POWDER COATING

Powder coating is a process that involves spraying dry powder onto a metal surface and then 'baking' the color into the surface with heat to create a durable finish. A special powder gun is used to apply an electric charge to the colored powder. Pressurized air is mixed with the powder while passing over an electrode in the gun, which produces a positive charge in the powder. The metal parts are grounded, so the positively-charged powder particles are attracted to the negatively-charged parts, making the powder 'stick' to the parts.

POWDER COATING CAPABILITIES

The exceptional durability of powder coating allows materials to withstand the test of time. Powder coated parts are known for their chemical, corrosion, and weather resistance. To ensure that powder coating lasts as long as possible, the parts must be pre-treated and/or abrasively blasted to ensure proper adhesion. Primer coats can also be used to further increase the longevity of the finish. Below are the equipment capabilities that we have at DMI for powder coating:

8' x 10' x 15' batch powder coating booth
7' x 7' x 12' natural-gas batch curing oven (max part length of 10')
Gema Optiflex 2 power coating gun
4' x 4' x 8' abrasive blast cabinet with pressure pot
2' x 2' x 5' glass bead blast cabinet
Phosphate treatment capabilities

Parts are typically out-gassed in the oven to burn off any residual oils (especially pickled and oiled mild steel. The are then prepped based on customer/application requirements before the powder is applied.

DMI proudly uses Tiger Drylac powders. Other brands of powders are also commonly used based on color/texture requirements. Not all powders are rated for outdoor use, so we work with customers to find the best powder type for their application.