Powder coating is a great alternative to paint spraying, dip coating, electroplating and many of the other types of finishing products you can use.

From protected rough and tough manufacturing machinery, to everyday items, it’s highly versatile and effective.

But what exactly is powder coating and why should you consider it?

What is powder coating?

The powder coating material itself is a mixture of curatives, pigments, levelling agents and other additives that have been ground together into a dry powder and is sprayed onto machinery or products.

What is the powder coating process?

· Preparing your surface

For a successful powder coating application, preparation is key.

You need to make sure the surface you’re coating is clear of grease, dirt, dust and rust as this may prevent the powder coating from adhering.

If your object is especially difficult to prepare – maybe it’s covered in rust or old paint – you may want to consider a blast room to speed up the preparation process. To find out more about how a blast room works, read our ‘how do blast rooms work?’ blog.

· The application process

Once your surface is prepared, you can spray the dry mixture onto your surface using powder coating equipment.

Unlike traditional finishing layers such as paint, powder coating doesn’t need to dry. Instead, it’s cured in a curing oven.

Curing times can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the thickness of the powder coating.

Once cured, the application process can be repeated to achieve your desired thickness.

What are the benefits of powder coating?

Powder coating comes with numerous benefits.

For example:

  • Powder coating is a long-lasting finishing process. In some cases, the coating can last for up to 20 years with minimum maintenance.
  • Once cured, bonds within the powder coating solidify, increasing the strength and durability of the coating.
  • This increased durability prolongs the aesthetic nature of your powder coated item, reducing scratches, corrosion, chipping and colour fading.
  • Powder coating can be manufactured in virtually any colour, with glossy and matte finishes available.

Where can powder coating be used?

Powder coating works well on many materials including plastic and concrete, but powder coating equipment is especially good for metal fabrication.

It can be used in a variety of applications, both indoors and outdoors, including:

  • Outdoor furniture

Most outdoor furniture, metal or plastic, will have been finished using powder coating as this protects it from unpredictable weather conditions.

  • Road signs

Powder coating is usually the finishing method of choice when it comes to road signs as it prevents them from corroding and aging over time.

  • Office environments

Office equipment and furniture needs to appeal to the eye whilst also being able to withstand constant use. That’s why cabinets, office chairs and desk parts are often powder coated.

What powder coating equipment is required?

The powder coating equipment you use can really make a difference.

Your spraying equipment

You want to be sure your powder coating material is sprayed using a high quality machine with as little overspray as possible. But you also want to ensure it’s easy to manoeuvre between jobs, simple to use and cost effective in the long run.

Powder coating machines work by using compressed air to blow powder onto your desired surface. As the powder is released, it receives an electrostatic charge. This charge enables the powder to stick to the surface.

Here at Surface Finishing Equipment Group, we supply only the best manual powder coating machines from industry leader Gema. These include:

Especially ideal for larger powder quantities being used over a large period of time.

This machine is ideal for powders with a tendency to separate during fluidisation.

Powder coating inspection equipment

You’ll also want to be able to inspect your powder coating, ensuring it has been adequately applied and will last for years to come.

So investing in powder coating inspection equipment is always recommended.

Some examples of the powder coating inspection equipment available include:

  • Uncured powder thickness combs

Measure the thickness of your uncured powder coating allowing you to fine tune the curing process.

  • Powder thickness gauge

These are designed to allow you to easily measure the thickness of cured powder coatings.

To view our full range of powder coating equipment, visit our powder coating webpage.

Choose Surface Finishing Equipment Group for your powder coating equipment

If you’re after top quality powder coating equipment, or would like to speak to one of our experts about your requirements, get in touch.

Simply email us at sales@sfeg.co.uk or fill in our online form.