre-treatment , heating , powder application and finishing areas . After pre-treatment , the parts are transported to the cubed ColorMax3 coating booth .
The total of seven Encore HD automatic spray systems apply uniform coating with a high level of process control over a long period of time to ensure extremely consistent powder application . The Nordson Encore ® HD spray system delivers powder to the products with minimum air resulting in a soft spray and high application efficiency . This avoids manual rework during production . An Encore HD manual spray system is also available for coating special shapes .
The ColorMax3 booth is designed for fast color changes to minimize production interruptions and can accommodate up to 10 color changes per shift . The application efficiency is maximized due to the combination of the soft spray delivered by the Encore HD spray systems and high density of the products loading on the line . The minimal oversprayed powder is recovered through a twin-cyclone system with more than a 95 % reclaim efficiency .
The Nordson Spectrum HD powder feed center offers a clean coating environment and optimum powder handling conditions for production confidence and reduces operator interaction . The powder coating system is controlled by the PowderPilot HD control system . An icon based , touchscreen user interface provides the operator with relevant information about the status of individual system modules and step-by-step instructions when , during a color change , for example an operator interaction is needed .
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42 SEPTEMBER 2020 read online : www . surfaceworld . com