Over 22 Years of Expertise in Every System We Build.

Pretreatment is the foundational stage of any high-quality finishing system. It is a multi-stage washing process designed to do two things: clean the part's surface and apply a conversion coating. Cleaning, typically with an alkaline solution, removes oils and soils. The conversion coating, often iron phosphate or zirconium, microscopically etches the surface and deposits a thin, inert layer. This layer provides corrosion resistance and creates a perfect profile for the paint or powder to adhere to. Without proper pretreatment, even the best coating applied by the most advanced coating equipment will fail. At TIMS, we consider the pretreatment washer to be the most critical component of the line, and we engineer it with the same precision and control as the robotic application and curing systems.

Industry 4.0, or the "smart factory," is transforming coating equipment from a collection of standalone machines into a single, data-rich intelligent system. The new standard, which TIMS integrates into all its lines, involves placing sensors on every critical component—pumps, motors, heaters, robots. These sensors feed real-time performance data to a central controller. This allows for predictive maintenance, alerting you that a nozzle is wearing out before it causes a defect. It enables automated quality control by logging the exact process parameters for every part that is coated. It also allows for remote monitoring and troubleshooting by expert technicians. This integration of data and intelligence is the future, turning coating equipment into a proactive, self-optimizing asset that drives unprecedented levels of quality and efficiency.

Coating wood and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) requires specialized coating equipment due to the material's sensitivity to heat and its porous nature. Traditional powder coating is not viable, but low-temperature UV-cured powder coating systems are an emerging, durable option. More commonly, liquid coating systems are used. A typical automated line for wood products includes sanding robots for surface preparation, a sealed spray booth with a flatline conveyor, and a curing oven that uses infrared or ultraviolet (UV) light. UV curing is particularly effective as it cures the finish in seconds without generating significant heat that could damage the substrate. TIMS designs specialized coating equipment for wood products that provides a beautiful, durable, and consistent finish while carefully controlling the heat to protect the integrity of the material.

Upgrading your **coating equipment** is a major decision. Use this checklist to ensure you've considered the key factors. 1. **Bottleneck Analysis:** Have you identified the true bottleneck in your current process? (It may not be the spray gun). 2. **Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):** Are you looking beyond the purchase price to calculate long-term savings in materials, energy, and labor? 3. **Future-Proofing:** Does the new equipment have the capacity and technological capability (e.g., Industry 4.0 readiness) to meet your needs in 5-10 years? 4. **Environmental Compliance:** Will the new system meet not just current, but also future anticipated environmental regulations for VOCs and waste? 5. **Vendor as a Partner:** Are you choosing a vendor like TIMS who will analyze your process, provide a custom-engineered solution, and offer long-term support, or are you just buying a machine from a catalog?