DT - FACILITIES

Here you see a large switchgear cabinet about to be lowered into our underground de-greasing tank.

Process stage 1 - de-greasing

Thorough de-greasing is a MUST, therefore we use a state of the art Vaposol
vapour system.

This low temperature system is second to none for:

Temperature sensitive parts
Maximum penetration into every nook and cranny
Almost no environmental impact (see below)

Vaposol AMC components are very widely used in industry, but only trace elements have been detected in the atmosphere, and it is not detectable in rivers, oceans or ground water. This is attributed to its high volatility and bio-degradability by naturally occurring hydroxyl radicals to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen chloride, simple products that are already present in the environment. Vaposol AMC has a very short atmospheric lifetime of only 6 months, which means that it does not accumulate in the atmosphere and is not transported into the ozone layer. Reduction of global warming gases is the most urgent challenge for the future.

Here you see various components being further prepared to remove any minor imperfections, patches of light rust etc. they are then lightly sanded to provide a paint key.

Process stage 2 - Surface Preparation

Removal of oil, lubrication greases, metal oxides, welding scales etc. is essential prior to the powder coating process. It can be done by a variety of chemical and mechanical methods. The selection of the method depends on the size and the material of the part to be powder coated, and the performance requirement of the finished product.

Here you see one of our fully trained operatives applying powder using the very latest in gun technology within a modern "water wash" spray booth, ensuring that no surplus powder escapes into the atmosphere

Process stage 3 - Powder Application

The most common way of applying the powder coating to metal objects is to spray the powder using an electrostatic gun. The gun imparts a positive electric charge on the powder, which is then sprayed towards the object, which is grounded. The sprayed particles are evenly attracted to the object, thereby ensuring a uniform coverage.

Here you see work being removed from our "camel back" oven after being carried on a continuous conveyor, through the oven, passing over the "hump" where the heat is applied. The speed of the conveyor determines the amount of time it is subjected to the heat selected.

Process stage 4 - Curing

After the powder has been applied to the substrate, it needs to be cured. This is achieved by heating the object in an oven. Although different powders may be cured at different temperatures and times to achieve corrosion resistant coatings, a typical example would be 185°C for 10 minutes.

Items awaiting packing and despatch.

Process stage 5 - Quality control/packing

Careful inspection and packing makes sure that every item achieves our high standards and is transported in perfect condition.