THE BUSINESS OF VISCOSITY BLOG

Viscosity is an important factor in quality control when it comes to painting. Different viscosities will yield different results, so if you want a consistent result in the finish of a painted surface, you must know the ideal viscosity of your paint, and then do everything technically feasible to maintain that viscosity.

Viscosity itself, however, is prone to many factors, and temperature is a key element. While specific numbers will vary, higher temperatures mean lower viscosities, while lower temperatures mean higher ones. And all of this comes into play at the most critical moment of all: right when it’s time to apply the paint to the surface.

Can making facilities are large.

We cut our teeth in the automotive industry and still, these places are pretty big. Big enough that, in extreme climates like the south and the west, it would be cost prohibitive to air condition them – especially in a low-margin industry like can manufacturing.

In my recent post Metal Can Manufacturing – A Study in Process Viscosity Control, I discussed the origin of the metal can, and how it has changed over the years. Of particular interest to us here is the incorporation of advanced sealing technologies into the end attachment process:

“New sealant materials have been added to the rim of the can to assure an air-tight, leak-free, long-term seal when the end is hemmed onto the can body.”

In our recent blog, "Why Quality Checks are Rising in Architectural Coil Coating," we noted that modern architecture involves:

• More colors than ever before
• Short runs
• High quality demands
• Long warranty periods

In our recent blog, “3 Ways PCM Reduces Costs in Aluminum and Steel Coil Coating," we outlined the case of one of our clients who utilized the PCM to address cleaning issues in their coating systems. They reduced their paint delivery system volume by more than 70% which:

Every manufacturing business that survived the infamous “downturn” has increased their focus on operating costs in order to remain viable and competitive. In many markets, however, “remaining competitive” means extending warranties and reducing price. This translates into reducing inventory and controlling what is paid for goods with no compromise in the quality of the goods received.

Coated coil users and those in industrial coating industries are no exception.

Please excuse the trite reference to Stephen Covey! But in this case, there really are seven traits that we see that signify that we are working with a world-class coater. Truly world class coil coaters are identified by their ability to:

1. Provide a high quality surface finish batch-after-batch
2. Deliver on time, every time

In order to stay competitive, coil coaters are continuously working to implement leaner operations with the goal of optimizing the throughput in their coating systems. These objectives would seem to be in direct contrast to the marketplace, which is demanding more frequent deliveries of smaller and smaller batches – often of custom colors – which all suggest less efficient operations.

Enter SCS’ innovative coating technology, the Profile Correction Module (PCM).

With the coil coating marketplace, including industrial coating industries, moving in the direction of more frequent deliveries of smaller and smaller lot sizes, often involving custom colors, the importance of color changes, setups and quality checks has never been greater.

Addressing these requirements in a time of increasing price pressure requires a re-examination of the whole coating application process to ensure that only the best practices and most reliable coating technology are being employed.

Dealing with partial drum storage and handling is the bane of everyone in industrial coating industries, but it is greater for coil coaters than for any other industrial finishing method. The increased number of partial drums generated in the coil coating process represents a significant overhead cost in a low-margin process. In order to deal with the problem, it is important to understand where and how these originate.