Just like Indiana is the hub for several major Interstate highways to crisscross, so, too, was the CC Forum a place for custom coaters to cross paths and learn from one another, taking with them valuable knowledge on their own highways to success. This year’s Custom Coater Forum was held March 30-31 in downtown Indianapolis. The opening evening began with a dinner at a local famous family-style restaurant, where PCI custom coater members enjoyed a great night of networking, good food, and the keynote speaker for the event.

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It was roughly five years ago when JR Custom Metal Products (JRCMP) Inc. in Wichita, Kan., had been outsourcing so many parts for finishing that the company decided it made sense to put together a finishing system of its own. According to Jorge Martinez, vice president of sales and marketing at JRCMP, “Once we made the decision to build a powder coating finishing line, we wanted to do it right.” So, they started to attend industry events such as the Powder Coating Show (now called the Powder Coating Technical Conference and Tabletop Exhibition), PCI Hands-On Workshops and FABTECH. “We needed to learn a lot,” says Martinez. “We took everything to heart. We listened to all the speakers at all the events we attended. We learned about grounding, transfer efficiencies and line density. We learned about everything in general that we could about powder coating, and from there we figured out what kind of budget we would need to put in a new, ultimate system.”

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Since its founding in 1948, American Trim (known then as Lima Tool and Die) has achieved success by adding value to the parts it supplies to the appliance industry. The company’s first customer, a kitchen range manufacturer, fell in love with the stylish, chrome-plated handle that company owner Henry Hawk designed. With the help of the Tennessee Stove Works, Hawk expanded his company’s reach into the appliance industry by developing the capability to manufacture and then plate appliance parts using an efficient, continuous, process.

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From March 27-31, The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) hosted three events at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, making the end of March a hat trick for the powder coating industry. PCI devoted an entire week to powder coating education, hands-on training, tabletop exhibits and networking opportunities, through three of its events: a Powder Coating 101 Workshop, the Powder Coating 2017 Technical Conference & Tabletop Exhibition, and the Custom Coater Forum.

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Purchasing a new powder coating line can cost from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Making a mistake and buying a line that will not work properly can cost even more in rework, product returns and lost business. The design of a powder coating line can directly affect the quality, production efficiency, reliability and overall profitability of an entire powder coating operation. However, while nearly everyone agrees that it is not a decision to be made casually, few manufacturers have a clear roadmap to help them make a sound decision when it comes to choosing a good system supplier.

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When the Flory family built a barn in Salida, Calif., in 1909, to raise dairy cows, one might wonder if anybody knew that more than a century later the same family would be running a successful metal fabrication and OEM farm equipment business from the very same location. Read on for the Flory story.

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The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) will host its POWDER COATING 2017 Technical Conference from March 27-31, at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Long known as the event where the industry gathers to discuss all things powder coating, PCI is devoting an entire week to powder coating education, hands-on training, tabletop exhibits and networking with industry peers.

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Before a part can be powder coated, it must be properly prepared. Proper pretreatment is crucial for coating adhesion, and proper masking ensures that the finish is applied exactly where needed. This section features advertising companies that can help you find the pretreatment and masking solutions to help you coat the job right. Be sure to let them know you found them in Powder Coated Tough!

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Held in the Vail Valley in Colorado, The Powder Coating Institute’s Annual Meeting was a great success. In June, PCI’s 2016 Annual Meeting delivered on all fronts. It provided the opportunity to meet other members, get a bird’s eye view of what the association is working on, and hear some motivating and compelling speakers. There were also fun activities and a multitude of networking opportunities.

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When it comes to designing a racking system for a powder coating finishing line, too little time is spent talking with the people who actually work with the products. Failure to communicate can cost both time and money.

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