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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In the world of oven design, there’s engineering, there’s experience, and sometimes there is even a little art. When you add the challenge of working with heat-sensitive substrates, it becomes exponentially more difficult. When finishing a heat-sensitive substrate, all types of heat technologies must be considered. Powder coating for these applications requires an investment in process design to ensure a good outcome, and the answer is seldom based on an engineering chart. For the best outcome, the business as well as operational needs need to be considered.

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While CARC powder coatings have been approved for some time, until now powder has made up only a tiny fraction of overall CARC use. In many cases, powder coatings have frequently served only as a primer for CARC liquid top coats. The project talked about here really changes the game. Instead of being a specialty item, CARC powder is now an off-the-shelf product.

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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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The 2016 Powder Coating Summit provided a cornucopia of advancements in powder coating technology. Topics ranged from twocoat systems to smart in-line powder application to fluoropolymer chemistry. Allow me to give you a synopsis of some of the topics presented.

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How does the industry ensure the quality of powder coated architectural products? The development of standards and certifications, both domestically and abroad, have helped ensure that architectural products are built to last. Here, read about two specific associations whose sole purpose is improving the quality of architectural parts.

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If you are considering a new powder coating line for your finishing needs, turnkey might be the way to go. Turnkey systems include everything needed for the line from pretreatment to curing and everything in between. There are several turnkey systems suppliers from which to choose. To help you in a search for the right equipment, this special advertising section highlights a few PCI members that sell turnkey systems. Be sure to let them know you found them in Powder Coated Tough!

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Getting the powder to the part is a critical step in the powder finishing process. Are you looking for an automatic system or a manual gun for touchups? Just need a nozzle? There are several suppliers from which to choose. To help you in your search for the right equipment, this special advertising section highlights a few PCI® members that make powder application equipment. Don’t forget to let them know you found them in Powder Coated Tough magazine!

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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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