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Paint Kitchen Automation Cleans up Inefficient Mess for Equipment Finisher
Graco E-Flo DC Pump
This case study demonstrates how the Graco Intelligent Paint Kitchen can improve the painting process by decreasing production downtime, lowering production costs and increasing process efficiency.
Customer
Heavy-duty lift truck equipment finisher.
Challenge
The maintenance manager at a heavy-duty lift truck equipment finisher was left with someone else’s mess. The paint room supervisor had designed a paint kitchen for a 24-hour operation, only to leave when production changed to five days a week. With no one taking ownership of the paint room, inefficiency took over.
• Friday afternoons, the paint room attendant shut down the paint circulation, air compressor and pneumatic agitators.
• Monday mornings, they lost at least six carriers of parts and more than an hour of production time, because material had settled in the paint lines over the weekend.
Circulating the paint on the weekends meant running a 500-horse power (HP) air compressor. The energy cost savings seemed to outweigh the cost of lost parts.
Solution
The maintenance manager consulted his local distributor, who wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. The equipment they had was sound; it just didn’t provide the flexibility they needed. Their Graco account representative offered an out-of-the-box solution. The Intelligent Paint Kitchen (IPK), powered by the E-Flo DC 4-Ball Piston Pump, could allow them to reduce downtime, save on energy costs, and remotely monitor the paint room. Some of their existing equipment could even be repurposed in the new set up.
Results
The Graco Intelligent Paint Kitchen system automated the paint room and made their production schedule more flexible. Electric equipment avoided air compressor costs, and allowed them to keep the paint circulating during non-production times. With presets and remote monitoring controlling the paint room, efficiency is the new norm.
• Friday afternoons, the paint room attendant sets equipment on sleep mode.
• Monday mornings, production starts smoothly without loss of parts, downtime or rework.
With the help of remote monitoring, the maintenance manager now spends less time with production supervision. Their newfound efficiency allows them to
take on and scale back production as needed without overextending their resources.
Air Power Partnered with Graco on this case.
Click Here to learn more about what Graco offers.
Echa un vistazo a lo que se está cocinando en México
As the summer heat is beginning to increase so is our Monterrey, MX team. These past few months have been full of exciting product launches, customer trade shows, and strategic partnership meetings. Our facility, located just outside of Monterrey, in Apodaca, consists of eight (8) employees’ within a 308 sq. meter (3,315 sq. ft.) branch location. This branch functions as a complete team offering: account management, technical service, field repair, bench repair, system startup and integration, training, and localized equipment stock.
John Deere Paint Summit
Our team was honored to attend the John Deere Paint Summit as a strategic supplier for Deere within Mexico and the United States. This global summit included members from China, India, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and the United States. It was a privilege for Air Power to be in attendance but more importantly a complement to be asked to be a part of the presentations. In partnership with Graco and St. Clair Systems, Air Power discussed the importance of paint kitchen visibility and viscosity control as it pertains to plural component finishing operations.
FABTECH Monterrey
Following the Global Summit, there was no time to waste in preparation for Fabtech, Monterrey. Held in Monterrey, MX on May 7th-9th; this event featured over 1,000 participants and more than 50 industrial vendors. This offered for an engaging and technology advancing manufacture fair. Air Power in partnership with Heraeus and Nitto Systems meet over 100 clients interested in further improving their current finishing operations.
Gema OptiFlex Pro Series Launch
Mexico City was the next stop as excitement continues to build over the launch of GEMA’s new OptiFlex Pro Series of powder coating equipment. This launch event highlighted the units unsurpassed Power, Quality, and Control Features.
- Power – Powerboost Technology of 110KV
- Quality – Precise Chare Control (PCC) and redesigned powder pump
- Control – Bluetooth Capabilities with the GEMA E-APP
The below video, presented by GEMA, highlights the advantages of the new OptiFlex Pro.
Graco New Product Launch
Most recently, the team joined Graco in San Diego, CA, for the New Product of 2019 Launch. This event focused on new technology and product that Graco is implementing within the 2019 calendar year. Including highlights of:
- Intelligent Paint Kitchen for Pneumatic Pumps
- New Pro XP Gun Models
- Radial Piston Agitators
- Sealed 4-Ball Lower Plus
- Active Surge Suppressors
- Pro-Dispense
- ProControl 1KE
This completes the New Product Launch 2019 for Graco and Air Power had representation within the Atlanta, Indianapolis, and San Diego event locations.
It’s cooking down in Mexico and we are excited of what is next to come. If you are familiar with Air Power and have locations within Mexico; please give us a call today. We would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss best practices, equipment standardization, and our system integration capabilities and advantages offered as a result of our unsurpassed coverage area between the United States and Mexico.
Air Power Regional Footprint
