Overspray-free paint application on glass surfaces

PAN DUR manufactures refrigerated cabinets for supermarkets where food is stored behind glass or plastic panes. Opaque decorative strips are applied to conceal the unsightly adhesive and sealing seams on the edges of the glass and the refrigeration technology behind it. Previously, the company used the screen printing process for this. For several months now, the glass surfaces have been processed using Dürr’s ‘EcoPaintJet’, which saves time and material.

More flexibility, lower costs

Thanks to the new overspray-free application, the company is gaining flexibility and speed in production and reducing paint costs. This is because the new applicator from Dürr paints with sharp edges and without any overspray. Each contour is simply programmed and applied in the desired colour to the corresponding predefined surface – without masking the glass surfaces beforehand. The biggest challenge proved to be finding the right paint for use on glass surfaces.

A long-standing partner of PAN-DUR, the paint specialist Votteler, was also involved in the development. Project manager Uwe Schmidt explains: ‘Painting glass surfaces is very demanding. This requires specially developed paints that are perfectly matched to the system in terms of their rheology, opacity and particle distribution. This coating system can also be used on other substrates. That’s why it took a few trial rounds before we found the right paint.’

Complete process technology from a single source

Dürr not only supplied the overspray-free paint applicator, but also provided PAN-DUR with the entire process technology, from paint removal to colour supply. The components installed include the ‘Fluid Board’ colour dosing and colour change system, the ‘Cleaner’ cleaning unit for the applicator and the ‘EcoAUC’ control unit.

For the seamless integration of the process technology, PAN-DUR developed a multi-axis gantry on which the rotatable and height-adjustable application head of the ‘EcoPaintJet’ was mounted. ‘We linked the Dürr process technology with the interfaces of our system.

Overspray-free application in other industries

The implementation went completely smoothly,’ explains Jens Verhoef, Development Manager for Electrical and Automation Technology at PAN-DUR. Other industrial fields of application are also conceivable for the ‘EcoPaintJet’, for example in the wood industry, in window or kitchen construction, but also in the field of painting rail vehicles. ‘There is potential wherever straight stripes need to be applied to a flat surface and where masking is still used during the painting process.

There are a number of enquiries from different industries,’ says Fabian Schilt, head of the European industrial sales team at Dürr. An additional advantage that makes the overall system attractive for other applications is that all components are ‘ready-to-integrate’, meaning they can be easily integrated into existing production systems.

More information: www.durr.com, www.votteler.com