10.  Finishing State-of-the-Art
Chair: Rodger Talbert, R. Talbert Consulting

ADVANCES IN POWDER COATING
SPEAKER:  Rodger Talbert, R. Talbert Consulting

Equipment, materials and processes for powder coating have enjoyed rapid advancement in the last few years. The latest in developments for efficiency and productivity can provide excellent return on investment.  This presentation will include a discussion on:

·       Powder materials that can be formulated to provide exceptional finish quality with unique performance and appearance characteristics that were not possible a few short years ago.

·       Application control and precision that has steadily improved with new charging methods and new methods of pumping powder and controlling the flow of powder, improving transfer efficiency and coverage.

·       Innovations in booth and reclaim design, charging methods, and other equipment features that have made it possible to change powder colors in one minute.

LIQUID COATING APPLICATION EQUIPMENT: NOT YOUR FATHER'S FINISHING EQUIPMENT
SPEAKER: Dennis Stephens, ITW Ransburg

Automated liquid systems may look the same as they always have, but you may want to look closer. Dynamic advances in liquid coating equipment and techniques provide significantly reduced operating costs and emissions.  New equipment and coating materials can provide a giant leap forward in technology and performance when compared to technology that was acceptable just a few years ago, providing stand-alone performance and unheard of control. 

In most cases these changes can be incorporated into existing systems for a lot less than switching to powder coating technology.  Improvements include:

• Zero V.O.C coating for environmental compliance
• 3-second UV curing for faster processing
• New atomizing technology for exceptional film control and accurate coverage
• Computer-monitored control equipment precise and repeatable coverage
• Total systems control for effective production and quality assurance
• Easy to use graphics for simple and accurate operation and interface
• Reporting capabilities for simple and accurate record keeping 

PRETREATMENT
SPEAKER: Dave Chalk, Galaxy Associates

The driving forces of Environmental Responsibility, Energy Conservation, and Economy have caused an unprecedented advance in the technologies of cleaning and pretreatment.  There are new, quite “unconventional” technologies that offer compelling advantages over the conventional approaches.  However, confusion reigns in the market place over the strengths offered and the challenges presented by these new technologies. With the help of some case studies and theoretical scenarios, we will sort through these new technologies so the users can decide which, if any, of the new approaches is best for them.

COATING MATERIALS
TBD