Full service UV-coating line
UV-coating is a relatively new technique. Selmers has created a UV-coating process line that stands out for its’ advanced features and benefits. This solution is full service, which means you get a complete factory for UV-coating which is a scratch- and corrosion resistant cosmetic coating. You will get all the equipment suited for cleaning, pre-heating, coating, curing and handling of long steel or aluminum tubes and/or profiles. This can be done with either Mercury lamps or LED-lamps.
Solution
Selmers UV coating line is suited for a multitude of applications and industries. For instance, in the building industry, for sprinkler pipes or furniture, in automotive, solar parks, OCTG (Oil Country Tubular Goods) and much more. UV-coating equipment applies a layer of paint that is in essence cosmetic but delivers a hard and durable scratch- and corrosion resistant protection that can withstand the test of time. It has a wide color range and enhances the product with a shiny appealing gloss like no other coating. It also has several benefits compared to commonly used water-based coatings.
Features:
- Handling equipment: Tailored to the specific needs of the customer consisting of rollers side-shifting systems and tube racks.
- Cleaning system: Engineered to prepare the surface for coating by means of cleaning and drying.
- Pre-heating system: Prepares the surface of the tube in terms of temperature for perfect adehesion of the coating. (Only needed with LED curing)
- Coating system: Applies the coating efficiently.
- Curing system: Cures the coating almost instantly with UV Led lamps or UV Mercury lamps.
- When Mercury: Less machines but also less colors only opaque and transparent colors are possible.
- When LED: Almost all colors are possible and no ozone emissions.
- Air cooling system: Cools the tube down for the finishing touch on curing. Air cooling is only needed with LED curing.
- Electrical controls.
- Suited for: flat-sided-oval, rectangular, round long steel or aluminum objects.
- Adjustability: The individual systems are adjustable for various sizes. Minimizing change over time.
Advantages:
- Sustainable: The washing and coating system can reclaim and filter excess water or coating.
- Smaller floorspace: Compared to water-based coating lines there is much less space needed because the drying area is reduced.
- Clean working space: Compared to water-based coating lines the working area is cleaner because no coating is escaping in the air or drips on the ground.
- Complete integration: Selmers can provide all the listed systems making a fully functioning UV coating line.
- Lower Energy consumption
- Higher ROI
- Reduced Reporting & EHS
How it works:
When UV coating is exposed to UV light, it initiates a chemical reaction in which photo initiators – special components in the coating – absorb the UV-light energy. This absorption triggers the polymerization or cross-linking of monomers and oligomers in the coating, causing the material to harden and form a durable film. This process is photochemical because it involves light (UV-radiation) driving the chemical transformation, converting liquid coatings into solid layers, without requiring heat or long curing (drying) times.
The full scope:
The UV coating line contains all the necessary equipment to transport, clean, handle, operate, coat and cure the tube or profile. There are 2 options for curing, by means of mercury lamps or LED lamps.
- With LED curing extra steps are involved: first, handling equipment moves the tube into position. Next, the cleaning system thoroughly cleans and dries the tube. Secondly, the tube is pre-heated with an induction (or gas) system. The coating system then applies the coating, and the tube moves to the curing system where it is cured with UV LED lamps. Lastly, the coating process is finished with an air-cooling system. After the coating and curing, handling equipment can move the tube to the next desired station.
- With Mercury curing the same handling equipment moves the tube to the first system which is the cleaning system. The cleaning system cleans and dries the tube. After the cleaning system the tube goes through the coating system where it is provided with the coating layer. After this the tube is guided through the curing system where the coating is cured with UV Mercury lamps.