Site update
We have introduced a couple of more pages on our website.

The Powder Coating Suppliers page.
Almost all the powder manufacturers have a dealer network present in most of he major cities. This is the link which connects the powder user to the powder manufacturer.  We invite all the powder dealers to promote there business through our new  page.

The  Touchup Paints  page
During production, often there are problems with the finishes of your products like nicks, scratches, or blemishes. With the aerosol touch up spray paints, these problems can be resolved fast and efficiently. Aerosol paint (spray paint)  Paint in a sealed pressurized container that is released in a fine spray mist when depressing a valve button located on the top of the can. When applied correctly, aerosol paint leaves a smooth, evenly coated surface, unlike many rolled or brushed paints. Standard sized cans are portable, inexpensive and easy to store. Aerosol primer can be applied directly to bare metal and many plastics. We invite manufacturers of these touch up paints to add there details to this new page.

Please visit www.ipconweb.com/listing.htm for other promotion options



Goody, the painting tiger, bids good-bye
MUMBAI: The tiger retires for good in his den. Goody, the smiling tiger mascot of Goodlass Nerolac (now Kansai Nerolac) has bid his final adieu, as the company has decided to retire its now famous mascot after 36 long years as a part of its corporate image makeover after recently changing its name to Kansai Nerolac. And there would be no replacement for Goody, who was born in 1970, assures HM Bharuka, MD, Kansai Nerolac.

“It’s a reflection of the changing times for the paint company,” says Mr Bharuka. “Basically, when we came out with Goody, it was a child-like tiger, painting the wall; however, now we want to present a more matured image for Kansai Nerolac, hence the phasing out Goody.”

The change will also be reflected in the company’s new logo, ‘KN Nerolac.’ In blue and red, this new identity will span all Nerolac products in a phased manner from August ’06. “The new logo is in the shape of a flowing image, which represents the outlook of the company towards a bright future,” says Mr Bharuka.

It was after a systematic and scientific study of the market and its possible response towards such a change that we came to a decision of a complete corporate makeover, he adds. Kansai Nerolac would also be changing the company’s colour boards, letterheads, office signages and its website. The company has also begun changing its packaging according to the makeover, and their new look products would be available in the market by this month end.
The birth of Goody is an interesting story. In the early ’60s, the competition in the paint industry was hotting up and Goodlass wanted to explore the upcountry markets but there was one problem. The five syllable name of Goodlass Nerolac would not roll easily on the tongue of the upcountry dweller. <more>


 

Infomercial from Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Vijay Enterprises is a leading manufacture of powder coating materials (PCM) in India. VIJAY COAT today stands as a Reliable source of High Quality and Durable Powder Coating materials at very reasonable prices. Vijay's PCM find extensive application for industrial and other demanding applications. Vijay enterprises was incorporated in 1995 with a view to supplying quality PCMs to Indian industry. Vijay's manufacturing set up is equipped with best machines from M/s Buss AG Switzerland who are world's largest manufacturer of Powder Coating Machines. Vijay has now established itself and earned a name for its quality supplies and prompt delivery at very economic prices. VIJAY has multi-locational production facilities near Ahmedabad in western India and at Silvassa in the U T of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, 200 Kms off Mumbai. This makes it a competitive source of PCMs to all customers.  Vijay Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Admin. Office : 103, Gita Bhavan, 1st Floor, Opp. Vijay Transport, Narol Char Rasta, AHMEDABAD 382 405. GUJARAT. INDIA. Telephone: +91-79-2532 9057, 25329374,Fax: +91-79-2535 9481 Email: jayesh@icenet.net web: vijay-powdercoat.com

Kansai Nerolac April-June net seen up 5.8 pct
MUMBAI (Reuters) - Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. is expected to report double-digit increase in April-June net sales on the back of growth in decorative paints, though higher input costs could result in slower profit growth.

Kansai, India's second-largest paint maker, is likely to report a 15 percent rise in net sales to 3.08 billion rupees, and a 5.8 percent rise in net profit to 286.7 million rupees, according to average findings in a Reuters poll of brokerages.

The company might post higher decorative paints sales due to new product launches and a revamp of its marketing initiatives, analysts said.

However, this could be partly offset by lower auto paints sales. "Automotive paints volumes are expected to be impacted during the quarter due to decline in volumes of two-wheelers," brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher said in a research note.

The company could report a slight improvement in margins due to slower rise in costs of crude-based raw material costs, used mostly in decorative paints.

However, as Nerolac got most of its revenue from the automotive segment, the gains were likely to be limited.<more>

Asian Paints Q1 up 28% at Rs 74.22 cr
MUMBAI: Asian Paints Ltd has posted a net profit after prior period items of Rs 74.22 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, up 28% against Rs 58.01 crore in the year ago quarter.

Total income for the June quarter was Rs 748.98 crore, up 23% from Rs 609.77 crore in the quarter ended June 30, 2006

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

The group reported a profit of Rs 81.92 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2007 compared with Rs 60.30 crore in the same quarter previous year. Total income increased to Rs 969.43 crore from Rs 783.53 crore in quarter ended June 30, 2006.<more>

Asian Paints plans largest plant in Haryana

MUMBAI: Asian Paints Ltd, India's largest paints maker, said on Monday its board approved setting up a manufacturing plant in north India, to keep pace with future demand.

The company said it would be its largest plant, but did not disclose the size or the investment involved in the project in Rohtak, Haryana. "We expect we will run out of capacity sometime in future. Since the lead time for a new unit is long, we thought this is a good time to invest," P M Murty, president, decoratives, told analysts on a conference call.

"The exact quantum of capital is something we are working out and will be announced shortly," he said, adding it was a sign the company is bullish on the growth of the industry. The company said it is targeting operations to begin by end of 2009 and would start out by making wall finishes.

Asian Paints has seven plants in India, with the largest at Sriperumbudur, currently under expansion to a increase capacity to 100,000 kilolitres per annum. It is also building a 2,500 tonnes a year auto paints plant in south India, in partnership with US-based PPG Industries. <more>

Result analysis: Jenson & Nicholson (India) loss narrows for Mar`07 qtr
Jenson & Nicholson`s (India) loss narrowed 97.02% for the quarter ended March 2007. During the quarter, the company experienced a decline in loss to Rs 32.03 million from Rs 1,075.24 million during the quarter ended March 2006.

Net sales for the quarter ended March 2007 rose 32.14% to Rs 67.92 million compared with the corresponding quarter, a year ago.

Operating margins stood at negative 36.07% during the quarter from a negative margin of 69.73% during the corresponding quarter, a year ago.

Net margins, on the other hand, stood at negative 46.75% during the quarter ended March 2007 compared with a negative margin of 1,861.24% during the same quarter, last year. Excluding extraordinary income (expense), the net margin is estimated to be at negative 43.26%.

The company posted loss per share of Rs 1.02 during the quarter. <more>

Berger Paints net up 15.5% for Jun`07 qtr
Berger Paints announced a 15.57% growth in net profit to Rs 198.90 million for the quarter ended June 2007 from a profit of Rs 172.10 million for the quarter ended June 2006.
Net sales for the quarter rose 20.20% to Rs 3,033.70 million from Rs 2,523.90 million in the same quarter, a year ago.
Total income rose 20.34% to Rs 3,045.4 million for the quarter ended June 2007 from Rs 2,530.7 million for the quarter ended June 2006.
The earnings per share (EPS) of the company fell 27.91% to Rs 0.62 in the quarter ended June 2007.

Berger Paints to invest 500 mln rupees in new unit
KOLKATA (Reuters) - Berger Paints India Ltd. will invest 500 million rupees to set up an automotive paint plant in Pune, Managing Director Subir Bose said on Tuesday.

The total production capacity of the plant will be 800 kilo litres per month and will be operational in a year's time, he said on the sidelines of the company's annual general meeting.

The company's current automotive paint production capacity is 600 kilo litres per month and contributes 24 percent to its total sales.

He also ruled out any price increase in the near future. "We expect input costs to remain stable in the next quarter," he said. <more>

Nordson Names Ken Kreeger Global Director of Business Development, Finishing Systems
WESTLAKE, Ohio, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nordson Corporation announced that Ken Kreeger has been named global director of business development, finishing systems for the company's Industrial Coating and Automotive Systems segment. He will report to Steve Smith, vice president of sales for the segment's Powder Coating, Liquid Coating and Automotive businesses.

In this new position, Kreeger will lead the segment's international business expansion efforts. "Ken's extensive knowledge and experience in the powder coating industry will be instrumental in helping Nordson expand its business in international markets," said Smith, "especially in areas like Asia, India and Eastern Europe which demonstrate burgeoning growth in virtually all business segments." <more>

DuPont and NASA Sign Agreement to Develop Foam Insulation Reinforced with Kevlar(R) for Use in Next Generation Space Vehicles
WILMINGTON, Del., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont today announced that it has signed a Space Act Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to jointly develop urethane foam insulation reinforced with DuPont(TM) Kevlar(R) fiber for use in a variety of future spacecraft, including the new launch vehicle being designed to replace the space shuttle.

DuPont and scientists at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama will specifically seek to develop a process to incorporate Kevlar(R) fiber into the cell walls of the foam, thereby enhancing the performance of the thermal protection systems used in the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle. There may be other uses for the material in future science and exploration applications ranging from vehicle TPS to inflatable structures.

"DuPont materials have enabled manned and unmanned missions into space for almost half a century, and we continue to work closely with NASA in helping solve their most pressing challenges," said Thomas G. Powell, vice president and general manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. "We look forward to the opportunity to work with NASA scientists in helping develop their next- generation thermal protection systems."

Kevlar(R) is perhaps best known for its use in bullet- and stab-resistant body armor, but it also has strong ties to the U.S. Space Program. The high performance fiber that is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis is used today, along with DuPont(TM) Nomex(R) fiber, in space suits worn by astronauts. Additionally, a parachute made of Kevlar(R) fiber was included on the Galileo probe to Jupiter, and at the International Space Station, a blanket made of Kevlar(R) fiber was used to wrap its inner walls and provided protection from micrometeorites.<more>

Akzo Nobel expands in Russia, eyes more investments
Chemicals group Akzo Nobel has invested 13 million Euro in a powder paint factory close to Moscow. It has also expanded its Russian sales outlets. Akzo Nobel considers the country a strong growth market, Dutch News reported July 5.
The facility is situated in the industrial belt surrounding Moscow at Orekhovo-Zuevo and is Akzo Nobel’s first production plant in Russia. The company hopes to capture the Central and Eastern European market for industrial coatings, of which Russia has a 46 percent share.
As well as recently expanding its site at Opava in the Czech Republic—the first phase of a five million Euro refurbishment— Powder Coatings has also inaugurated a dedicated state-of-the-art distribution warehouse in Poland, while another warehouse has been established in Hungary.
Opening a production facility in Russia, however, is perhaps the most significant development, given that in 2006, 80 percent of the powder coatings used in the country was imported. <more>

Aluminium output to hit 3.75m tonnes
DUBAI — GCC's aluminium production capacity build up is likely to exceed 3.75 million tonnes per year by 2010 following the commissioning of new smelters and expansion of existing ones.

While new aluminium production plants are expected to go on stream in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar soon, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal), the region's industry pioneers, are on course to build up capacity.

"With the world's major aluminium producing nations pondering the closure of smelters due to increased fuel costs, energy-rich countries in the Gulf are expected to meet the projected production shortfall in the aluminium industry. Consequently, there are several smelter projects in the pipeline while existing units have been initiating major expansion," industry sources said.

Due to the expansion in the construction sector, several extrusion plants have been set up all over GCC states. There are 22 major extrusion plants in the region with a total production capacity of 300,000 TPA, and the overall capacity utilisation exceeds 88 per cent. Most of the plants have anodising, powder coating and painting facilities. About 60 per cent of the extruded products are used in GCC and the balance is exported to international markets. The number of firms for aluminium finished product industries amounts to 496 with investments exceeding $950 million, and a labour force of more than 24,000, the report said. <more>

Powder coat finish with anodised aluminium look from Dulux Powder Coatings
Dulux Pandemonium Silver Dulux Pandemonium Silver is a new finish in the Duralloy powder coating colour range.
Pandemonium Silver is a flat, smooth finish specifically formulated to match the appearance of anodised aluminium, but with the benefits of powder coating.
Pandemonium Silver can be applied to aluminium, steel or hot dipped galvanised steel (HDG) and other metal substrates, making it a more versatile finish than anodising. <more>

ICI to rebuff new £7.7bn Dutch offer
ICI is set to snub a second takeover approach from Akzo Nobel, its Dutch rival, which values the British chemicals group at £7.7bn.
ICI's paint business, Dulux, is one of the most profitable in the world
Akzo Nobel tabled an improvement to its original 600p offer, understood to have been between 640p and 650p, late last week.
It is expected to make a formal announcement confirming the offer to the Stock Exchange tomorrow morning.
Despite the increase, it is understood that the board of ICI, led by chief executive John McAdam, still does not intend to open its books to the Dutch.<more>
Update
ICI rejects sweeteneed bid from Akzo Nobel
British chemicals company ICI has rejected a second, sweetened offer from Dutch rival Akzo Nobel, the Dutch firm revealed this morning.
Azko Nobel said in a statement that ICI had rebuffed its 650-pence-a-share approach because it "did not reflect the full value of ICI."
Despite its rejection of the offer, the ICI board, headed by John McAdam, is widely expected to leave open the possibility of further discussions with Akzo <more>

Basell to Acquire Huntsman for $25.25 per Share
Basell, the global leader in polyolefins' technology and production, and Huntsman Corporation, one of the world's largest manufacturers of differentiated chemicals and pigments, announced that they have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which Basell will acquire Huntsman in a transaction valued at approximately $9.6 billion, including the assumption of debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Basell will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Huntsman for $25.25 per share in cash. The combined company will have an extensive geographic footprint, with operations on all continents of the world, and will be well positioned in fast-growing markets such as China, India, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

South Korea: struggling - paint and coatings market.
23. Jul-2007
The market share of South Korea in paint and coatings is falling. The industry's $3 bn/y in sales ranks poorly against the expected demand growth of $83 bn in 2007. The automotive paint segment is one industry that is growing. Rising car ownership gave Korea a 4% surge in 2004-2005. Passenger car exports are seen to grow by 5.4% and commercial vehicles by 13.6% from 2006. Production of paint for new vehicles currently accounts for 8.5% of the country's paint and coatings market. The paint and coatings market for plastics and electronics also showed growth. But plastics only account for 2% of the market, while electronics has 4.5%. South Korea's paint and coatings output for the construction sector dropped by 18.5% from 231,631 klitres to 188,889 klitres in the period 2004-2005. The construction industry leads the market with 22%. Other Asian countries have experienced growth. The paint and coatings market volume growth rate in China is seen to reach 12% in 2006 compared with 3-4% for South Korea. However, South Korea is ranked third, behind Japan and China, in the do-it-yourself (DIY) market with $10 bn. Its government has enforced more strict regulations for volatile organic compounds resulting in more eco-friendly products. Companies in the industry also intend to boost investments in South Korea in 2007-2011. Dupont and Sigma Coatings, together with Analog Devices, Faurecia and Toppan Photomask are committed to invest $100 M in r&d and hire 110 r&d experts.
APCJ, Asia Pacific Coatings Journal, Jun 2007, 20 (3), 43 () (in English)

£5m paint research centre launched in Felling
A WORLD-LEADING paint research centre has opened in Gateshead and promises to create scores of hi-tech jobs.
International Paint, part of the global Akzo Nobel group, has invested almost £5m in a cutting edge research and development centre in Felling.
The centre will carry out product development – sometimes planning decades into the future – for International Paint’s marine, protective and yacht coatings businesses in 54 countries around the world.
The news comes after International Paint’s marine division was given the royal stamp of approval by being awarded a Queen’s Award for Innovation for its “go-faster” paint for ships.
Worldwide marine marketing manager Jim Brown said: “The new research and development centre gives us a significant competitive advantage, developing products for all of our business.<more>

DuPont and NASA Sign Agreement to Develop Foam Insulation Reinforced with Kevlar(R) for Use in Next Generation Space Vehicles
WILMINGTON, Del., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD)  today announced that it has signed a Space Act Agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to jointly develop urethane foam insulation reinforced with DuPont(TM) Kevlar(R) fiber for use in a  variety of future spacecraft, including the new launch vehicle being designed to replace the space shuttle.

DuPont and scientists at the NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama will specifically seek to develop a process to
incorporate Kevlar(R) fiber into the cell walls of the foam, thereby enhancing the performance of the thermal protection systems used in the
Ares 1 crew launch vehicle. There may be other uses for the material in future science and exploration applications ranging from vehicle TPS to
inflatable structures.

"DuPont materials have enabled manned and unmanned missions into space for almost half a century, and we continue to work closely with NASA in helping solve their most pressing challenges," said Thomas G. Powell, vice president and general manager - DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems. "We look forward to the opportunity to work with NASA scientists in helping develop their next- generation thermal protection systems."

Kevlar(R) is perhaps best known for its use in bullet- and stab-resistant body armor, but it also has strong ties to the U.S. Space Program. The high performance fiber that is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis is used today, along with DuPont(TM) Nomex(R) fiber, in space suits worn by astronauts. Additionally, a parachute made of Kevlar(R) fiber was included on the Galileo probe to Jupiter, and at the International Space Station, a blanket made of Kevlar(R) fiber was used to wrap its inner walls and provided protection from micrometeorites. Many other DuPont inventions have contributed to space exploration. On Apollo missions to the moon, 20 of the 21 layers in each space suit were made with DuPont materials, including DuPont(TM) Mylar(R) polyester film,  neoprene and DuPont(TM) Kapton(R) film. Today the Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit and Opportunity - contain almost 70 yards each of flexible circuits made of thin DuPont(TM) Pyralux(R) laminates and composites which connect the "brains" of the rovers to their robotic arms, cameras, high gain antennae, wheels and sensors. The rovers also feature Kapton(R) film for hundreds of strip heaters which are used for thermal control, ensuring the critical warmth needed to maintain operations in the extremely cold Martian atmosphere.

Cytec expands production of powder coating resins
Cytec Industries Inc. plans to increase globally its production capacity of "Crylcoat" powder coating resins. Through investments and debottlenecking in Romano (Italy), Fengxiang (China) and Rayong (Thailand), Cytec is adding some 20,000 MT of polyester capacity for the powder coating market. Through these efforts, Cytec is planning to reach the milestone of 200,000 MT of capacity at the eight manufacturing sites across the world in the course of 2007. "This investment is especially strategic in supporting the growth in emerging markets as China, the Middle East and Eastern Europe", said Wim Vanderghinste, Global Business Director Powder Coating Resins.

Dow Announces a Price Increase for Vinyl Acetate Monomer in All Regions
MIDLAND, Mich — July 24, 2007 — The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) announced today that, effective immedately or as otherwise allowed by individual contract terms, it will increase list and off-list selling prices for vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) in North America by US$0.18 per pound. In addition, Dow will increase prices in Latin America, India/Middle East/Africa and Asia Pacific by US$400 per metric ton and in Europe by 300 Euros per metric ton.

“Currently, the VAM industry is experiencing extremely tight global supply, high demand and continually rising raw material and freight costs,” said Antulio Borneo, global business director, Vinyl Acetate Monomer. “These conditions have made it necessary for Dow to increase its prices to continue to reliably serve its VAM customers, manage high current demand and recover escalating costs.”

Medium wave infra-red oven ups line speed
A medium wave infra-red oven, replacing a gas fired system, has increased poduction line speed at a sign maker in the powder coating of aluminium and steel panels A medium wave infra-red oven is helping Hawes Signs to achieve significant increases in production line speed in the powder coating of aluminium and steel panels. Heraeus Noblelight installed the new oven during an on-going, up-grading programme at Hawes Signs' Northampton headquarters manufacturing site

Finishing operations are vital in the production of high quality signage. Environmentally-friendly powder coating is used to provide a sign surface, which offers high gloss-retention and weatherability and is highly resistant to chipping, scratching, fading. The powder-coating facility at Hawes Signs uses epoxy/polyester/pigment powders, which are sprayed directly onto predominantly steel and aluminium panels, of various sizes.
This powder must then be brought to a temperature which allows it to flow and fuse before being cured for a given time. Previously, a gas-fired infra-red system had pre-heated the sprayed-on powder before entering a warm air convection oven for final curing.<more>
 

30th Annual Short Course Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex Technology
6.8. - 10.8. 2007
Davos/Switzerland
Dr. F. Joseph Schork

30th Annual Short Course Advances in Emulsion Polymerization and Latex Technology
6.8. - 10.8. 2007
Davos/Switzerland
Dr. F. Joseph Schork Details ...

North African Coatings Congress 2007
4.9. - 5.9. 2007
Tunis/Tunisia
dmg world media (uk) ltd.

Eurocorr 2008
7.9. - 11.9. 2007
Edinburgh/Scotland
Dechema e.V., Andrea Köhl

Eurocorr2007
9.9. - 13.9. 2007
Freiburg im Breisgau/Germany
Dechema e.V., Andrea Köhl

34th International Research Conference
9.9. - 12.9. 2007
Grenoble/France
iarigai, Dr. Anne Blayo

Colour Measurement & Colour Control
10.9. - 11.9. 2007
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

Euromat 2007
10.9. - 13.9. 2007
Nuremberg/Germany
Euromat 2007 Congress Office

NanoEurope 2006
11.9. - 13.9. 2007
St. Gallen/Switzerland
NanoEurope

Nano Coating Days
11.9. - 12.9. 2007
St. Gallen/Switzerland
ENA European Nanotechnical Association

The Future of Ink on Packaging
11.9. - 12.9. 2007
London/UK
IntertechPira

Advanced Colour Measurement & Colour Control
12.9. - 13.9. 2007
Hampton/UK
PRA Coatings Technology Centre

80th JSCM Anniversary Conference: New Fields in Colour and Coatings
12.9. - 14.9. 2007
Tokyo/Japan
Prof. M. Abe, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the 80th JSCM Anniversary Conference

3rd European Weathering Symposium EWS
12.9. - 14.9. 2007
Krakow/Poland
GUS Ges. für Umweltsimulation e.V.

FIN-X '07
17.9. - 20.9. 2007
Indianapolis,IN/USA
Goyer Management

1st Symposium on Special Coatings Technolgy and Applications
18.9. - 21.9. 2007
Xi'an/China
China National Paint and Coatings Industry Information Center

Polymers in Defence and Aerospace Applications
18.9. - 19.9. 2007
Toulouse/France
Rapra Technology

Academic Research in Coatings
19.9. - 20.9. 2007
Oxford/England
PRA

7th China Coatings Conference 2007
20.9. - 21.9. 2007
Shanghai/China
Centre for Management Technology

Functional Fillers 2007
24.9. - 26.9. 2007
Charleston, SC/USA
IntertechPira

CEPE - Annual Conference and General Assembly
24.9. - 26.9. 2007
Nice/France
CEPE

Polyurethanes 2007 Technical Conference, in partnership with Utech North America
24.9. - 26.9. 2007
Orlando, FL/USA
Alliance for the Polyurthanes Industry Details ...

European Coatings WebTutorial: Surfactants in Waterborne Formulations
26.9. - 27.9. 2007
Internet
Vincentz Network

Nanoengineered Inks and Pigments
27.9. - 28.9. 2007
Philadelphia, PA/USA
IntertechPira

CorCon 2007( International conference on Corrosion)
September 26-28 2007
NACE Internarional India Section
Powai Mumbai
 

Troubleshooting problems in the powder operation may be necessary from time to time in spite of good process controls and operating procedures. Troubles can occur in application, pretreatment and curing. Knowing what to look for helps to speed up the process of correction.

1 Application Problems
Problems with powder charging or delivery will make it more expensive and difficult to apply the material to the part. Many times these problems can be corrected by a review of the basic function of the application system to see what is wrong. This troubleshooting section covers some of the common mistakes that cause difficulty in the application of powder coatings.

Poor Charging
When it becomes unusually difficult to get powder into the inside corners (Faraday cage areas) there are three common things that should be checked.

1. Grounding
2. Powder flow rate
3. Voltage

Grounding may be lost from excess build-up of coating on the hangers. Measure the resistance from the part to the conveyor rail with an ohmmeter. If the resistance is greater than 1 megohm, the path to earth ground is not adequate. Check the components of the racking arrangement, find the insulated component and clean it to make good contact.

Excessive powder flow rates will cause a reduction in charging efficiency.  Check the gauges and reduce the flow rate.
The voltage at the gun tip needs to create a field of high potential.
Check voltage at the gun tip to make sure that it is compatible with the gauge.

The Faraday cage effect describes the problem with getting the powder to adhere to the surface of an inside corner. This is the result of resistance created by the presence of an electrostatic force. The electrostatic force is attracted to the prominent areas of the part where the resistance is low. Free ions and powder film build quickly on these more prominent surfaces and create additional resistance to penetration.
Faraday cage effect can be reduced by limiting the current draw of the gun, by using the correct nozzle for the task, and by control of the flow rates and gun-to-target distance. 

Back ionization
Back ionization occurs when the electric field on the part surface reaches a point where it begins to ionize the air under the powder film. Positive ions are released, creating ruptures in the film, repelling the powder and causing a blemish that is commonly called a ”star.“  The potential causes are:

1. excessive voltage (high current draw)
2. the gun is too close to the part (high current draw)
3. too much film build (too many free ions on the surface)
4. application over an already coated surface (dielectric of coating creates resistance)
5. poor grounding of part (no path to ground for ions)

Preventing back ionization requires control of current draw. If the current draw is too high the part surface will not be able to take the number of ions arriving. Voltage levels, gun-to-target distance, the presence of ion collectors or the control of the load line inside the gun affects control of current draw. Lower voltage, greater distance to the target, automatic current control or ion collectors can be used to reduce the potential for back ionization.

Surging of the Powder
• Powder surging from the gun can be caused by:
• the compressed air supply is too low
• the compressed air supply fluctuates when other building equipment is in use
• the compressed air supply has moisture or oil in the line
• the powder hose is kinked• the powder hose is too long
• impact fusion is interfering with powder flow
• delivery rate is too high
• the powder is not properly fluidized
– too high – clumping, excess impact fusion, gun spits, powder comes out of top of the feed hopper
– too low – inadequate supply, inconsistent flow

Control of the compressed air in the system requires training. All powder system operators should have an understanding of the pneumatic controls and how to properly adjust them. Hoses should be inspected and changed when they are worn. The powder output should be observed and adjusted if necessary.

Inconsistent Powder Delivery
Powder must be delivered at a consistent flow rate with a consistent pattern to charge properly and maintain a uniform film. Inconsistent patterns from the gun may be caused by some restriction in the powder path.
• plugged powder hose
• excess impact fusion
• bent electrode
• obstruction of the powder hose

Inspect the hoses to make sure that they are clean and that they are not kinked.

Powder flow rates that are too high will cause:
• high impact fusion
• excessive wear of replacement parts
• low transfer efficiency
• poor penetration
• poor electrostatic wrap

Powder flow rates that are too low will cause:
• gun spits
• inadequate film build
• poor penetration

Atomizing air that is too high can cause:
• low film build
• poor penetration
• poor transfer efficiency
• fat edges

Fluidizing air that is too low can cause:
• gun surging or puffing
• a need for higher pump pressure (more wear on gun parts)
• uneven film build
• poor transfer efficiency

Powder Flow
Since the flow of powder is accomplished with compressed air, a flow problem is related to the air supply, air controls, or blockage of the powder path. To troubleshoot a flow problem, you should follow this process:

1. Be sure that the compressed air supply is clean and dry.
2. Be sure that the powder hose is not too long.
3. Be sure that the powder supply air, forward air and fluidizing air are properly adjusted.
4. Check the feed hopper to be sure it is adequately full and fluidized.
5. Check the supply hoses and venturi to make sure they are clean and leak free.
6. Check venturi and gun inserts for wear and change if necessary.

If all of these conditions appear to be all right, check the controls to make sure that they are in proper working condition.
 

Dear Sir,
We are powder coaters based in Nagpur as such we would like to enlist for free registration under the Powder Coating Units - Maharashtra State, Nagpur. Also kindly guide us as to where we can register for our consultancy and turnkey services for manufacture & installation of powder coating units which we undertake. Looking forward to your valued cooperation.
Thanking you.
Yours Faithfully,
For AMA Extrusions Pvt. Ltd.,
Ms Fatema Maimoon
Nagpur

Dear Mr.Vivek,
I am a regular reader of your newsletter. The updated information of Powder Coatings and other Paints & Coatings related information which is happening around the world are very informative and help me to update my knowledge base. I should request you to add some information on latest Resin & Tio2 development. Last 18 years I am with paints & coatings field and feel these two major constituent contribute this field as a backbone.
Wish you all the best.
Thanks & regards,
Bikash Mallick
Dubai,United Arab Emirates.
Moderator: Thanks for the suggestions. We will try to add more on this subject. You too can contribute.

Dear Mr Vivek,
At the very outset I thank you for the news letter and I must say it is quite informative and interesting. I have also noted that more details regarding powder manufacturers and their commercial values had more emphasis.

I have a small suggestion to make. All these years i have found that this segment, especially in the job coaters level is very much unorganized, and lack information on the emerging trends, recent developments, wrt to powders, equipments, chemicals etc. If we could give more details and inroads in this area and also try and solve some of their problems it would be an additional help to what you have been doing till date. Hoping to hear more from you .
with regards,
Gopinath Murthy,
Hexagon Technologies India,
Authorised distributors for ITW GEMA powder coating equipments in India.
Moderator: Thanks for the suggestions.

Dear Vivek
Let me introduce myself. I am Dr.Sameer S.Ghaisas,  Currently working in Heubach Colour Pvt. Ltd as Manager - Technical Service
Request you to keep me updated with the field of Powder Coating in India and if possible overseas. Also please send me the list of Powder Coating Manufacturers all over India.
Thanks in advance and Warm regards,
Dr.Sameer