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Paint Degradation in Paint Circulation Systems

Graco HydroShield Electrostatic Spray System

Air Power in partnership with Graco is working hard to prep the Hydroshield for upcoming customer demos throughout our entire territory!  Pre-plan, setup, and spray prior to demo ensures a successful onsite demo. We’d like to thank the team of Graco Representatives Nick Lewis, Nick Yanavitch, and Chris Maicon for all working with the Air Power team to establish this product in the field.

The Graco Hydroshield Spray Package is an operator-friendly solution for spraying waterborne material that improves transfer efficiency and safety. This system includes manual electrostatic air spray or air-assist guns, controller interface, and high-performing pumps.

 

 

 

 

The HydroShield Batch Waterborne System makes it easy to safely use electrostatics to spray waterborne material.

  • Refill paint supply without having to open the isolation cabinet.
  • Use one controller with simple screens to set and adjust system parameters.
  • Minimize downtime with durable components that are easily accessed and maintained.

 

Check out these pictures of the Air Power team setting up this system in the Air Power High Point Finishing Lab!

Improving Your Electrostatic Process

Improving Your Electrostatic Liquid or Powder Coating Process

 

In this video, Air Power Specialist Travis Stirewalt and Account Manager Eddie Rhodes, share tips about improving your electrostatic process. Learn how to improve your electrostatic process with expert advice for powder coaters and liquid painters. Discuss best practices that help you put more powder or paint on your parts and less in your filters or the paint booth floor. What does this mean for you? Higher transfer efficiency and less paint (money) wasted by increasing your first pass transfer efficiency. Video from the Air Power, Inc. Chattanooga Branch.

Graco Electrostatic Demo Kits

Rodney Benfield understands finishing and over the past 31 years at Air Power has learned many skills of the trade.  One known fact is you cannot be successful if not prepared.  Air Power’s Electrostatic Demo Kits allow for just that – being prepared – anyplace, anytime, anywhere.

“These kits are handy” stated Rodney whom has spent a large portion of his time at Air Power focusing on the finishing industry within the Southeast.  “This demo kits stays in my truck and I can deploy it whenever necessary”.

The Air Power Electrostatic Demo Kits contain everything necessary for a successful Graco electrostatic demo including a wide array of nozzles and air caps.  Rodney further specified that “even for existing electrostatic customers, taking in the entire demo kit makes sense.  It allows us to mix/match newly released accessories to optimize the customer’s process and electrostatic experience”

All of Air Power’s finishing specialist have electrostatic demo kits ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.   “Air Power’s primary focus” stated Rodney “is the Southeast and Mexico but, we will go wherever the customer needs us”.

 

Graco Electrostatic Demo Kit

Increase Transfer Efficiency

 

Challenge

Customer was looking to improve transfer efficiency on their automated spindle machine spraying primer on various size metal housings.   The existing system utilizes one spray gun set a considerable distance from the parts.  This causes excessive overspray and waste.  Customer also wanted to go from using 55 gallon drums to 5 gallon pails due to settling and solvent flash off in the primer.  The 55 gallon drum sits for around 4 months.  The viscosity needed to be regularly checked and adjusted.

 

Before Before 2

 

 

 

 

 

Air Power’s Solution

Equipment utilized – Graco fixed automatic spray guns coupled to a Graco dual regulated pressure pot with agitation.  All controlled via an Air Power custom designed pneumatic control panel for system optimization and performance.

Air Power, Inc. proposed replacing their single gun setup with two guns.  These guns will be mounted on mounts that can be adjusted to effectively cover the various size parts.  This will minimize the amount of overspray and improve the transfer efficiency of the system.  The controls for this system will be contained in a centralized control box.  Fluid supply will utilize a 5 gallon pressure tank.  This will allow the operator to place a 5 gallon bucket of primer into the tank.  This system will be enclosed to minimize solvent flash off.  This will help improve the consistency of the coating as it will not need to be constantly adjusted.  The paint supply will also be exhausted in roughly a week now.  This will allow fresh primer to be sprayed, also improving consistency.

 

Results

  • Customer experienced increased transfer efficiency which saved them money by minimizing the amount of overspray and waste. It also reduced the amount of filtration they were purchasing due to the reduced overspray saving them time and money.
  • Customer reduced solvent flash off due to the switch from 55 gallon to 5 gallon pail saving the operator time from adding additional solvent to the 55 gallon drums.

 

Air Power Solution Air Power Solution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Power Puts the Graco ProMix PD2K to the Test with HB Fuller

Air Power Manufacturing Solutions Put PD2K to the Test with Graco and HB Fuller

 

The customer is switching to Swifttak 4431 Heat Reactivated Water Based Adhesive, a two-component adhesive, for better product quality. They need a system to effectively mix and spray the 2K adhesive. The Graco PD2K is the only 2K system that can effectively handle the Swifttak adhesive due to the industrial pump based unit which allows for operation in either flow or pressure made.

More about Graco ProMix PD2K System

More about Graco ProMix PD2K System

The ProMix PD2K mixes the material close to the gun so the flush zone is significantly smaller. This allows customers to use less paint, spend less on disposal costs and allows for faster color changes. And because there is limited mixed material in the system, the ProMix PD2K is ideal for short pot life materials. It is also compatible with acid-based materials.

Graco has specific ProMix proportioners that are designed to manage tough acid catalyst applications like cabinetry and bar countertops. The corrosion resistance fluid section, plus the smart fluid plate with 316 and 17-4 SST catalyst sections, can easily handle strong acid catalysts.

 

Goodbye to Manual Mixing

Introduction

This customer manufactures underground boring equipment for gas and water lines. They used “hot potting” or manually mix 2 paint components to spray two colors: yellow and black.

Background

This company has one booth for top coating and would manually mix the black and yellow paints. It took well over an hour to change out the colors. The parts being fabricated were staged all over the plant waiting to be painted. Due to backlog and space contingencies, some items were stored outside. Rainy days would slow down the process even more.

Air Power Solution

Air Power’s solution recommended using a Graco Promix 2KE with gun flush box and using drum pumps they already had. Mixing on demand out of a 55-gallon drum of each component, improved the ability to change colors in less time than it takes to bring a new part to be coated.

 

Graco Liquid vs Electrostatic Spray Gun for Waterborne Paint

 

 

 

Graco Liquid vs Electrostatic Spray Gun for Waterborne Paint

 

Welcome to Air Power’s Finishing Lab! In this video, we show the capabilities of the Graco Electrostatic Spray Gun for Waterborne paints. The electrostatic feature can be switched on and off making this spray gun versatile to fit any customer’s needs.