The equipment
behind the finish —
spec by spec.

Application equipment.

We run Nordson HDLV powder delivery systems in both cells. HDLV (High-Density, Low-Velocity) pumping moves powder through the system in dense slugs with less air velocity than traditional venturi pumps — this results in more consistent transfer efficiency, better film build control, and less overspray waste. In practice, it means the powder lands on the part where it's supposed to, not in the reclaim system.

Cell 1 has a Nordson ColorMax booth with automated reciprocators and a 12-gun setup for high-volume production work. Cell 2 has a smaller manual Nordson Encore HD booth for detail work, touch-up, and short runs. Both booths have quick-change powder feed to allow color changes without a full teardown.

Blast & pretreatment line.

Pretreatment is where coating quality is actually made. Our line handles both ferrous and non-ferrous substrates with two parallel processes: mechanical (blasting) and chemical (7-stage iron phosphate). Most production parts get both — blast to remove mill scale and create a surface profile, then chemical pretreatment for a conversion coating that the powder chemically bonds to.

The 7-stage iron phosphate line runs alkaline clean → rinse → rinse → iron phosphate → rinse → rinse → DI rinse → dry-off. Cycle time is 22 minutes at full throughput. The line is monitored continuously for bath concentration, temperature, and pH — logs are kept per run and are available for customer QA files.

Aluminum parts go through a chromate conversion pretreatment instead of iron phosphate. Same 7-stage approach, different chemistry. We also run a chrome-free conversion option for projects with specific environmental requirements.

Batch ovens & cure.

We run two gas-fired batch ovens, each with independent temperature control and its own data logging. Batch ovens (as opposed to conveyor ovens) allow us to cure parts of different sizes in the same cycle, and to run low-temperature cure schedules for heat-sensitive parts without disrupting the rest of the line.

Both ovens maintain ±5°F of setpoint across the full chamber, which is the tolerance required for consistent powder cure. Every cure cycle is logged with time-in, time-to-temperature, dwell time, and time-out. Logs are archived by lot number for the duration required by our ISO 9001 procedures — currently a minimum of three years.

For low-temperature powders (250°F – 300°F), we use the same ovens with an extended dwell schedule. Low-temp cure takes roughly 60% longer than standard cure, which is factored into the quoted turnaround when the customer specifies low-temp.

QC lab & instruments.

Our QC lab is a separate, climate-controlled room off the main floor. Every production lot goes through final inspection here before it's released for shipping. The lab houses the measurement instruments, reference samples, and documentation systems that support our ISO 9001 process.

Film thickness is measured with calibrated electronic dry-film gauges — we use multiple gauges so that a single instrument failure doesn't halt a production run. Adhesion testing uses cross-hatch and impact methods per ASTM standards. Color verification is done with a spectrophotometer against retained reference samples from approved production batches.

We also run our own salt-spray cabinet for periodic corrosion testing. This isn't for every lot — it's for validating new systems, verifying customer-specified test requirements, and for annual re-verification of our standard processes. Salt spray results are reported in hours to first red rust and hours to 5% red rust.

Masking equipment.

Masking is one of the least visible parts of the coating process and one of the most detail-heavy. Every surface that needs to stay bare — threads, bores, mating faces, electrical contacts, hub seats — has to be masked before powder application and un-masked after cure. Bad masking ruins good coating jobs.

We use high-temperature silicone plugs, caps, and tapes that survive the 400°F cure cycle without shrinking or leaving residue. Standard masking tape breaks down at cure temperature and leaves adhesive; silicone masking doesn't. For complex parts with many masked features, we build reusable masking fixtures that hold every plug in the correct position — this speeds up masking on every part in a production run and prevents missed masks.

Loading & staging.

The facility has a dedicated loading dock with 53-foot trailer access and a separate inbound/outbound staging area. Parts never cross the coating floor between receipt and shipping — this prevents contamination from settled powder, cutting fluids, or dust. The receiving bay handles inbound freight and the loading dock handles outbound.

Inside the shop, we run two 5,000 lb forklifts and a 2-ton overhead bridge crane for moving heavy parts between stations. Racking systems are configured per job — from simple ground racks to custom hanging fixtures for long architectural extrusions. Rack storage is separated by lot so parts don't get mixed between jobs.