Metallic appearances are accomplished by the use of special effect pigments such as aluminum, bronze, zinc, stainless steel or pearlescent micas. These pigments are combined with base powders by various techniques - including extrusion, dry blending and bonding - to produce the finished special effect powder coating.

Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) and other types of thermal oxidation systems have proven to be a highly effective and energy-efficient method of abating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants emitted by finishing industry applications. However, careful attention should be given to selecting the shape and material of the heat exchange media to mitigate potential problems with particulate matter and to ensure reliable, economical and safe operation of these systems.

Within the last five years, suppliers have found a way to make sawdust-sized, random dry organic particulate materials into shapes to give the media more bulk and mass, similar to wood shapes. The additional weight of the new dry organic media makes it basically perform the same as ceramic or plastic, except there is no need for water or chemicals.

How can a company using 15,000 to 18,000 gallons of water and 165 to 185 gallons of chemical cleaning agent per month decrease its usage to less than 1,200 gallons of water and 7 gallons of cleaning agent per month, to save up to $17,000 per year? Robert Miller from TASROP, Inc., believes he has the answer in the form of a new recycling system.

Why is it so hard for suppliers to make a profit in the powder coating industry, and what long-term effect will this situation have on finishing professionals? A few suppliers shared their views “off the record.”

Dear Joe,
We recently sent a truckload of galvalume tubing to be powder coated. The finished product appears to have a bumpy surface that looks like fish eyes. This galvalume consists of 43.4% zinc, 55% aluminum and 1.6% silicon. The coating thickness on this product is approx 1.0 mils, while the powder coating thickness is approx 1.1 mils. Could it be the silicon in the matrix of galvalume?

HERR Industrial, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial paint finishing systems and air pollution control equipment, has added Dan Aubel to its Paint Sales Team as the sales engineer for the Southern Regional Sales Office. Aubel brings more than 29 years of sales experience in the paint finishing industry.

A new catalog of specialty abrasive products for use on stainless steel, aluminum, exotic metals, and mild steel that introduces four new products is being offered by Rex-Cut Products, Inc. The 2007 Rex-Cut® Specialty Abrasives Catalog features a range of products for cutting, grinding, blending, and finishing stainless steel, aluminum, exotic metals and mild steel.

A new brochure from Bayer MaterialScience showcases the company’s wood and furniture coatings raw materials, including the Bayhydrol®, Bayhydur®, Desmodur®, Demophen®, Roskydal® and Desmolux® product lines. The brochure summarizes each product and outlines their important technical properties.

The new 76 mm (3 in.) center-ported Advanced™ Series metal pump from Wilden Pump & Engineering Co. is designed as a direct drop-in for 76 mm Original™ Series applications. The pump can be used when greater product containment and higher flow rates are desired with minimal changes to existing plumbing.