New dimensions in powder coating

Powder coating in new dimensions  

Photos: ENVIRAL® GmbH  

Magazine: Stahlbau Nachrichten
Issue:       2/2005 (issued in July)

ENVIRAL® operates a large plant. New dimensions in powder coating.

The optical and qualitative requirements for coated surfaces are increasingly important in the steel construction sector. At the same time, current and expected future environmental regulations are of great significance, too. The ENVIRAL® Oberflächenveredelung GmbH takes this trend into account. Our company that has worked successfully on the market since September 1996. In September 2004 we inaugurated our new large part powder coating plant at our location at Niemegk (state of Brandenburg). This opened up new dimensions in powder coating: 13m long components with a weight per item of up to 3,000 kg and maximum dimensions of 3.60 m in height and 2.50 in width can be treated automatically or manually in the 1,800m² large hall. The daily capacity is about 2,000m² in coating surface.

First objects like e.g. steel constructions for a steel-glass roof or a sports hall have already been powder coated in the new production plant, as well as the powder coat of the steel construction for a mobile exhibition system, elevator shaft frames, solid web girders, light poles, steel window systems or balconies. Currently, more projects are being realised or prepared in close co-operation with architects, steel builders and project managers.

The workpieces of aluminium, untreated steel and galvanised steel receive wet-chemical and/or mechanical pre-treatment to be prepared for powder coating, depending on the size of the constructional part. For this purpose, degreasing/ferric phosphatisation and chrome-free Al-pre-treatment and pressure- or airless blast cleaning are used. The powder coating that is applied afterwards has one layer with about 50 to 120μm for interior areas, and 2 layers with up to 160-180µm for exterior areas and achieves the corrosion protection classes C2 to C5 long according to DIN EN ISO 12944-2. Moreover, powder coating offers best mechanical properties and highest weather resistance immediately after the coating and thermal cross-linking. Clients are able to choose from over 3,000 colours and effect variations.

However, it is a prerequisite for guaranteeing the above-mentioned quality properties to take the rules of constructive corrosion protection into account as well.  To repair powder-coated surfaces, ENVIRAL® offers different methods. The quality management system of the ENVIRAL® GmbH is certified according to DIN EN ISO 9001:2000. By working in double and triple shift operation, ENVIRAL® is able to react flexibly with regard to its clients’ deadlines.