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INTRODUCTIon of POwDERCOATing
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| We have exiting news from our production facility in Holland where we manufacture dock levellers, dock houses and dock shelters. We are proud to announce that from the start of 2021 all Dockequipment.eu dock levellers are in powder coated condition.
 Dockequipment.eu is unique in providing such a high grade protective coating to its dock levellers. We are convinced that with powder coating we have elevated the quality level of our levellers which brings us ahead of the competition. We encourage you to take full advantage of this unique new product feature in your sales strategy to your customers.
In the first half of 2020 we have started with the physical preparations by building a new production hall next to the existing production facility. In Q3 of 2020 we have installed the new powder coating installation, the high temperature drying oven and the fully dedicated hanging system. During Q4 we gradually started the powder coating activities. From 1st of January onwards all levellers will be powder coated.
What is Powder Coating:
Powder coating is a modern ecological technology of surface treatment of metal products. The powder used in this process is a mixture of finely ground particles of resin, pigment and additives. This mixture is electrostatically sprayed onto the surface of the product to be coated, where the charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces. After application of the powder, the products enter a curing oven where, with the addition of heat, the powder chemically reacts and fuses into a smooth coating with high cross-link density. The result is a product with a uniform, flexible and durable high-quality coating and an attractive finish. 
We have tested several different powder coating materials to compare their protective capabilities and select the best material for our application. This has resulted in a powder coating material with an optimal mix between corrosion protection (salt spray test), QUV resistance (to weathering), impact resistance and adhesion performance.
The level of protection against corrosion that we are able to achieve in our new powder coat shop by applying a single layer of 80 micro meter is a so called C3 category protection. By applying a second layer we achieve protection against the most severe C5-I category, which equals a product remaining corrosion free for 1000 hours in a salt water bath.
Since the middle of October 2020 we have been gradually transferring our paint jobs from the old paint cabin to the new powder coat shop, and we are extremely happy with the protection, the improved look and the finish of our products. As already mentioned, from 1st of January 2021 we will powder coat all dock levellers produced from that date, and this is without any surcharge for C3 category protection. |
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Main benefits of using Powder Coating as painting process:
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- Durability: Powder coating provides a more durable finish than liquid paints can offer, while still providing an attractive finish. During the curing process at high temperature, the powder will form chemical bonds leading to a flexible but durable finish. Powder coated products are more resistant to diminished coating quality as a result of impact, moisture, chemicals, ultraviolet light, and extreme weather conditions. In turn, this reduces the risk of scratches, chipping, abrasions, corrosion, fading, and other wear issues.
- Safe for the Environment: The technology of powder coating is considered to be environmentally safe. While liquid finishes contain solvents which have pollutants known as volatile organic compounds (VOC's), powder coating contains no solvents and release negligible amounts, if any, VOC's into the atmosphere.
- Efficiency: Because of the electromagnetic energy used to apply the powder to parts, and the filtering of wasted powder for re-use, there is almost no waste in the powder coating process.
 Additionally, our experts can apply as much powder as necessary in one application. Due to the short drying time and with no flash off period required, another layer of coating can be applied right away without obstructing the production process. This second layer results in a C5 quality. Furthermore powder coating improves the general efficiency of our production process. The short drying time of the coating after applying allows for a smooth and continuous flow of products into our assembly lines, which is a big benefit considering the large size of our products. This is part of our Quantum Leap program which we initiated to double our production capacity during 2024.
- Variety: Powder coating has a huge potential for customization of the product finish. Besides the ability to produce any colour, we can also select from a range of premium finishes, We will keep you updated about any new options coming available in the future.
- Easy Maintenance: Powder coating is highly durable, so it lessens the chances of corrosion occurring. Products will require less maintenance work to keep them in optimal shape.
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