Digital edition of Powder Coated Tough 2023, brought to you by Nordson Corporation
The PCT Magazine is the go-to source for powder coating information and advice. They provide readers with useful insights into various aspects of the powder coating process, from surface preparation to troubleshooting techniques. Our experts have years of experience in the powder coat industry, so they can offer up tips and tricks that can help job shops, OEMs, and anyone else looking for advice on powder coating. In this PCT April/May 2023 digital edition we go vertical, exploring the massive growth of powder coatings in the architectural industry.
In addition to practical information, the PCT Magazine provides readers with important safety information. Powder coatings are a combination of powders, chemicals, and other materials that can be very toxic and hazardous if improperly handled or used. The PCT Magazine is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about powder coating, no matter what their experience level is. With up-to-date information on the latest trends and technologies, this magazine provides readers with valuable insights that can help them better understand how to use powder coatings in a safe and effective manner.
The architectural industry is increasingly turning to powder coatings as an effective, affordable and efficient solution for protecting materials like metal, wood, plastic, and glass. Nordson offers a wide range of powder coating technologies and equipment, allowing architects and engineers to use more durable coatings on their projects. Our latest powder coating technologies can provide a wide variety of finishes that are highly resistant to weathering, corrosion, abrasion, and UV radiation.
Powder Coating vs Painting
The fine powder coating process provides an advantage over conventional liquid coatings or conventional paint, in that the powder particles stick to the substrate much more easily and evenly. This method ensures a more thorough cleaning of the surface than conventional painting methods, resulting in a smoother finish with fewer imperfections. Another benefit of using powder coating over traditional liquid paint options is its ability to coat bare metal surfaces without the need for a chemical stripper. This not only reduces costs and labor, but also helps to reduce waste as well.
Powder coated finishes also produce thicker coatings than traditional liquid finishes. The powder is also less likely to chip or peel off compared to traditional paint because of its superior adhesion. It also provides a tough, weather-resistant layer of protection against UV radiation and other environmental elements.
Powder Coating Tips
Powder coating offers a smoother finish with a greater level of consistency than many other types of liquid coatings. Here are some powder coating tips and tricks for getting the best results:
Curing and Curing Time: Curing involves a chemical reaction that takes place after the coating is applied and exposed to high temperatures in a curing oven. The cure process makes sure that the coating adheres well to the metal surface and creates a strong, durable finish. During curing, the temperature of the substrate must remain consistent for an extended period of time to allow for maximum bonding of the particles within the powder coating. The time and temperature of curing oven will depend on the type of powder used, with some requiring temperatures as high as 180°C for up to 20 minutes. After curing, the coating can be cooled rapidly in a chill cycle to further strengthen its bond and improve its appearance.
Powder coatings cured with ultraviolet light (UV) offer a range of advantages over traditional thermosetting coatings. The most notable benefit is that powder-coated products can be cured quickly and efficiently at a lower temperature than required for conventional coating methods. With this technology, substrate materials such as wood, plastics, and heat-sensitive alloys can be powder-coated without creating any issues with heat.
Smooth finish: Achieving a smooth, even finish on powder coating can be tricky and often leads to the dreaded “orange peel” effect. Orange peel can be caused by uneven heating or insufficient heat being applied during the curing process, resulting in an uneven texture. Fortunately, there are some key things you can do to avoid orange peel when powder coating. Find out more in our #GoodToKnow Video: Prevention of Powder Coating Rejects.
Connect With Nordson for Professional Powder Coating Process, Equipment and Services
With Nordson powder coatings, customers can easily apply powder coatings to various substrates such as metal, aluminum, and plastic, allowing them to achieve the desired finish in less time. Our facilities enables Nordson to provide its clients with the best possible experience in the powder coating industry, bringing high quality finishes and convenience together.
Founded in 1954, the company has operations and support offices in more than 35 countries. With over 50 years of experience and expertise, we established ourselves as one of the leading suppliers of powder coatings in various regions and countries: United States, UK, Europe, Asia, Japan, Africa, Australia, others. Additionally, we have an extensive showroom, virtual showroom and lab services, where you can see our products before purchasing your powder coating unit.
Powder Coating System - Manual
The entry level Nordson Encore LT powder coating system, easy, and efficient solutions for any powder coating job. Even those with little to no experience can start using the system in only a few minutes. The perfect balance of a powder coating gun is crucially important for reducing the operator's fatigue. The minimum weight, ergonomic handle, and ideal balance distinguish Nordson Encore manual spray systems.
The Nordson Encore XT powder coating system and Encore HD spray systems have top-of-the-line powder coat guns for powder coating applications. Equipped with an intuitive LCD display, the powder coat gun is easy to use and offers a level of precision previously unseen in powder coating technology.
Those looking for even more productivity should go with the Encore HD powder coating system - they excel in getting the most challenging products coated quickly and accurately. With no wear parts inside the Encore HD pumps, the systems delver process control for as long as 3000 operating hours. Fully self-purging, capable of color change in less than 30 seconds without disassembly, reporting also powder savings in excess of 15% compared to ejector pump systems. Get your powder coating finishes done faster and better with Nordson’s Encore powder coating system!
Powder Coating System - Automatic
Nordson's Encore powder coating gun and Encore HD powder coating guns offer superior performance, a cost effective high productivity, and repeatability. With advanced technology and fast robot movement capability, the spray systems can deliver a soft spray even at high powder output.
The Nordson Encore® HD powder coating gun will perform at maximum efficiency and is designed to deliver optimal results with very high precision. The powder coat gun combined with Dynamic Contouring Movers enable accurate positioning, allowing for fewer manual touch-ups and an increase in productivity.
For maximum efficiency in powder coating applications, Nordson also offers Fast Color Change Booths for quick color changes without compromising on quality. With the latest innovations in powder coating equipment from Nordson, you can expect higher yields with improved finish quality. Whether it is automatic powder application or manual operations, our variety of products are designed to meet your specific needs.
Powder Coating Booths
Nordson’s powder coating booths and guns are designed for maximum efficiency, offering superior performance and fast color change. Our Fast Color Change Booths, like the ColorMax™3 powder coating booth improves quality, reduces downtime and maximises your production. The booth floor is made of durable Apogee® composite material, and is automatically purge-cleaned for no powder accumulation inside the booth. The advanced design of our guns allow for simple setup and operation, with multiple access points to powder recovery systems that ensure a high quality finish on each product.
About Nordson ICS Division
Founded in 1954 to produce and market airless spray equipment, today manufacturers rely on our equipment for the precise application and curing of powder coatings, liquid paint, ambient temperature adhesives and sealants, and food and beverage container production. Our solutions help our customers improve their manufacturing process, produce better products and become even more competitive. We do this by combining in-depth knowledge, world-leading technical expertise and precise, performance enhancing production solutions for some of the world’s most demanding and diverse manufacturing environments.
- We offer world leading application and curing equipment for powder coating, liquid spray painting, container coating, automotive applications, battery applications and precision dispensing for various application needs. Visit Nordson ICS on the web at Nordson Website, Twitter Profile, Facebook Profile and LinkedIn Profile.
About Nordson Corporation
Nordson engineers, manufactures, and markets differentiated products and systems used for dispensing and processing adhesives, coatings, polymers, sealants and biomaterials; and for managing fluids, testing and inspecting for quality, treating surfaces and curing. These products are supported with extensive application expertise and direct global sales and service.
- We serve a wide variety of consumer non-durable, consumer durable and technology end markets including packaging, nonwovens, electronics, medical, appliances, energy, transportation, building and construction, and general product assembly and finishing. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the company has operations and support offices in more than 30 countries. Visit Nordson on the web at Nordson Website, twitter.com/Nordson_Corp or facebook.com/nordson.