The surface coating technology that NASA and the U.S. military use to make their landing and steering gears last longer is now available at Vail Rubber Works, Inc.’s new Surface Technology Center. The 12,000 sq. ft. facility, located in St. Joseph, MI, houses Vail’s thermal spray coating technologies, which reportedly can extend part reliability up to four-times longer than chrome plating, metalizing or spray welding.

The surface coating technology that NASA and the U.S. military use to make their landing and steering gears last longer is now available at Vail Rubber Works, Inc.’s new Surface Technology Center. The 12,000 sq. ft. facility, located in St. Joseph, MI, houses Vail’s thermal spray coating technologies, which reportedly can extend part reliability up to four-times longer than chrome plating, metalizing or spray welding. Its HVOF (High Velocity Oxy-Fuel), combustion powder and combustion wire coating processes can restore parts to their original dimensionality, as well as improve their anti-skid properties or wear and corrosion resistance.

“We piloted the coating processes for our premium roll journals used in the paper and steel industries,” said Vail President William Hanley. “With this new, larger facility we will expand the service to other industry applications. If a part or product needs a longer-lasting coating, we can provide it.”

The company said that its thermal spray coating processes can reduce routine maintenance costs on agricultural equipment and components for power generation, water treatment, pharmaceutical, chemical, machine tool and plastics plants.

Ralph Burke, the new center’s plant manager, and Matt Fleisher, coating technician, analyze which of the more than 300 coating formulations is best suited for each application. “The expanded capability of this new center will allow us faster turnaround to minimize customer downtime,” Burke said.

For more information, call 269.408.0092 or visitwww.vailrubber.com.