Paint & Powder Coating Quality Testing

Rhinehart Finishing’s advanced, state-of-the-art facilities enable us to perform numerous jobs that enhance and complement the services we provide to our customers. For example, we have extensive laboratory space where we can provide product quality testing services including salt spray tests and powder coating impact tests. We also feature a detail area where numerous specialized jobs can be handled easily and conveniently for our clients. No matter what type of service you require, you can count on our dedication to quality and commitment to upholding the industry’s highest standards. We’re proud to offer some of the most comprehensive capabilities and powder coating quality testing equipment found anywhere, and we leverage those advantages to help our clients achieve their goals.

Quality Testing

Our 100,000-square-foot production facility features a complete in-house powder coating quality testing lab where we put components through rigorous paint quality tests that ensure the highest levels of performance. Having these testing capabilities under the same roof as our finishing operations gives manufacturers a convenient resource for evaluating coating quality and product performance throughout the production process. Our testing services can help assess important characteristics such as adhesion, durability, flexibility, corrosion resistance and the ability of a coating to withstand mechanical or environmental stress.

We offer our customers a full range of services that include but are not limited to:

Each testing method provides manufacturers with valuable information about a coating or finished component. Scratch and impact testing can help evaluate how a finish responds to physical forces, while mandrel bend testing provides insight into coating flexibility. Phosphate coating weight measurements can also help evaluate the pretreatment that supports the finished coating system. For components finished through our powder coating services, these quality control capabilities provide another way to evaluate coating performance after application.

With our offerings at their disposal, our clients have the capacity to test their products in a controlled setting using the most advanced techniques available. For example, our powder coating testing verifies coating adhesion and evaluates how completely a finish protects the underlying metal surface. Our paint quality testing simulates high-stress conditions and identifies potential flaws, giving manufacturers the data to refine prototypes before they go into production. The result is better information for the decisions that determine whether a finished product meets end user expectations.

Testing can be especially valuable during product development and before finished components are placed into service. By evaluating prototypes or production parts in a controlled environment, manufacturers can identify potential coating flaws and gather additional information about how a finish is likely to perform under demanding conditions. This can support quality control decisions before products advance to later stages of production or reach the end-user.

One of the most important types of tests we conduct is salt spray corrosion testing. This involves exposing samples to a dense salt mist that simulates prolonged exposure to corrosive conditions.

Salt Spray Corrosion Testing for Coated Metal Components

Salt spray corrosion testing provides manufacturers with a controlled way to evaluate how well a protective finish may resist corrosive conditions. During a salt spray test, coated metal samples are exposed to a dense, controlled salt solution mist for a specified period. This accelerated exposure helps manufacturers assess the corrosion protection provided by a coating without waiting for prolonged exposure under normal service conditions.

Accelerated corrosion testing can be useful when evaluating a coating system, comparing finishing options or assessing application results. Exposure to a controlled salt mist can reveal potential weaknesses in the protective finish, including signs of premature corrosion or coating failure. The resulting information can help manufacturers determine whether a coating provides an appropriate level of protection for a component's intended environment.

Testing time varies considerably based on the manufacturer's requirements and the purpose of the evaluation. Rhinehart Finishing's salt spray corrosion testing may run for less than a day or continue for more than 100 days. This flexibility allows manufacturers to evaluate coated metal components according to their specific performance requirements.

Salt spray corrosion testing can be particularly valuable for components expected to encounter moisture, salt or other corrosive conditions during service. Whether evaluating coated steel, galvanized steel where applicable, or components protected with powder coating, testing provides manufacturers with useful data for comparing coating performance and making informed finishing decisions.

This type of testing can run for less than a day or for more than 100 days, depending on the manufacturer’s requirements. This is crucial for industrial coatings because many of them will be expected to prevent corrosion for an extended period. Based on the results, manufacturers can choose the type of coating that offers the strongest level of protection for the expected environment.

By combining finishing, coating quality testing and inspection capabilities at one facility, Rhinehart Finishing helps manufacturers streamline the process of applying and evaluating protective finishes. Our in-house capabilities provide customers with a single resource for coating application, quality control and performance testing while helping ensure finished components are prepared for the demands of their intended applications.

Mechanical & Coating Performance Testing

Corrosion resistance is only one measure of how well a protective finish performs. Mechanical testing helps manufacturers evaluate how a coating responds to physical stresses such as scratching, impact, bending and deformation. Rhinehart Finishing offers multiple testing capabilities to help customers assess coating adhesion, durability, flexibility and overall coating performance before finished components are placed into service.

A powder coating scratch test can provide insight into the adhesion and surface durability of a finish by evaluating how the coating responds to scratching. Impact testing evaluates coating behavior when a finished component is subjected to sudden force or deformation, helping identify finishes that may crack, separate or otherwise become damaged under physical stress.

A mandrel bend test focuses on coating flexibility. By bending the coated substrate, the test helps evaluate how effectively the finish remains intact as the underlying material flexes or changes shape. This can be particularly important for components that may experience bending during manufacturing, assembly or use.

Rhinehart also performs phosphate coating weight testing as part of pretreatment and quality-control verification. Because proper surface preparation plays an important role in coating performance, evaluating the pretreatment process provides another layer of quality assurance.

For components requiring additional inspection, Rhinehart also offers industrial nondestructive testing capabilities that can evaluate parts without compromising their intended use.

Custom Masking & Industrial Detailing

Our facilities also include extensive offerings through our detail area. This area performs many cosmetic and masking operations and assembly per customer specifications. These include:

  • Stamping
  • Stenciling
  • Character fill
  • Character highlight
  • Silk screening
  • Luminescent highlight
  • Customized assembly and packaging

These industrial detailing capabilities give manufacturers greater flexibility when parts require more than a standard painted or coated finish. Components may need specific areas protected from coating, identification markings added, characters filled or highlighted, or additional detail work completed before final assembly. By performing these operations in-house, Rhinehart can coordinate detail requirements with the overall finishing process and help ensure each component is completed according to customer specifications.

To help reduce your end cost, Rhinehart owns a custom die-cut machine that enables us to manufacture our own masking. We can produce masking that is specific to the dimensions of each part.

Our in-house die-cut masking capability is especially useful for components with complex geometries or selective coating requirements. Custom masking can be produced to match individual part dimensions, helping protect designated surfaces while allowing paint or powder coating to be applied where required. This precision approach can simplify projects that involve detailed masking patterns, repeat production requirements or multiple finishing steps.

Because we offer these services in-house, we are a one-stop shop for almost any detailing job you may require. We have the capacity to handle detailing requirements with a high degree of precision and consistency.

Rhinehart's one-stop finishing capabilities can also reduce the need to coordinate work among multiple vendors. Painting, custom masking, industrial detailing, assembly and packaging and transportation can be incorporated into a coordinated workflow. Keeping these services together helps streamline handling between production stages while giving manufacturers a single finishing partner for taking components from coating and detail work through final assembly, packaging and transportation.

Why Choose Rhinehart Finishing?

Thanks to our decades of experience, qualified personnel and advanced equipment, we’ve held a leadership position in the marketplace for many years. We take pride in the fact that we can offer our customers unparalleled service no matter what they need. We’re more than capable of handling jobs for manufacturers in some of the most demanding industries in the world.

Our comprehensive capabilities also give manufacturers the convenience of working with a single source for multiple stages of their industrial finishing projects. From painting and powder coating quality testing to custom masking, detailing, assembly and packaging, we can coordinate complementary services under one roof. This one-stop finishing approach can simplify vendor management, reduce unnecessary handling between suppliers and provide greater continuity throughout the finishing process.

Whether you need support with coating quality assurance, detailed masking requirements, assembly or a complete custom industrial finishing solution, Rhinehart has the experience, personnel and capabilities to help. Tell us about your application and performance requirements, and our team can help determine the right services for your project.

To learn more about how we can help you or to request a quote, contact us today.

"We have great communication with Rhinehart — it’s like dealing with someone in our own company."

- Customer from Butler, IN