Choosing a Conveyor

Conveyors for Finishing Systems

The selection of a conveyor for your powder coating system or liquid paint system at your manufacturing plant should be based on the features and benefits of each of the conveyors, part and process requirements, as well as your business goals.

There are three types of automated overhead conveyors typically used in finishing systems:

Monorail conveyors
Power and Free conveyors
IntelliFinishing conveyors

The layout should be configured to move parts from the loading point in the fabrication area through the finishing system to the unloading point in the assembly or shipping area. The goal is to minimize wasted movement, damage to the parts and personnel while providing the desired finished quality.

Monorail Conveyor Description

A monorail conveyor is simple and efficient but lacks flexibility.

Overhead monorail conveyors have the load-carrying and the drive functions combined in one element—the endless chain. The chain is guided by a rail system based on either an I-beam or an enclosed track. A take-up unit ensures that the chain is pulled tight as it leaves the drive unit. A caterpillar drive or sprocket drives the chain. Parts are suspended from the chain by special attachments or load bars. This conveyor can follow only one path. No other paths or spurs for masking, maintenance, labeling, loading or unloading are typically part of a monorail conveyor system.

Advantages: simple, efficient, low initial cost, best used for a single type of part and process

Disadvantages: no layout flexibility for part variety or process changes, any line stop or breakdown stops entire conveyor, no ability to stop for a process (masking, touch-up, labeling) without stopping entire conveyor, chain maintenance, take-up unit adjustment and monitoring, lubrication can cause issues with the quality of the parts, noisy

Video:
Monorail Conveyor

Power and Free Conveyor Description

Power & Free conveyors use a two-rail system and pusher dogs to allow for more flexibility than a monorail system.

Overhead power and free conveyors are two-rail systems. The trolley is the load-carrying element and is located below the chain. The trolleys use the lower “free rail” and the chains are in the upper “power rail.” Pusher dogs establish the connection between chain and trolley and can be engaged (dogging and de-dogging) and disengaged as needed. The “free rail” can be equipped with switches, lifting stations or stops to allow the trolleys to follow different paths, or be lifted or lowered, stopped or moved at different speeds throughout the system. The entire conveyor system is PLC-controlled.

Advantages: flexible layouts for variety of parts and processes, stop and start, multiple speeds, reduction in personnel since parts may be stopped, trolleys can be buffered, part tracking, integration to ERP, process recipes

Disadvantages: higher initial cost than monorail conveyor, any line stops or breakdowns stop entire conveyor, more layout options require more chain, return chain, speed changes require multiple chains and drive motors, chain maintenance, take-up unit adjustment and monitoring, lubrication can cause quality problems, part swing since there is no accelerate or decelerate, no ability to reverse direction reduces layout options, no ability to reverse when there are problems requires complete chain to be stopped, noisy

Videos:
Dog Magic Chain Conveyor (Daifuku North America)
Power & Free Conveyors (Daifuku Webb)

IntelliFinishing Conveyor Description

IntelliFInishing Spinning Tube Friction Drive Conveyor

An IntelliFinishing conveyor system provides ultimate flexibility using a spinning tube friction drive requiring no chain.

The IntelliFinishing conveyor provides even greater flexibility than power and free because the movement of the trolley is performed with a spinning tube by a small motor. Each section or zone of an IntelliFinishing conveyor may be independently controlled with a variable frequency drive (VFD) and the entire system is PLC-controlled. Data handling and smart controls with recipes for a variety of parts provide even greater flexibility and automation. With “no chain”, driving the system, many of the issues like maintenance, noise, chain jams, take-up problems, lubrication ruining finished parts, de-dogging, floor space for return chain, etc. are not an issue for an IntelliFinishing automated finishing system. The trolley (propelled by the spinning tube) moves forward and reverse which provides more layout options and decreases production stoppage and downtime when compared to power and free conveyor system.

Advantages: flexible layouts for a variety of parts and processes, stop and start, multiple speeds, can stop individual motor sections independent of each other allowing remainder of conveyor system to run, reduction in personnel since parts may be stopped, trolleys can be buffered, part tracking, integration to ERP, process recipes, accelerate, decelerate, reverse, minimal maintenance and no chain lubrication, reduction in floor space, lower energy and resources since processes run only when a part is present, expandable, modular and moveable, more adaptable for lean manufacturing

Disadvantages: higher initial cost than monorail conveyor, more options may cause increase in costs because of drives and motors, limitations on inclines and declines, larger elevation changes require lift sections

Videos:
IntelliFinishing System Overview
IntelliFinishing Shuttle for Large Parts
IntelliFinishing Paint System at Raytheon

Advantages of Overhead Conveyors

Monorail

simple
efficient
low initial cost
best for single part/process

Power & Free

flexible layouts
stop & start
multiple speeds
buffering
part tracking
integration to ERP
process recipes

IntelliFinishing

flexible layouts
stop & start
multiple speeds
buffering
stop sections without stopping whole line
part tracking
integration to ERP
process recipes
accelerate
decelerate
reverse
minimal maintenance
no lubrication
reduction in floor space
expandable
modular
moveable

Disadvantages of Overhead Conveyors

Monorail

no layout flexibility
chain maintenance
take-up adjustment
lubrication
noisy

Power & Free

higher initial cost (vs. monorail)
chain maintenance
take-up adjustment
lubrication
noisy
more layout options require more chain
return chain
part swing

IntelliFinishing

higher initial cost (vs. monorail)
limitation on incline & decline

Blog Entries

Lean Series Part I: Reducing Transportation Waste in your Paint Production Process

How You Gamble With Your Paint Production Processes: 11 Ways To Be A High Roller

Transportation Waste is defined as the unnecessary movement of people or parts between processes.

Automated conveyors are usually not the first thing lean coordinators for manufacturing think of when they are developing a Lean strategy, but it can have a huge effect on Continuous Improvement.

I hope lean organizers (in any production facility which processes finished parts) consider the following information when beginning their lean journey.

Lean conveyance in manufacturing paint processes is more than moving parts from one place to another; it’s about eliminating unproductive waiting time by delivering parts to meet customer or station demand.

An IntelliFinishing complete finishing system is responsive to Lean manufacturing, focusing on optimizing product flow throughout the finishing process.

At IntelliFinishing, our unique Complete Powder Coating or Complete Liquid Coating System has the ability to compliment your Lean Manufacturing processes and eliminate waste in your facility, adding value to your products and your productivity measurements.

When thinking of an automated paint system, I hope you compare the benefits of all the types of conveyor systems available to you. See how an Intellifinishing system stacks up against monorail and power and free. Of course, I want you to choose our IntelliFinishing system if it is the best fit for your needs. Each conveyor has value for the processes in a manufacturer’s finishing system. The value added to your particular Lean expectation is dependent on what your requirements and end goals are.

Ways an IntelliFinishing Complete Paint System Reduces Transportation Waste for a Lean Process

If you are looking to cut transportation waste, an IntelliFinishing automated paint system may be what you are looking for. Here are some of the areas where you could be rolling “snake eyes” with every toss of the dice, (when you start up your production line for the workday), with an IntelliFinishing System.

Batching product is no longer necessary and results in a reduction in WIP (work in progress):
The IntelliFinishing system has immediate response when adjusting to process changes and production flow providing continuous improvement in your finishing process. It can even be extended to point of use, allowing your parts to travel from paint to assembly to shipping, improving your workflow. Our lean paint system allows for pre-programmed recipes that let you change process speeds and dwell times specific to the part and part family.
An IntelliFinishing system offers layout flexibility and grows with your production:
Several of our customers have added additional phases after their systems were installed, and efficiencies were recognized. Second and Third phases were implemented when necessary, instead of over-investing in the beginning. We equate this as “jackpot” for our customers!
Independent zones and carrier controls:
Our carriers can stop and start throughout the entire system, without stopping the rest of production, which saves you money! “Cha-ching!”

Carriers can stop and start in a process without affecting the rest of the line.
Single Piece flow or One Piece Flow is attainable:
An IntelliFinishing complete finishing system for manufacturers can attain single piece flow because it uses recipes to produce consistent and repeatable results. Our systems also have less than 1% downtime meaning you will be able to set and meet your required takt times.
Friction driven conveyor eliminates downtime due to chain issues:
Imagine a conveyor system that has a footprint that equates to one mile in length, filled to capacity with parts for the paint process (you are playing with a full deck!). Now imagine that somewhere within one of the zones there is a chain jam. If you work in production you probably have the ability to pinpoint exactly how long it takes to shut down production, find your pry-bar or heavy duty come-along (or whatever tool you have in place) to release the jam and physically pull the carrier in reverse to a buffer zone; perform the required maintenance; inspect the chain links as stated in your maintenance manual; all before you can restart production. As we have seen in plants, sometimes the jam fixes itself once the torque releases and operators will spray paint the section where the jam occurs and wait for that section to pass through the platform to inspect the chain for damage. Think about how many people on the paint line this affects and add in the costs of their downtime. “You got to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em”. If this is something that happens frequently, you need to get more information about IntelliFinishing Automated Finishing Systems as soon as possible.

Our alternative to power and free conveyor has no chain. Reduce your maintenance, your floor space and downtime.
No wasted space on return chain because there is NO chain:
Return chain is a huge waste taking up valuable floor space. It can be a nightmare when troubleshooting. An IntelliFinishing Turnkey Finishing System’s unique “wild card” feature, is the ability to travel in forward AND REVERSE with no wasted movement such as a return chain that is empty having to travel through the whole footprint to get back to its original starting point. An IntelliFinishing system uses deadhead turns and spurs if parts need to be re-routed or receive extra processing.
Reduced downtime:
Or what we like to refer to as the “Royal Flush”. No chain. No jams. No operators waiting for production to restart. No de-dogging. Less maintenance.
Point of use:
An IntelliFinishing System gives you the ability to incorporate your work stations where you need them for your product flow. Masked parts can be unmasked at workstations located together for point of use in the production process to continue on their way immediately. You are in control to develop your personal lean strategy and what design works best for you when you “lay your bets on the table” with an IntelliFinishing design.

We can create a Lean layout for your finishing system that incorporates point of use into your production process. Click to enlarge.
No wasted movement of conveyor:
Our IntelliFinishing system, used by top manufacturers, offers your production line the ability to save on everyday wear and tear, plus maintenance costs, by not continuously running. If a part, or trolley is not present in a zone, the conveyor doesn’t run. We’re serious about saving companies as much as we can, unlike those other “jokers”.
Reduction in floor space:
IntelliFinishing “ups the ante” when you require a system that WILL fit into your available space, and we have proven it. One of our customer’s was told there was NO way they could fit an automated finishing system into the small space they had available. Our IntelliFinishing complete finishing system was designed just for that space, installed into that space and has been producing finished parts for more than two years! We have decreased floor space requirements by up to 43% in some instances (this was a large system install).
Uses shuttles and deadhead turns:
The use of shuttles and deadhead turns eliminates the need for large radius turns in your conveyor system, again resulting in reduced floor space. Our unique shuttle negates the need for huge turns to accommodate large part maneuverability and allows for easy expansion with no production downtime when you are ready to expand. We are “all in” when it comes to helping our customers save time, money and manpower when choosing a finishing system.

Shuttle and deadhead turns eliminate large radius turns resulting in reduced floor space usage.

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Lean Series Part II: Reduce Inventory Waste in Your Paint Production Process

It’s About What It Really Costs You!

Waste is defined as anything other than the MINIMUM amount of time, equipment, tools, material, parts, people, and space required to ADD VALUE to the product.

Inventory waste in the Finishing Industry would most likely be related to raw materials, WIP (work in progress) or finished goods stock that is held, not having value added to it. Equipment, tools, people and space would also come in to play. Inventory waste is stock and work in process in excess of the required amount needed to produce goods “just in time”. Unnecessary inventory that accumulates before and after processes is an indication that continuous flow is not being achieved.

Large batch sizes, lack of balance in work flow, long changeover time, incapable processes and not adhering to procedures may all cause excess inventory in your finishing process. Every piece of inventory you hold has a physical cost associated with it. There are also less obvious costs that cut directly into your profit including the transportation and movement of this inventory, the space required to store it, the administration keeping track of it, the cost of writing it off if it becomes obsolete, and even the cost of insuring it.

An IntelliFinishing (alternative to power and free) automated finishing system for powder coating or liquid coating is very responsive to Lean manufacturing, and focuses on optimizing product flow throughout the finishing process while adding value to your products and to your productivity measurements.

Ways an IntelliFinishing Automated Paint System Reduces Inventory Waste for a Lean Process

Reduce WIP:
With a turnkey finishing system provided by IntelliFinishing, batching product is no longer necessary. The IntelliFinishing system has immediate response when adjusting to process changes and production flow providing continuous improvement in your finishing processes. It can even be extended to point of use, allowing your parts to travel from paint to assembly to shipping, improving your workflow. Our lean system allows for pre-programmed recipes that automatically change process speeds and dwell times specific to the part and part family.
Flexibility to Close Production Gaps:
Buffering is the ability to collect products that can be delivered at a different rate than received. Many times, power and free conveyor systems are designed with buffer zones. IntelliFinishing has the ability to move parts off of the line for additional masking, while allowing faster processed parts to continue through the system. While buffering space is available with an IntelliFinishing completely automated system, it is usually not necessary. Routing can be optimized based on system availability.
No Need to Batch Because of Recipes:
IntelliFinishing’s smart controls allow you to input recipes with the unique application requirements for each part family. As different parts are loaded onto the system each recipe dictates process changes throughout the system on the fly, improving not only your efficiency, but also the quality of your parts.
Reduced Number of Parts to be Reworked:
IntelliFinishing’s unique chainless conveyor completely eliminates the chance for lubricant from a chain to drip onto parts. Also, part recipes and the ability to move in forward and reverse decreases the chance of parts being over-cured or under-cured.
Reduced Bottlenecks:
With the addition of smart controls to your paint line, IntelliFinishing gives you the capability to review your production data to determine the root cause of a bottleneck and take action immediately. You have the ability to “catch up” with an IntelliFinishing system because you can speed up on demand, whereas monorails are limited to one speed only and power and free requires a separate chain to run delivery speeds.
Reduce Downtime (Scheduled or Unscheduled):
IntelliFinishing allows for spurs to easily be incorporated into the design of your system with the forward and reverse direction of travel inherent with the conveyance technology. Spurs can be used as cooling areas, maintenance areas, inspection areas, or to re-sequence parts on the line.

Spurs are easily incorporated into the design of an IntelliFinishing complete paint system. The forward and reverse direction of travel that is inherent with the conveyance technology is perfect for cooling, maintenance or inspection areas, or to resequence parts on the line.

We Give You the Option to Compare and Choose

Visit our website at www.intellifinishing.com and compare the IntelliFinishing options to monorail or power and free traditional systems. See the differences, and learn how to choose the right conveyor for your production needs. There is always much more involved than just the price of a new system. Why not have a system that gives you some of that cost back in savings?

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Complete Paint System Open House – Albers Finishing & Solutions

Interested in learning more about IntelliFinishing’s powder coating or liquid paint systems? Join us on March 24, 2016 and see our newest installation in full production mode at Albers Finishing & Solutions in Cheney, KS. Our IntelliFinishing team will be available all to day to answer questions and highlight all of the features we offer in our complete finishing systems.

Albers Finishing & Solutions, located in Cheney, Kansas, would like to announce they will host an open house at their facility located at
38628 West 15th St. South
Cheney Kansas
10am to 3pm on March 24, 2016
RSVP
Cheney is located 30 miles west of Wichita on Highway 400.

Review a simulation and to sign up, visit www.intellifinishing.com/albers.

Albers Finishing & Solutions provides liquid paint services to regional and national customers. The highly automated paint line has a part window of 2’W x 4’H x 8’L and can handle up to 500lbs of weight on each load bar. Albers Finishing & Solutions was created in response to a local manufacturer who had a need to provide a finished product but didn’t want to stray from their core business by adding paint inside their operation. Albers Finishing & Solutions took on the challenge of solving the client’s needs while at the same time building a versatile facility that can serve many industries.
Currently, the liquid paint line is capable of painting 2,000 to 3,000 parts per day and features an automated conveyor that moves load bars forward and reverse or even stops them independently of every other load bar in the system, a three-stage wash, dry off oven, two paint booths equipped with Fanuc robots applying liquid primer and paint via automated paint mix equipment, a dual-lane energy-efficient cure oven and a load-assist lifter.

The line was designed and installed by IntelliFinishing based out of Salina, KS. Woody Miller, IntelliFinishing’s project manager states, “This paint system offers some of the best and newest advances in the industry. With advanced automation and controls, energy efficiencies, and floor space savings, the cost to paint each part is less than other systems. This is a very high-end system, located here in Cheney. Other manufacturers are struggling with their “monument” systems and would love to have a system like this.”

IntelliFinishing teamed up with Downey Consulting, a local company in designing the following for the system: load-assist lifter, carriers, loadbars, hangars and a rotator mechanism in each paint booth. The parts are hung on a custom loadbar with a spinner wheel, and spun utilizing the air operated (intrinsically safe) rotator. All of this is controlled by the PLC. The wireless lifter mechanism is capable of removing the loadbar from the carrier fully loaded with parts, placing finished product on racks, or changing loadbars for a different type/style of part. This allows the ultimate in flexibility of the system.

Bret Albers of Albers Finishing & Solutions states, “Albers Finishing & Solutions will be launching with some of the latest technology available in the paint industry. The IntelliFinishing system provides the ultimate in flexibility, automation and energy saving features. Being fully automated and robotic allows us to provide clients with a consistent product each and every time. On top of that IntelliFinishing has the best support team in the business. Their design team, installation crew, programming staff and marketing are second to none.”

“In addition to superior quality and consistency, companies choosing Albers Finishing & Solutions will also experience the ultimate in customer service. Our goal is to be your partner, not just another contractor. We understand how important turnaround times, communication on the status of your product, quality control, and proper packing are to the success of your business so come by and check us out to see what we can do for you,” explains Bret Albers.

Plans to expand the business include powder coating and anodizing processes.

The owners of Albers Finishing & Solutions have been involved in other businesses including: Art’s & Mary’s Tater Chips, Leadfoot Express Transport and D’Mario’s Pizza Outlets.

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Lean Series Part III: Determining the Amount of Motion Waste in Paint Production Process

Motion waste refers to the extra physical steps taken by employees and equipment to accommodate inefficient process layout, defects, reprocessing, overproduction or excess inventory. Additional and unnecessary motion takes time and adds no value to the product or service.

Moving and adding value is called work. Moving and not adding value is adding costs to your company and is motion waste.

IntelliFinishing removes motion waste simply by its technology and design. We know we cost more than an average Power and Free system. We are okay with that, because we know the value our completely automated finishing system adds to our customer’s production processes and profit margins.

Here is how we add value and help our customers remove motion waste:

SMALL FOOTPRINT
Many of IntelliFinishing’s system layouts result in a smaller footprint than systems that use overhead monorail conveyors or power and free conveyors. A smaller footprint ultimately means less conveyor to maintain, less floor space operators have to cover and a reduction in the space requirements of your building. An Intellifinishing system can be designed within a smaller footprint because:
- the conveyor does not have a chain so you don’t have to plan for the return chain
- our conveyor moves forward and backward allowing you to spur parts to a masking area or load/unload area
- we use shuttles or deadheads for large parts eliminating the need for large bulb turns
- we give you flexibility within zones, allowing the conveyor to run faster or slower based on the process, eliminating the need for a large oven

LAYOUT DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
When we are designing systems, we look for ways to share operators and resources between stations. In one system, we were able to position the mask and unmask stations next to each other, allowing for one person to perform both tasks. Frequently, the same resources may be used for loading and unloading since the system can stop in a zone without affecting other areas.

SYSTEM OVERVIEW DISPLAY AT ALL HMIs
Operating stations track each carrier within each zone allowing you to quickly identify any issues and exactly where it is located, saving time and money in motion waste. Work instructions may also be displayed at stations and are useful for masking and labeling instructions.

SPEED UP THROUGH NON-VALUE ADDED ZONES
IntelliFinishing complete paint systems give you the ability to move at variable speeds within zones, along with the value added option to stop the line within a zone or process without affecting the rest of the line, eliminating unnecessary movement of equipment.

DECREASED MOVEMENT EQUALS FEWER INJURIES
With less overall movement by workers and equipment, the chance of injury decreases. Have you ever wondered how beneficial decreased movement can be to your bottom-line? For example, the average back injury (sprain/strain) can cost more than $10,000 in direct costs (National Safety Council Statistics) and anywhere from $30,000 up to $100,000 in indirect cost. The direct cost for all U.S. workers out of work due to Musculoskeletal Disorders or MSDs is estimated at $13-20 billion annually with indirect costs between $26-110 billion annually.

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We’ve Been Published in Products Finishing!

2016 Products Finishing Directory Magazine has published our article “Choosing A Finishing System Conveyor“. We invite you to read and share it with anyone who can benefit from the information provided within the article. For more information on traditional finishing systems vs. IntelliFinishing complete finishing systems, please visit http://www.intellifinishing.com/vs-traditional.html or contact us for a tour. We are always excited to share the features of this amazing automated paint system for manufacturers.

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Super Efficient Washers

IntelliFinishing washers are designed for quick installation and are the most energy efficient in the industry.

The modular design gives us the ability to send the washers to our customers pre-fabricated, pre-wired, pre-plumbed and ready to put in place in your facility.

The control system technology provided with our washer modules is designed to save resources, chemicals and energy for our customers.

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Just The Facts

Our chainless conveyor technology maximizes efficiency and minimizes floor space.

Part variety is one of the strengths of this system. The overhead design, smart controls and flexible design allow parts to move forward and reverse within the system. Line speed variablility, loadbar vs. batching and recipe based coating are additional features that make the IntelliFinishing industrial paint system the stand-out system in the finishing industry.

Variable speed ability is the “brains” of our complete automated finishing system. Our easy-to-use computer panel makes changing formulations and recipes a snap. Different sizes and shapes of parts can all run on the system. The system allows you to leave parts longer in the washer, if necessary. Need a part to cure longer? It’s not a problem either.

Energy savings and labor savings to help your bottom line are an additional system bonus. The smart controls in the IntelliFinishing system let you control which parts of the system that run. Washer modules do not have to run constantly from start to end of shifts. If a smaller part only takes up one-third of the washer, then only that area operates. Plus, our washers have doors which open and close when a part enters and exits the treatment stage to reduce cross contamination. These features can save you up to 50% on resource usage.

Floor space is utilized with unique design features. The IntelliFinishing Liquid Coating System or Powder Coating System is a modular system that uses less building space to accomplish the same tasks as traditional systems. It also installs in half the time, getting our customers up and running quickly. Our most recent install was completed in just 39 days.

This complete finishing system for industrial manufacturing can be relocated easily, if necessary. Installing in phases, or as your production grows is also a key part of the unique design capabilities. The layout possibilities are endless.

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The Secret Is Out

After all this time of our customers wanting to keep the identity of their automated complete finishing systems, provided by IntelliFinishing to themselves…the secret is out!

Last week in Cheney, KS at Albers Finishing & Solutions, 200+ people had the unique opportunity to view this incredible system and learn all about its capabilities while attending our very first open house.

The IntelliFinishing team and Albers Finishing & Solutions came together and provided individual tours of this state of the art system, highlighting all of the features it offers for liquid finished parts. Each stage of the system from pretreatment to unload was visited and explained in detail for those on the tour.

Two more customers with systems being installed have expressed great interest in teaming up with IntelliFinishing to provide tours of their systems as well. If you missed this unique opportunity, it is not too late to schedule your own personal tour, or attend an open house in the future. We will keep you posted on upcoming events.

The response from our customers and potential customers of Albers Finishing & Solutions was incredible.

We can’t wait to build on these relationships and show more people the benefits that a complete automated finishing system (whether it be powder coating or liquid coating) provided by IntelliFinishing can bring to your production facility.

If you missed this opportunity and are interested in scheduling a personal tour or attending one of our future events, please contact us at info@intellifinishing.com or 785-309-0356.

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We’re at FEMA

IntelliFinishing would love to see you in Florida this week. Stop by our table (#305) to visit with us about your finishing needs. Our complete automated systems for liquid coating or powder coating manufacturing facilities may be exactly what you never knew you needed!

This alternative to power and free system is chainless; friction-driven by a spinning tube. It is capable of moving in forward and reverse at any point in the system.

It’s energy efficiency has saved one of our customers 49% on costs! Energy efficient ovens and washers run only when parts are present and installation is quick because of the time saving modular design. They arrive at your facility ready to install.

Stop and see us at the show and let’s talk about what else you may not know you need in a finishing system for manufacturers.