Why Outsourcing Powder Coating Is the Best Choice for Your Business
Powder coating is a way to paint surfaces using a powdered form of paint made from a mixture of dry binders and pigments rather than applying a liquid. It adheres to surfaces through electrostatic charges before curing in an oven.
It’s crucial for various industries, from aerospace to agriculture to military defense and construction. Industrial powder coating provides a durable finish, protecting items from weather, impacts, moisture and ultraviolet light. While typically used to coat metal, you can also apply powder coating to glass, composites and other surfaces that are able to withstand the high curing heat.
You spray the powder on surfaces you want to protect with your preferred coloring. Then, you cure it at a temperature ranging from about 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the curing requirements for your powder mixture.
Company owners and managers sometimes consider going the do-it-yourself route so they can coat metal surfaces quickly in-house, as well as meet their goals to save money.
However, DIY powder coating can be a risky proposition, given the initial high costs of equipment, safety concerns and potential issues with quality control.
The Complexities of DIY Powder Coating
There are numerous challenges and risks involved in DIY powder coating. To begin, you may incur high upfront costs for the specialized equipment used in the powder coating process, including a commercial curing oven and a powder coat gun. You also must obtain media blasting equipment, additives and cleaning solutions, then set up your operations in a safe, well-ventilated workspace.
Powder coating safety risks include health problems resulting from employees handling fine powders as they work around high-voltage equipment. Your workers will require skin and respiratory protection. You must also be careful when dealing with the extreme curing oven temperatures.
Compared to professional services, the DIY approach to powder coating is more expensive especially if you don’t need to apply powder coating regularly to large amounts of equipment and cannot justify the cost of buying equipment to do this on your own.
Without sufficient experience and knowledge, your team may make costly mistakes, as improper surface preparation can lead to poor adhesion, affecting the quality of the finish.
Long-Term Cost Savings
DIY powder coating becomes more expensive over time because of the high costs of equipment and safety gear. Costs will mount further if you make mistakes that require redoing the job.
Compared to the DIY approach, outsourcing powder coating is more cost effective and consistently yields better results. What’s more, you’ll benefit from the company’s warranty protection for these services.
Why Professional Powder Coating Makes Sense for Your Business
The advantages of outsourcing powder coating include specialized tools and expertise, with well-trained experts taking care of the job while adhering to the latest industry standards.
By outsourcing professional powder coating, you can be assured of better results than you’d obtain with DIY methods, as only experts can ensure consistent, high-quality finishes while reducing risks. You can then focus on your core operations.
Outsourcing Your Powder Coating With Rhinehart Finishing
Outsourcing powder coating will save your business on costs, such as not having to pay for expensive equipment up-front or needing to devote resources to training your staff on successful powder coating. Doing it yourself without years of experience can result in mistakes that require redoing the job.
Given the safety issues in handling fine powders, high-voltage equipment and the extreme heat of curing the paint in an oven, it’s more practical to outsource this work to professionals. Doing so ensures you obtain durable, high-quality finishes that meet your aesthetic requirements.
Outsourcing metal powder coating services helps you maintain product integrity and lets you focus on growth without worrying about the complexities of applying paint to surfaces.
To learn more about Rhinehart Finishing’s powder coating services or consult with us about your next powder coating project, please contact us today.