THE BUSINESS OF VISCOSITY BLOG

People have now been relying on automobiles as a primary source of transportation for more than 100 years.

And if you look at early vehicles, you’ll see that we’ve come a long way in terms of automotive design, safety, and function. Twenty years from now, when self-driving cars become the rage, we may look at today’s vehicles and think the same thing!

Topics: Temperature control, paint and coating

No, this isn’t a lesson in parenting, though reflecting back on raising our daughter, the thought is certainly applicable! The point is that consistency is just as important in our dispensing processes as it is in our parenting experience!

Let’s examine why…

Topics: Temperature control

In our recent blog, Can Liner Weight Variations Impact Quality, Delivery, and Cost Structure, we noted that the two most important criteria in evaluating liner performance are:

1. Volume of the sealer applied
2. Placement of the sealer (called “compound”)

Throughout this series, we have also related these two criteria to variations in temperature, but in reality, there is an interplay between all three.

Topics: Temperature control

I often get the comment:

“I understand the issues associated with the big changes from season-to-season, but the changes from day-to-day are gradual.  Isn’t it pretty easy to compensate for those?”

And then, mother nature comes along and provides the perfect demonstration of the issue.

Topics: Temperature control

 

In the last blog, I told the story of Dan, a friend of mine that runs a top-notch coating operation here in the Midwest and the problem he was experiencing during this extended cold snap we have been experiencing.  (Click here if you missed it or want to review)  In the end, Dan’s problem was caused by adding too much solvent in an attempt to adjust for the increase in viscosity caused by the colder paint temperature.

Adding Solvent is Changing Your Formulation

Topics: Temperature control

To remind us that we are in the dead of winter here in the Midwest and across the Eastern Seaboard, Mother Nature has been delivering sub-zero temperatures and snow by the foot.  These are the times that try a coater’s soul!

Topics: Manufacturing, Temperature control

I did a presentation a few months ago and the sponsor asked me to turn it into an article for their industry journal – which I was only too glad to do!  Once submitted, it was subjected to peer review – a common practice – and one I never give too much thought.  I’ve done it lots of times – and I guess it was bound to happen – this time it went sideways…

Topics: Viscosity, Temperature control

This is a great question!

It seems that there is a prevailing attitude out there that the implementation of shot meters or other flow control systems eliminate the need for any other kind of control.  And it isn't without some basis in logic.  After all, shot meters and flow control systems are designed to assure that exactly the same volume of material will be applied, over the same time period, on every dispense, time-after-time-after-time…

Topics: Manufacturing, Temperature control

Process Improvement Trends
In the January 2014 Edition of Products Finishing Magazine, regular contributor Matthew Kirchner, CEO of American Finishing Resources, LLC wrote an article entitled What’s Trending in Manufacturing?  In the section named “Process Improvement Trends,” Mr. Kirchner identified increased expectations of suppliers by manufacturers. 

Topics: Viscosity, Temperature control

Topics: Temperature control, Point of Application