Menu

Reliant Finishing Systems

About Reliant Finishing Systems

Posts by Reliant Finishing Systems :

Group

Metal Fab Guys Customer Spotlight

Last month, Reliant’s customer service manager, Aaron Anderson, checked back in with Richard Stewart, the CEO of Metal Fab Guys LLC in Walker, Louisiana. Metal Fab Guys is a US-based company that provides automated fabrication services utilizing their new state-of-the art production facility.

Please tell us a bit about your company. How long have you been in business?

 Metal Fab Guys is a manufacturing company that focuses on servicing OEMs. We provide products that start as sheet metal and end up in a box and ready to use. All our powder coated products go through Reliant equipment.

We’ve been accepting orders since May of last year, so we’ve only been in business about 14-15 months as Metal Fab Guys. Before starting the company, we had decades of experience in the fabrication industry, received over 100 patents, and enjoyed success manufacturing retail products.

What do you make now and what’s your best-selling product?

We do have a couple products we sell ourselves, but we primarily service national brands. We support the data center market and garage cabinet market–we’re manufacturing very large quantities of garage cabinets. We’re also involved with dehumidifiers and air purification equipment.

How has your Reliant equipment helped your business to thrive?

Well, most companies typically invest in one side or the other. What I mean is they focus on either coating and finishing or metalworking and fabrication. Having the ability to get great results on both sides of the business, and do it all under one roof, has been a big benefit for us. We’re able to supervise all our production tasks at a single location, and that’s allowed us to better manage our costs. We’re at an advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining customers. Sometimes, we just throw powder in for free to help close a deal. In-house coating is one of those things that’s vital for total growth.

Why did you choose Reliant?

I searched a bunch of different companies and ultimately Reliant came through with the fastest lead time and best package pricing that I could find for what we needed.

You purchased factory installation. How did that go?

It was extremely easy and hands-off. All I had to do was basically unload the truck when the equipment got here and set it aside until the installers showed up. They took over from there. I had to specify an area where I wanted it installed, and that’s all I had to do as far as getting everything assembled. They took care of the rest and made sure everything fit together nicely. Other than assembly, I just had to get the exhaust ducting ran, get the gas hooked up, and get the incoming electrical service hooked to Reliant’s controls. The rest of the wiring was done by the installers and the burner adjustment was handled when their tech came to start us up.

How would you rate the fit and finish once they were done?

Perfect. It looked just like the pictures online. It went together well, with no issues. It has been incredibly reliable. We have not had a single thing go wrong. 

Some business owners tend to purchase smaller sized equipment when they first get started. What made you guys decide to invest in larger equipment?

Thankfully, we’re not hurting for capital. This is a second business, so we’re doing this a little differently. We’ve got the experience to “go big or go home.” When you go bigger, you attract bigger customers. That was the idea behind it when we sized the equipment.

We wanted to support a variety of products at the highest throughput we could in our building’s limited space. That meant we needed to have enough room to support numerous products in a batch. We’ve achieved that by starting with larger equipment, but we already wish we had more capacity now that things are rolling. Realistically, we probably should have switched over to a conveyor by now with the production volume we’re doing…but we’ve made it work. Impressively, the Reliant oven cures hundreds of cabinets a week, and does a good job.

Early on, we were told one powder coating gun would be enough. We actually needed more because of the throughput we’re trying to achieve. We can’t afford the downtime the way slower-paced businesses can. Fortunately, we made the decision to purchase six guns as part of our equipment package. That helped us minimize downtime. Our doors and inner skins on some parts of the cabinetry are different colors. So, the multi-gun approach allows us to avoid downtime and gun cleaning linked to color changes. While one batch is curing, another batch is getting sprayed. It doesn’t matter about color changes since all the common colors are already loaded up in dedicated guns. This gives us greater speed and versatility. Our coaters just grab a gun and spray the color they need. They can quickly spray different colored parts and keep ‘em rolling in and out all day.

Tell us about your experience doing business with Reliant. Did it go smoothly?

Doing business with Reliant was definitely easier than what I expected from your competitors. Like most businesspeople considering a big investment, I looked around for a while before I made a selection. Most of the other equipment companies in your space did not follow up effectively during the quoting process. Right from the start, I figured the company that followed up and answered my questions would be the better choice. Y’all have always been communicative and helpful.

What’s next for Metal Fab Guys? What does the future look like?

Well, we’ve already expanded three times. We’ve almost doubled our square footage in the last year and we’re looking at adding another 40,000 square feet to accommodate some future production commitments we’re getting. We’ll probably need a conveyorized system before long. 

Well, Richard, we look forward to talking with you about a conveyorized coating system in the near future. We want to thank you again for choosing Reliant. We’re pleased to hear about your rapid growth, and it’s great to know that your Reliant powder coating equipment is providing dependable results!

You can visit Metal Fab Guys  to contact them online about their products or check out their Facebook page  for the latest news and updates on their most recent projects.






Metal Fab Guys Social Widget


Follow Metal Fab Guys

Stay connected with our latest projects and updates


♪
TikTok


@
Instagram


Steam Cleaning

The 6 Most Expensive Mistakes Powder Coaters Make

Even successful powder coaters still make costly mistakes. What we’ve found when consulting with our customers is that it’s not always the obvious things—like buying the wrong powder or chemistry—that hurt the most in the long run. Often, it’s the combination of overlooked daily habits, process flaws, and poor planning that drain profitability.

Here are the six most expensive mistakes powder coaters make, along with insights on how to fix them:

1. Rework Due to Poor Surface Preparation

One of the most common (and costly) mistakes in powder coating is inadequate surface preparation. Skipping steps or doing a poor job of cleaning, blasting, or pretreating parts leads to poor adhesion and inconsistent finishes. These defects often aren’t noticed until after curing, sometimes requiring a full redo of the work. This can more than double the labor and materials costs for the job.

Cost impact: A single batch of improperly prepped parts can wipe out the profit of a full day’s work. Multiply that across multiple orders per month and you’re potentially looking at tens of thousands of dollars or more in lost margin.

Solution: If your employees encounter defects, make sure they’re corrected before the parts leave your facility. Invest in training your workforce, enforce process controls, and standardize your inspection routines. To help prevent defects, every part needs to be properly prepped and ready for coating before powder ever touches it. Learn more here.

2. Neglecting Equipment Maintenance

Skipping routine maintenance to save time or money is short-sighted. When powder coating or finishing equipment fails, you lose time, delay orders, and increase coating defects. You risk losing important customers and wasting your labor budget. Unless your operators are diligent and observant, you may not realize something is a problem until it’s too late—after a full batch has to be reworked. If the oven shuts down mid-cycle, a powder gun’s electrostatics don’t work properly, or the spray wand is applying pretreatment chemistry that isn’t properly titrated, you could be dealing with a very costly but preventable failure.

A related issue is when the finishing line manager doesn’t require routine filter changes. Clogged exhaust filters reduce the performance of your spray booths and can slow your coaters down because the overspray doesn’t move away from the part the way it should. It’s harder for them to observe coverage as they coat, which can lead to defects. If the filters become damaged, overspray can accumulate on the exhaust fan and inside the exhaust unit, creating problems in the future. 

Cost impact: A single breakdown can easily cost over $1,000 in emergency repairs and lost productivity. Cumulative equipment neglect can cost $50,000 or more per year in downtime and inefficiency.

Solution: Implement a preventative maintenance schedule and train your team to constantly look for and successfully detect issues. Most equipment manufacturers, like Reliant Finishing Systems, provide free maintenance guides. Keep critical spare parts on hand and document all downtime and repair or maintenance activity. Don’t skimp on filter changes. Learn more here

3. Poor Workflow Planning

It’s tempting to bounce between projects to please customers, but the chaos can kill throughput and inflate your costs. Inefficient scheduling can result in excessive color changes, wasted booth or oven time, idle employees, and disorganized workflow. Color changes and powder switches, especially in manual batch shop settings, are a huge hidden cost. Without a standardized procedure, you risk cross-contamination, rejected finishes, increased labor costs, and excessive powder waste.

Along the same lines, if you are jumping between selling work and performing work, you can inject idle time and inefficiencies that clobber profitability. Your powder coating equipment only makes you money when it’s working.

Cost impact: Wasting even one hour per day due to unnecessary change-overs or disorganized workflow can cost over $20,000 annually in added labor, inefficient powder use, and missed productivity.

Solution: Numerous case studies have shown that disciplined scheduling is far more profitable than reactive flexibility. When possible, group similar jobs by color, substrate, and cure time. Use software or whiteboard systems to batch your work efficiently or develop a hanging strategy to maximize line density on a conveyorized system. Develop and document lean change-over practices. Invest in fast booth cleaning routines, blow-off guns, and color-change training. Consider buying extra hose sets for your powder guns to reduce downtime between powder changes. If you’re operating at a moderate volume, you may benefit from having one or more spare guns so operators can have them loaded with powder and ready to go when it’s time to swap colors or textures. In high-volume shops, consider dedicated booths for popular colors.

Solution: Develop and document lean change-over practices. Invest in fast booth cleaning routines, blow-off guns, and color-change training. Consider buying extra hose sets for your powder guns to reduce downtime between powder changes. If you’re operating at a moderate volume, you may benefit from having one or more spare guns so operators can have them loaded with powder and ready to go when it’s time to swap colors or textures. In high-volume shops, consider dedicated booths for popular colors.

4. Poor Powder Management and Inventory Control

Powder that’s improperly stored, expired, or misused (wrong curing temperature, poor application technique, etc.) leads to waste, rework, and dissatisfied customers. Letting inventory levels get too high ties up cash, while running out of popular powders causes delays.

Cost impact: Wasted powder alone can add up to $5,000–$10,000 annually in a medium-sized shop, not including powder lost due to excessive overspray. The costs are much greater if you consider jobs that were lost due to delays and/or discounts that had to be given to offset late deliveries. These numbers don’t take into account the drag on your operating budget if you’re stocking a large inventory of rarely used powders or chemistries.

Solution: Use a FIFO (first-in, first-out) inventory system to keep supplies fresh, maintain detailed logs of powder usage by job, and store materials in a climate-controlled area. Make sure operators are trained on powder acclimation procedures, especially when operating in hot, humid climates. Be diligent about proper chemistry use and titration. Work closely with powder and chemistry suppliers to get smaller, just-in-time orders if needed.

5. Underquoting Complex Jobs

Many coaters lose money by not accurately pricing jobs, especially when dealing with custom work, large parts, or odd geometries. Whether it’s underestimating masking labor, not understanding how to get access to all areas of the part that need coating (this is often related to not determining how the parts will be racked or hung from conveyor BEFORE quoting), failing to include handling and packaging costs, or not accounting for multiple powder change-overs, inaccurate quoting almost always results in lost profit or even outright losses.

Cost impact: Underpricing just one major job a month by 20% can equate to $20,000–$40,000 or more per year in unrealized profit.

Solution: Track time and material usage carefully on all job types, build a quoting tool that includes true costs, and train sales staff not to “guestimate.” It’s better to invest more energy on the front side to get your pricing right than to spend it on the back side dealing with issues that weren’t properly accounted for.

6. Failing to Track Job Profitability

Many powder coaters don’t analyze which jobs, part types, or customers are the most profitable. Without fairly accurate job costing, you may be filling your schedule with unprofitable work just to stay busy. Busy isn’t the same as profitable. 

Cost impact: If 20% of your jobs are close to break-even or worse, your shop is likely working harder than it needs to with nothing to show for it. Depending on the size of your coating operation, this can mean you are doing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in work without making a dime on it.

Solution: Set up simple job costing reports for every completed order. Track labor hours, materials, overhead allocation, and profit per job. Over time, you’ll learn which jobs to pursue, and which ones to avoid or price differently. If you have no shortage of potential work, consider implementing a more sophisticated yield management strategy to maximize profitability. 

Conclusion

Powder coating is a competitive industry with rising performance expectations as the powder finishing process becomes better understood and more widely used by customers. If you’re not watching for hidden money leaks, they can quickly drain your bottom line. 

The good news? Each of these seven expensive mistakes can be corrected with discipline, attention to detail, consistent performance, and a data-driven mindset. Profit isn’t about the money you take in–it’s about the money you keep. Plug the leaks, and your shop will run smoother, smarter, and more profitably.

6 Most Expensive Mistakes Powder Coaters Make

Even successful powder coaters still make costly mistakes. These often overlooked habits, process flaws, and poor planning drain profitability.

⚠️

1. Rework Due to Poor Surface Prep

Inadequate cleaning, blasting, or pretreating leads to poor adhesion and inconsistent finishes, often requiring full redoes.

Cost Impact:

Single batch rework can wipe out a full day’s profit, totaling tens of thousands annually.

🔧

2. Neglecting Equipment Maintenance

Skipping routine maintenance causes equipment failures, delays, defects, and lost customers.

Cost Impact:

Over $1,000 per breakdown; cumulative neglect costs $50,000+ per year.

📅

3. Poor Workflow Planning

Bouncing between colors or jobs inflates change‑overs, wastes booth time, and leaves equipment idle.

Cost Impact:

Losing one hour per day to unnecessary change‑overs burns $20,000+ per year.

📦

4. Poor Powder Management & Inventory

Improperly stored, expired, or misused powder leads to waste, rework, and dissatisfied customers.

Cost Impact:

Wasted powder $5,000‑10,000 annually, plus lost jobs/discounts.

💰

5. Underquoting Complex Jobs

Inaccurate pricing for custom work, large parts, or odd geometries results in lost profit.

Cost Impact:

Underpricing one major job/month by 20% can cost $20,000‑40,000+ annually.

📈

6. Failing to Track Job Profitability

Not analyzing which jobs are most profitable leads to filling schedules with unprofitable work.

Cost Impact:

20% of jobs at break‑even or worse means working harder for no profit (tens to hundreds of thousands).

Solutions to Common Powder Coating Mistakes

Correcting these mistakes with discipline, attention to detail, and a data‑driven mindset can significantly boost your bottom line.

💪

1. Master Surface Preparation

Correct defects before parts leave. Invest in training, enforce process controls, and standardize inspection routines.

📝

2. Implement Preventative Maintenance

Schedule routine maintenance, train staff to detect issues, keep spare parts, and document activity. Don’t skimp on filters.

📊

3. Optimize Workflow & Change‑Overs

Batch jobs by color/substrate/cure, standardize quick color‑changes, and keep spare guns or hoses ready.

📚

4. Improve Powder & Inventory Control

Use FIFO system, maintain detailed usage logs, store in climate‑controlled areas. Train on acclimation.

💻

5. Accurately Quote Complex Jobs

Track time/materials, build a quoting tool with true costs, and train sales staff to avoid “guestimating.”

💸

6. Track Job Profitability

Set up job costing reports. Track labor, materials, overhead, and profit per job to learn which to pursue.

Estimate Your Potential Savings

Input your annual revenue and select the mistakes you plan to fix to see your estimated savings.

Estimated Potential Annual Savings:

$0.00

Disclaimer: These are estimates based on general industry observations. Actual savings may vary.

Training-2

Maximizing Powder Coating First-Pass Transfer Efficiency: 8 Essential Factors

0

by Michael Schuerer

President, Reliant Finishing Systems

Why First-Pass Transfer Efficiency Matters

In professional powder coating operations, achieving high first-pass transfer efficiency (FPTE) is essential for cost reduction, throughput improvement, and quality control. FPTE refers to the percentage of powder that successfully adheres to the part during initial application compared to the total amount sprayed. Poor transfer efficiency results in wasted material, reduced throughput, and inconsistent finishes.

This article discusses industrial powder coating best practices and FPTE using traditional manual or automated powder spraying techniques and professional electrostatic guns. We’re assuming that the parts have been properly prepared for coating via mechanical and/or chemical pretreatment. We’re also taking into consideration that coating is being done in a production environment where quality must be balanced with throughput, rather than in a laboratory or classroom setting. 

This guide outlines eight critical factors that influence transfer efficiency and offers practical tips for fab shops, powder coating businesses, and manufacturers that finish their own products. Let’s start with site-related factors that the average business owner or finishing line manager can address without blowing the bank, then we’ll cover powder booth designs for efficiency, powder specifications, and powder gun optimization tips.

1. Set Powder Coating Performance Standards

You need to start by having realistic expectations, well-documented performance goals, and a system to log the results you’re actually getting. 

Typical electrostatic powder coating transfer efficiencies range from about 30% to as high as 95%. “Real world” transfer efficiencies above 80%-85% are rare. Higher numbers almost always involve coating processes that use powder reclamation, where spent powder is captured and blended with virgin powder for re-use. In those cases, the percentage cited is actually a measurement of utilization rate rather than transfer efficiency. 

There are plenty of issues that can reduce transfer efficiency. If you consider 60% to 70% as being a reasonable baseline for efficiency in a production environment, you’ll likely encounter parts that can’t be coated to that efficiency level, no matter what you do.

Parts that are quite small are generally not likely to be coated as efficiently as larger parts. Even with “wrap” due to electrostatic attraction, the powder cloud is often so much larger than the part that waste is inevitable. Part geometry can also contribute to efficiency challenges. Complex shapes with recesses and sharp angles can be difficult to coat evenly, reducing FPTE. Parts that have a substantial number of holes or intricate open spaces, such as mesh trash cans, can also be less efficient to coat. 

As a general rule, challenging parts like small brackets with complex profiles or wire goods like compact wire baskets may result in a FPTE of only 30%-40%. At the other end of the spectrum, it’s reasonable to expect a FPTE of 70%-80% when coating large flat panels. 

2. Train Operators to Improve Powder Coating Efficiency

FPTE improvements often come from better people and processes—not just better equipment or supplies. Even top-quality powder coating equipment can underperform without skilled operators. 

Your coaters need to operate at a professional level and perform consistently. You need to be realistic about their skills, regardless of their past experience. It’s important that coaters are trained about equipment operation and application techniques, and they need to understand the importance of basics like gun-to-part distance. It’s not uncommon for us to visit established powder coating operations where coaters don’t understand the gun settings or have misconceptions about how electrostatic coating works.

Formal training and testing is the solution. This can include refresher courses, as well as technical training at on-boarding. You may want to implement an in-house mentoring program, where more skilled and experienced operators help newer employees.

You also need to make sure your personnel are actively invested in the coating process. They must remain focused. This may require adjustments to policies and procedures. Coaters who learn to perform consistently and remain observant day-in and day-out can be a huge asset and help reduce powder waste. You’ll want to make sure your management team is responsive to internal concerns about issues with your powder coating application processes.

3. Prioritize Preventive Maintenance of Powder Coating Equipment

Maintaining your coating equipment does more than just extend its life and minimize downtime, it ensures that the equipment operates at its best. To maximize transfer efficiency, you’ll need to be organized and proactive. It’s critical to implement maintenance checklists for end-of-shift, daily, and weekly maintenance, as well as setting timelines for more involved maintenance needs. Once you’ve set a maintenance schedule, stick to it. 

You need to routinely inspect and replace wear parts like gun hoses and nozzles. It’s also important to change booth filters at intervals suggested by the filter providers instead of waiting until your booth’s performance is compromised. 

John Thomason, VP of Reliant Finishing Systems, notes, “If you try to stretch out the life of your intake or exhaust filters, they can get clogged to the point that the booth’s airflow is no longer adequate. This reduces visibility in the booth while spraying, leading to less efficient coating. If you’re dealing with worn out or damaged cartridge filters, they can produce airborne fibers that lead to finish defects because the pulses of compressed air that clean the filters can end up blowing fibers onto the part. Another area where maintenance can make a huge difference is grounding. Whether you’re using rolling racks or conveyor, hooks that are caked with baked-on powder don’t have adequate conductivity. The same goes for racks with powder build-up on the casters, or on the areas where hooks contact the racks, or where ground straps are attached to the racks. Keeping these areas free of powder build-up is critical. The better the ground, the more powder you’ll have on the part.”

👑Pro Tip: We’ve seen great results when companies install one or more supplemental ground rods as close to their booths as practical and then use heavy gauge cable to connect the grounding rod(s) to the conveyor, to rolling racks, or directly to parts (when practical). We suggest using 8’ copper rods with 12-gauge or heavier ground straps and high-quality clamps or fittings.  

4. Increase Racking Efficiency & Line Density

This is a simple concept. By positioning more parts in front of the gun(s) at any given time, you’ll boost FPTE. 

Many shops are familiar with using software that “nests” parts before cutting them out so they can get the largest number of parts from a sheet of material. Visualize your parts as they hang from a rack or as they pass by on the conveyor. Try to create a flat wall of nested parts whenever practical and minimize the gaps between parts by fine tuning your racking approach. If you have a manual booth, remember to leave enough room to allow for easy access by your coaters. 

If you’re working with automated guns, you have a few advantages, especially if you’re coating similarly sized and shaped parts. This advantage is even greater if the parts are relatively flat and/or aren’t particularly complex. Automated coating systems use sensors to detect the presence of incoming parts. Some systems also use sensors to detect part size and attitude and adjust gun performance accordingly. These higher-end systems adjust voltage, airflow, and spray timing dynamically to improve FPTE. 

❌Avoid This: Some multi-gun systems have one or more arrays of guns that require adjustment to gun location and attitude whenever changing from one part type to another. Companies with poor coating practices frequently crank up the output of the guns to avoid the need for fine adjustment (or to support unrealistically high throughput requirements). This approach is probably the most wasteful of all powder coating techniques we’ve encountered and provides consistently poor FPTE.

5. Assess Your Powder Spray Booths: How Powder Booth Design Impacts First-Pass Transfer Efficiency

Start by making sure your booths are adequately sized, appropriately designed and constructed, and in good repair. Most powder booths are built from steel panels that have been galvanized, aluminized, or powder coated to prevent surface corrosion. These booths are considerably less expensive than models built from specialty materials like stainless steel, poly, or engineered plastics. The more expensive booths are usually encountered when dealing with coating systems that utilize automated guns and have integrated powder reclamation capabilities. 

The booth’s construction material doesn’t typically have a significant impact on transfer efficiency, but its lighting, filtration, and airflow can.

Lighting 

For manual coating or touch-up, OSHA and other organizations indicate that a coating enclosure needs about 100 to 150 foot-candles of light at the object being coated in order to reach an ideal atmosphere from production efficiency standpoints. Too much light or poor light quality can detract from this environment. 

Almost all professional quality powder booths now have LED lighting that provides broad spectrum illumination much like natural sunlight. The concept is to match a slightly cloudy summer day where the light seems a little hazy and diffused. Blasting the parts with lights–the “more light is better light” approach–is scientifically unsound. Properly lit powder booths help coaters identify defects before the parts are moved to the oven to be cured. Coaters can also achieve more uniform coverage and better FPTE. 

Filtration

Filtration systems are essential for maintaining clean air in the booth and capturing overspray, but they also impact spray performance in more subtle ways that can affect FPTE. 

Intake filters remove airborne debris from incoming air, usually at the point where it enters the enclosure. They are typically located in the doors of the booth but may also be in the ceiling or side walls. 

In many businesses, particularly job shops, the powder booth may not have doors. These are known as open-faced booths. They rely on exhaust airflow to keep the spent powder from escaping. It can be challenging to minimize finish contamination with these booths unless shop maintenance practices are well managed. 

Exhaust filters remove powder overspray and airborne debris from outgoing air, usually at the point where it is exhausted from the enclosure. They are typically located in the rear wall of the booth but may also be in the floor or side walls. 

Many batch powder booths currently in operation use a series of disposable filters, typically made of polyester, to capture overspray as the air is exhausted. These booths are often open-faced and may be quite large in size. As mentioned previously, routinely servicing these filters is critical to FPTE. 

In addition to these rather simple booths, there are powder booths available with much more sophisticated filtration systems. The most popular of which rely on cartridge filters with pleated media to capture overspray efficiently. The filters are mounted inside exhaust units. The number and placement of these units determines how airflow is pulled through the booth. Poorly located or badly maintained exhaust units can create areas of turbulent airflow, which disrupt the powder path and reduce deposition on parts, compromising FPTE.

Automatic pulsed-air cleaning systems keep cartridge filters from clogging with powder buildup. If filters become restricted, airflow through the booth may increase in unwanted areas, pulling powder away from parts or altering the direction of spray. Regular maintenance ensures consistent airflow and better FPTE. 

High-quality filtration also enables effective recovery and reuse of spent powder. While this doesn’t directly improve first-pass efficiency, it improves overall material utilization—especially when FPTE isn’t optimal.

Airflow

For best coating results, powder booth airflow must be reasonably balanced. The goal is to contain the powder overspray and make the booth atmosphere ideal for spraying operations. The airflow in a powder booth isn’t typically as forceful as in a wet paint booth because if the exhaust airflow is too high, it can pull powder away from the part before it adheres, significantly reducing FPTE. If airflow is too low, sprayed powder may hang in the air and obscure the work piece from the coater.

A well-designed powder booth improves FPTE by slowly guiding overspray towards the filters without distorting the charged powder cloud while it surrounds the work piece. 

Cross-draft booths—where the air in the booth moves parallel to the ground and is drawn into filters mounted on the rear wall–are popular for batch coating. These are also sometimes known as cross-flow booths. 

The side-draft booth is a variant where the air moves side-to-side instead of front-to-back.

⚠️ Beware: Some powder booths, particularly less expensive ones, are no more than economy-oriented wet paint booths that have had extra filters strapped to them. In the most obvious cases, there will be a small section of exhaust duct that has a cube-shaped box covered in filters mounted on top of it. In a wet paint application, this box would not be included, and the exhaust would be ducted to the outside atmosphere instead. Not only does this filtration method not work very well, the interior of the booth typically has filters that go all the way to the ceiling which can be costly to replace(adding this since it seems to provide a more direct reason why this is bad otherwise I’d just remove the line altogether). Because the characteristics of airborne powder are different than those of wet paint overspray, this design is suboptimal and may reduce FPTE.

Semi-downdraft booths–where air primarily moves parallel to the ground, but is also drawn downward into filters located near the floor–are also very popular and generally well-suited to most powder coating situations. 

Downdraft booths–where air travels vertically downward into filters–are sometimes used, especially with automated guns and conveyorized systems, because the overspray can be captured directly below the parts.

6. Optimize Powder Particle Size Distribution

Powder coating media is made up of finely ground solid particles, typically ranging in size from 10-120 microns (µm), depending on the formulation. Most standard powders fall within the 25-75 micron range, which is ideal for general-purpose electrostatic spray applications.

The size of these particles affects how well they fluidize, how efficiently they become electrostatically charged, and how easily they travel through the powder hose and spray gun. It also determines how they behave in the air and how likely they are to stick to the part.

How Particle Size Affects FPTE:

  • Small particles (under 25 microns) charge easily and provide excellent surface smoothness but can be more difficult to fluidize and are prone to being carried away in airflow, resulting in lower transfer efficiency and more overspray.
  • Large particles (over 75 microns) may not charge effectively or adhere well, leading to poor coverage and uneven film thickness. They can also clog guns and hoses if not handled properly.
  • The sweet spot for maximum FPTE involves powders with a narrow, controlled particle size distribution, typically in the 30 to 60 micron range. These particles strike a good balance between fluidization, chargeability, and adhesion.

While average particle size is important, the distribution—the range and consistency of particle sizes within the batch—is just as crucial. A tight particle distribution ensures predictable flow, consistent electrostatic behavior, and uniform film build.

Powders with wide particle distributions may fluidize inconsistently and behave unpredictably in the spray pattern. As an example, if a batch contains both extremely fine and very coarse particles, the finer ones may float past the part, while the heavier ones fall out of the cloud before reaching the surface.

To optimize FPTE, use powder from reputable suppliers who offer quality-controlled particle size ranges with minimal variation. You may want to use sieves or classifiers to remove oversized or agglomerated particles, especially when dealing with reclaimed powder.

👑Pro Tip: For automated lines, or any situation where you are spraying a high volume of powder and consistently working with parts of similar size and shape, consider custom powder formulations with tighter tolerances to match your specific part geometry and application setup. The efficiency improvement can outpace the increased cost, resulting in a lower applied cost. 

7. Manage Powder Gun Electrical Settings

Improving your FPTE requires correct tuning of voltage, current, and grounding.

Adjusting Voltage (kV)

Voltage, expressed in kilovolts (kV), is the most important setting for creating an electrostatic field. Most professional guns can be adjusted between 10 and 100 kV. For flat panels or large, simple surface areas, a setting around 80–90 kV is typical. Lower settings are common with more complex parts. 

Higher settings increase the attraction between the powder and the part, but higher voltage isn’t always better. If voltage is too high, it can cause “back ionization,” creating rough texture and poor finish quality. It can also repel powder from recessed or intricate areas due to strong electrostatic forces (known as the Faraday cage effect).

To improve FPTE:

  • Use higher voltage for flat parts and larger parts with simple surfaces.
  • Drop voltage to 40–60 kV for recessed or detailed parts to help powder penetrate corners.
  • When using higher voltage settings, watch for issues related to back ionization (typically the formation of small “craters” in the coating).
  • If using modern professional guns, tweak pre-sets to get optimal results.

Adjusting Current (μA)

Current settings, expressed in microamperes (μA), control how much charge is transferred to the powder. Professional guns limit the current to avoid overcharging, which can cause powder to repel rather than attract. If the current is too high, powder can bounce off the part rather than sticking to it. You may see uneven buildup or have difficulty coating edges.

Modern guns have adaptive μA limiters but may allow manual settings. The current load increases as the gun gets closer to the part being sprayed. On a gun with an adjustable current limiter, when the current load reaches the set limit, the kV will quickly decrease. This helps prevent problems from too much voltage, especially when the gun is too close to the part.

How-To: Experienced coaters usually start with a moderate μA limit and observe the cloud behavior. Lower μA settings are better for coating parts with deep recesses or tight corners. They may also work well when dealing with very small parts.

Check Grounding–Again

As we stated earlier, good grounding is essential. The part must be electrically grounded so that it attracts the charged powder. Poor grounding drastically reduces FPTE and can cause powder to build up unevenly or fall off before curing. Ensure the rack or hanger is clean and makes strong metal-to-metal contact with the part. Confirm the ground path is continuous and uncompromised.

👑Pro Tip: A megohmmeter can help test for ground integrity (target is under 1 megohm). Although often used to check the quality of wiring insulation, these tools may be worth the investment if you are having doubts about your grounding scheme. 

Match Settings to Part Geometry

Don’t “set it and forget it.” There’s not really a one-size-fits-all setting. Self-adjusting guns typically have fine tuning adjustments. For best results, use preset programs on advanced guns or create custom recipes for different part types. Adjust your gun(s) in real time while watching powder behavior and coverage patterns.

8. Control Powder Gun Airflow and Powder Delivery 

Efficient powder coating requires a careful balance between powder output and airflow. If either factor is misadjusted, it can lead to problems. Properly tuning your gun(s) for both ensures optimized FPTE, improved finish quality, and a cleaner working environment.

Powder Output refers to the amount of powder delivered through the gun. This is controlled by the powder regulator, typically an easy-to-find knob that allows rapid adjustment of powder output. Too much powder can overwhelm the electrostatic charge and result in excessive overspray, while too little powder may leave thin or uneven coverage, especially in recessed areas. The goal is to maintain just enough powder flow to coat the part efficiently without generating excessive waste.

Airflow involves both atomizing air and flow air. Atomizing air disperses the powder into a fine airborne mist, while flow air carries it through the hose and into the electrostatic field around the part. Insufficient airflow can cause poor powder dispersion, clumping, or sputtering. On the other hand, excessive airflow may disrupt the powder cloud or even blow powder off the part before it adheres.

How-To: To find the optimal balance, most coaters start by adjusting the powder output to a moderate level and then fine-tuning the airflow to create a soft, consistent powder cloud. Watch how the powder deposits on the part—uniform cloud coverage that gently wraps around corners and recesses is ideal. It’s especially important to avoid setting airflow so high that it reduces the dwell time of powder near the part or exacerbates Faraday cage issues in tight areas. 

If the powder cloud fills your booth to the point you can’t easily see through it during operation, you’re likely using too much air. You may also be using too much powder.  On the other side of the coin, if it looks like you’re getting more powder on the floor than you are on the parts, you’re likely using too much powder, and you may also be using too much air and blowing powder off the parts.

👑Pro Tip: Buy good quality powders that have a low percentage of inert material, then work directly with your powder suppliers to get advice and hands-on training about how to improve FPTE with their specific products. 

Unlock Greater Powder Coating Efficiency

By considering these eight factors, you’ll reduce powder waste, shorten production cycles, improve finish quality & minimize rework, plus enjoy secondary benefits like increased equipment life!

Improving First-Pass Transfer Efficiency (and powder coating efficiency in general) isn’t just about reducing powder overspray. It’s about building a repeatable, cost-effective powder finishing process that delivers consistent results.

Looking for an optimized powder booth & gun system or need help designing a new coating line? Contact the experts at Reliant Finishing Systems today to get started.

📞 Call us: (256) 355-9000
💻 Visit: www.reliantfinishingsystems.com

Green Side By Side

Thumper Fab Customer Spotlight

0

Aaron Anderson, Reliant’s customer service manager, recently got a chance to take a break from the summer heat and talk with J. C. Kester from Thumper Fabrication in Marshall, Texas. In a few short years, Thumper Fab has become an industry leader when it comes to durable, well-made UTV accessories.

 Let me start by saying that some of my coworkers who enjoy outdoor activities have encountered the Thumper Fab brand. They want to know more about how your company is growing with the help of powder coating equipment we built. How did you get started?

 Well, we started out of necessity. We began creating a few of our own designs for accessories for side-by-sides like Polaris and Can-Am. At first, we had a sister company that was a dealership for UTVs. We were having a hard time finding high-quality accessories for the vehicles we sold, so we started designing them and having third-party manufacturers make them for us.

We got some recognition for our designs and the popularity of our products spread by word-of-mouth. Long story short, we sold a lot of accessories through the dealership. We decided we needed to start our own brand for the products we were designing, and we launched Thumper Fab in 2019 to do just that. We spun the business off and began making the products ourselves.

 What do you manufacture?

 We make pretty much anything that goes on a side-by-side. Suspension parts, bumpers, roofs, roll cages, doors, bed racks, roof racks, nerf rails, you name it. We produce both steel and aluminum products and we do absolutely everything in house.

How has equipment from Reliant Finishing Systems helped your business to thrive?

 Powder coating is critical for the longevity and overall look of our products, so it’s very important. The first thing every customer sees when they pull something out of the box is the finish on it, so we need to get consistently good results from our coating equipment.

 Our process starts with metal coming in, then it gets cut and bent and welded out, and then it gets coated. Getting the Reliant equipment installed was one of the key steps that allowed us to bring production in-house and get control over it from start to finish. We needed to hit the ground running with a reliable system. We also wanted to be able to ramp up to meet growing production demands.

 What was your main reason for bringing powder coating in-house?

Mostly, it’s about having complete control from a quality standpoint. It also makes the production process easier to manage because we can do everything in-house and don’t have to outsource the work. It’s a time and cost savings, especially with regards to logistics. We don’t have to ship parts to a coating shop, wait for them to do the work, then have them shipped back to us.

What are some obstacles you faced early on?

 Growth–rapid growth. We had to work hard just to keep up with the demand for our products. That kind of growth really throws a bunch of complications at you. It’s super easy to make one bumper and make it look fantastic. It’s a lot harder when you start making hundreds or thousands of them because you want to make sure you get that same level of care and quality on the 999th one that you put into the very first one that you made.

 What did you do to overcome those early challenges? 

 When we got rolling in 2019, we started out with a blank space for our building, which allowed us to spec the latest and greatest machinery and develop a smart layout for what we wanted to do. We looked for the best equipment out there for building our products. We also worked on developing a strong team of people. We paid attention to everything that’s needed for a successful business, including reliable production equipment, modern software, inventory management, quality employees, and everything else that goes into building a successful start-up company. The challenges seemed even greater because we were jumping into manufacturing. We not only had to sell the products, we had to make them. There are tons of obstacles and opportunities for failure in a manufacturing business on a good day, and there are even more when you’re managing a start-up. We had to pay close attention to every aspect of the business and stay focused on quality.

Tell us about your experience with the service provided by Reliant since you bought your equipment. Has it been a good fit for your company?

 The support has been top notch. You folks have always been there to help us out. If we ever have an issue, you make sure we have what we need to get back up and running…and running strong.

 What are your future business plans?

 Well, we’re continuing to expand our product offerings, grow our business footprint, and improve overall. In order to do this, we keep increasing our capabilities. We’ve already added on to our original facility a number of times. Fortunately, we’ve got 40 acres around us to expand even further. 

J.C., thank you again for choosing Reliant for your business. We’re glad to hear about your success and we’re excited that you’re still getting great results from your Reliant powder coating equipment!

You can visit Thumper Fab to contact them online about their products or check out their Facebook page for their latest news and photos of their most recent projects.






Thumper Fab Social Icons


Follow Thumper Fab

Stay connected with our latest projects and updates


▶
YouTube


♪
TikTok


@
Instagram


Powder

Powder Coating vs. Liquid Paint: 3 Reasons Why Powder Is the Smart Choice

0

Michael Schuerer
President, Reliant Finishing Systems

When it comes to coating metal parts, businesses are making the switch from traditional liquid paint to powder coating. Powder coating isn’t just better for the environment, it also outperforms liquid paint’s durability, efficiency, and cost. In almost all situations, it’s easy to make a business case for transitioning to powder coating.
Since becoming involved in the finishing industry over 25 years ago, I’ve seen a steady transition from paint to powder by industrial clients, especially in the past 10 years. As the powder coating process has become better understood by the average manufacturer or fabricator, its popularity has skyrocketed in the U.S. There are 3 main reasons why this has happened, and they’re summarized in this article. As a business owner or finishing department manager comparing the two finishes, here’s what you need to know:

1. Powder Coating Offers Superior Durability

If you’re looking for a finish that stands up to wear, corrosion, and harsh environments, powder coating wins hands down. From a strictly performance-based perspective, powder coating is both physically and chemically more durable. 

Most paint finishes are typically softer than an average powder coating. Unlike liquid paint, powder coatings form a tougher, more resilient surface. They resist chipping, scratching, and chemical damage, making them ideal for demanding applications that require a protective, long-lasting finish. This is especially true with products that are used outdoors. Manufacturers that have already embraced the benefits of powder coating include producers of agricultural equipment, lawn furniture, architectural components, oil & gas equipment, wheels, aerospace components, and truck & ATV accessories.

With better corrosion resistance, powder coating helps extend the service life of a wide range of products. It has become the go-to finishing process for countless parts and assemblies that are exposed to the elements on a daily basis. Also, in fields where downtime is costly, powder coating protects critical components from rust and wear, helping minimize unscheduled maintenance.

The bottom line: powder lasts longer and protects better than paint, helping your products–and your business–perform at a higher level.

2. Powder Coating Is Easier and More Efficient

Anyone who’s worked with liquid paint in a production setting knows it can be messy, finicky, and time-consuming to work with. In contrast, powder coating is far more forgiving and profit-friendly. Why is this?

Less training is required – Operators can achieve a quality finish with substantially less training or professional experience.

Fewer Costly QC issues – Powder coating errors can often be corrected before curing, without costly rework.

Less Material Waste – Powder coating involves less overspray than wet paint, so more coating material ends up on the part.

Lower Clean-Up Costs – Professional powder guns have integrated self-cleaning routines, so color changes are faster. Unlike sticky wet paint, spent powder is easily blown off and swept up when dealing with spills or routine booth upkeep.

Faster turnaround – Since there aren’t delays waiting on flash times between coating and curing, you may get more parts get finished per shift. 

If you’re trying to boost output without increasing labor or overhead, switching to powder can significantly increase throughput and reduce waste.

3. Powder Coating Reduces Costs

One of the most compelling reasons to switch to powder coating is the lower cost per square foot. 

For the following evaluation, we left out the cost of getting parts ready to coat. This is because the cost of prepping parts for paint or powder is about the same. 

We used paint and powder prices that are fairly common in 2025 for non-specialty products. We imagined a situation where the powder is applied, moved directly to a curing oven, cured, and then cooled briefly before handling. With wet paint, we assumed the paint is applied, allowed to flash-off, moved to a curing oven, cured, and then cooled briefly before handling. At some facilities, heated paint booths are used, so the paint is applied and cured in the same appliance. For our comparison, the transfer efficiencies–how much paint or powder sticks to the part versus the total amount sprayed–are typical for industry: about 50% for paint and 70% for powder (although some powder coaters achieve much better results). 

To illustrate the difference, we looked closely at the cost of materials and then pointed out other factors that impact the overall cost. For our example, let’s compare the amount of powder against the amount of liquid paint needed to cover a 1’ square at 2.5 mils. The mil, or thousandth of an inch (.001”), is commonly referenced in engineering and manufacturing. It is used to specify the thickness of items such as film, foil, coatings, latex gloves, plastic sheeting, etc. To put it in perspective, a sheet of notebook or copy paper is usually about 3-4 mils thick. Here’s a simplified cost comparison using an industry-standard application thickness of 2.5 mils:

Powder Coating Cost

  • Powder cost: $8.00 per pound
  • Coverage: 38.64 square feet per pound (after accounting for 70% transfer efficiency)
  • Material cost per square foot: About $0.21

Liquid Paint Cost (Polyurethane)

  • Paint cost: $75.00 per gallon
  • Coverage: 144 square feet per gallon (at 50% transfer efficiency)
  • Material cost per square foot: About $0.52

That’s about 2.5x the cost of powder coating just in materials—and that’s before factoring in:

  • Time lost waiting for flash-off period before paint can be force dried using heated air
  • Higher expendables costs associated with disposable paint booth filtration
  • Increased labor costs for more highly skilled workers
  • Increased cost of rework situations
  • The labor, materials, and curing expenses incurred when additional coats of paint are needed to reach higher mil thicknesses
  • Costs associated with paint mixing and storage
  • Hazardous waste disposal costs
  • Fire safety and ventilation requirements not needed with powder

If your operation spends $250,000 annually on paint materials, switching to powder could save $150,000 a year in materials alone! As you can see, the return on investment associated with acquiring powder coating equipment and changing finishing processes is substantial and easy to justify.

What’s Needed To Upgrade To Powder

Let’s consider what’s needed by moving through the steps required for powder coating:

Parts Prep

As with industrial painting, you’ll need to prep your parts for finishing. If you’re painting now, you should already have blasting or chemical pretreatment equipment, or both. If you don’t, you should know that over 90% of all finish defects are caused by improper or inadequate parts preparation, so budget for new pretreatment equipment! Surface preparation tools may include blast rooms and related equipment, spray-wand type chemical washers, or multi-stage chemical pretreatment systems to remove contaminants, improve the surface, and promote adhesion.

If you choose to use chemical pretreatment, you may need to consider adding a drying oven or adjust your throughput estimates to allow for your curing oven to be used for drying pretreated parts. Many pretreatment chemistries can cause flash rust if you simply allow the parts to air dry.

Powder Application

A powder spray booth provides a controlled, ventilated environment where powder is applied. Professional booths include filtration systems that capture overspray and maintain air quality inside. More sophisticated booths may incorporate powder reclamation units to recover unused powder for reuse, increasing efficiency and reducing waste.

One or more electrostatic powder guns apply the powder to grounded metal parts. The guns use compressed air and an electrical charge to create attraction between the powder and the substrate. Gun systems can range from simple manual guns that draw powder from the powder supplier’s shipping box to arrays of automated guns that move robotically and adjust automatically to provide efficient powder coverage. 

Additional compressed air supply equipment is needed if your facility doesn’t have enough capacity to support blasting and/or powder spraying operations, including an air compressor, moisture separator or dryer, and one or more air pressure regulators. It is important to ensure clean, dry air is delivered to the spray guns for optimal performance.

Powder Curing

A curing oven is essential for bonding the powder to the metal substrate. The oven is usually gas-fired and must reach and maintain temperatures between about 350°F and 450°F for proper curing of all common powders. Batch ovens (where batches of parts are hung from rolling racks and cured together) are common for small to mid-sized operations, while conveyorized systems suit higher-volume production scenarios, especially if parts are consistently of similar shapes and sizes. Some companies, such as Reliant Finishing Systems, also offer custom powder curing ovens designed for extremely large parts and assemblies.

Other Tools

A few additional items like racking systems, hooks, PPE, and mil thickness gauges are needed for part handling, safety, and quality control. 

The equipment outlined above enables efficient, repeatable, and professional-grade powder coating.

Bonus Info: What To Avoid

At Reliant, we’re often asked if existing wet paint equipment can be reused for powder coating or if both processes can be performed using the same equipment. Technically, you may be able to, but it’s a terrible idea. 

Liquid paint booths are usually designed with higher airflow than powder coating booths and the curing temperatures for powder are higher than for wet paint, so trying to recycle your existing finishing line can cause a host of problems. The lack of purpose-built powder coating equipment can create finish defects, reduce throughput, and inject serious safety issues because:

  • Heated paint booths don’t operate at high enough temperatures to cure powder.
  • Unheated paint booths typically use shop air and vent it to the outside atmosphere. Powder booths are not required to do this, so continuing to vent to the outdoors is wasteful if your facility has heated or cooled shop space. 
  • Exhaust filtration for wet paint booths is typically not suitable for powder booths.
  • Excessive booth airflow can draw powder away from the parts, wasting material.
  • Overtaxing a paint curing oven by operating it at higher temperatures can shorten longevity, reduce dependability, and create potentially unsafe conditions.

Most importantly, if you’re going to perform both wet painting and powder coating in the same facility, it’s crucial to keep dedicated booths for each process. Cross-contamination between powder and solvent-based paint is dangerous.

Ready to Learn More?

At Reliant Finishing Systems, we’re dedicated to helping our customers make smarter finishing decisions. Whether you’re just starting out, looking to upgrade your existing setup, or ready to transition from paint to powder, we’ve got the tools and expertise to guide you.

📩 Have questions or want to suggest a topic? Email us at sales@reliantfinishingsystems.com or give us a call at 256-355-9000.

📚 Explore more resources about powder coating how-to, troubleshooting & techniques, and equipment maintenance and operation at our Resources Page.

infographic-sample

6 Most Expensive Mistakes Powder Coaters Make

Even successful powder coaters still make costly mistakes. These often overlooked habits, process flaws, and poor planning drain profitability.

⚠️

1. Rework Due to Poor Surface Prep

Inadequate cleaning, blasting, or pretreating leads to poor adhesion and inconsistent finishes, often requiring full redoes.

Cost Impact:

Single batch rework can wipe out a full day’s profit, totaling tens of thousands annually.

🔧

2. Neglecting Equipment Maintenance

Skipping routine maintenance causes equipment failures, delays, defects, and lost customers.

Cost Impact:

Over $1,000 per breakdown; cumulative neglect costs $50,000+ per year.

📅

3. Poor Workflow Planning

Bouncing between colors or jobs inflates change‑overs, wastes booth time, and leaves equipment idle.

Cost Impact:

Losing one hour per day to unnecessary change‑overs burns $20,000+ per year.

📦

4. Poor Powder Management & Inventory

Improperly stored, expired, or misused powder leads to waste, rework, and dissatisfied customers.

Cost Impact:

Wasted powder $5,000‑10,000 annually, plus lost jobs/discounts.

💰

5. Underquoting Complex Jobs

Inaccurate pricing for custom work, large parts, or odd geometries results in lost profit.

Cost Impact:

Underpricing one major job/month by 20% can cost $20,000‑40,000+ annually.

📈

6. Failing to Track Job Profitability

Not analyzing which jobs are most profitable leads to filling schedules with unprofitable work.

Cost Impact:

20% of jobs at break‑even or worse means working harder for no profit (tens to hundreds of thousands).

Solutions to Common Powder Coating Mistakes

Correcting these mistakes with discipline, attention to detail, and a data‑driven mindset can significantly boost your bottom line.

💪

1. Master Surface Preparation

Correct defects before parts leave. Invest in training, enforce process controls, and standardize inspection routines.

📝

2. Implement Preventative Maintenance

Schedule routine maintenance, train staff to detect issues, keep spare parts, and document activity. Don’t skimp on filters.

📊

3. Optimize Workflow & Change‑Overs

Batch jobs by color/substrate/cure, standardize quick color‑changes, and keep spare guns or hoses ready.

📚

4. Improve Powder & Inventory Control

Use FIFO system, maintain detailed usage logs, store in climate‑controlled areas. Train on acclimation.

💻

5. Accurately Quote Complex Jobs

Track time/materials, build a quoting tool with true costs, and train sales staff to avoid “guestimating.”

💸

6. Track Job Profitability

Set up job costing reports. Track labor, materials, overhead, and profit per job to learn which to pursue.

Estimate Your Potential Savings

Input your annual revenue and select the mistakes you plan to fix to see your estimated savings.

Estimated Potential Annual Savings:

$0.00

Disclaimer: These are estimates based on general industry observations. Actual savings may vary.

Equipment 1

Gemstone Powder Coating Customer Spotlight

0

We recently got the chance to talk with Max Rasmussen, the founder of Gemstone Powder Coating in Rexburg, Idaho. Gemstone provides high-quality powder coating services to customers throughout the region.

Like many small business owners, Max started by recognizing a demand that wasn’t being fulfilled and saw an opportunity. He launched a company to provide coating services that were badly needed in his area. By investing in a large batch powder coating system from Reliant, which included blasting and coating equipment and a 12’ x 12’ x 35’ curing oven, Max was able to accommodate projects that were simply too large for his competitors.

Can you give us a brief history of your company?

Sure! We’re a new powder coating company located in eastern Idaho. I’ve been in and around the industry for almost two decades, but Gemstone has only been up and running for a little over three months now, so we’re brand new to the market.

What made you decide to get into powder coating?

I’ve been a fabricator and welder for years and have worked with several different finishes. I’d been around powder coating and wet paint for a long time and noticed a demand in our area for premium quality finishes. Gemstone provides coating services to high-end clientele from nearby communities like Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There’s a lot of growth, which provides new construction and remodeling work, as well as the opportunity to meet new business clients.

What makes you unique in your market?

We super-sized our system because there’s a need in our area for equipment that can accommodate larger projects—plus we wanted to have that advantage over our competitors. A bigger powder coating system gives us greater flexibility and expands our reach in the market. We’re a custom coater, so if you’ve got wheels, car or truck parts, lawn furniture, a custom bumper, ATV/UTV accessories, etc. we’ll take care of you. We can coat larger parts and assemblies like handrails, fencing, or ag equipment with ease.

Another thing we’re focused on is lead time. No one wants to wait a month for powder coating. Bigger equipment means we can do larger batches and maintain excellent throughput. Quick turnaround has given us a definite edge over the competition, along with the quality of our finish work.

What has having in-house powder coating capabilities allowed you to do?

Well, we control the entire process from start to finish. We can design your product, build it, blast it to prep for coating, powder coat it, and even install it. We’re in control of the whole project. Even if it’s just a small powder coating job, we can get better results than other shops because we have the tools for any size job and the added experience of working with large and challenging projects.

You purchased a blast enclosure from Reliant as well. I imagine that’s also helped with quality control.

Absolutely. The ability to properly prep parts ensures a superior finished product. One of our customers had just been wiping down parts and roller brushing them with macropoxy. We were able to provide a much better finish for them with a lot less hassle. For many industrial/commercial applications, blasting can enable us to achieve a durable, attractive finish at a lower cost. Having a large blast booth also allows us to offer stand-alone blasting services for customers who need to have parts or equipment sandblasted, but don’t need to have them coated.

You chose cartridge filtration systems on both your blast room and your powder spray booth. Can you tell us how effective those units have been?

They work very well for our style of use. At a previous facility, the booth had cartridge filters, but the air was exhausted outside. On our Reliant booth, the final filters on the exhaust unit allow us to reuse shop air. The shop stays relatively clean and we don’t have to pump in make-up air. We still have some maintenance–you know you’ve got to keep up on things–but it’s been really nice. These units work well.

What made you decide to buy Reliant equipment?

We looked at a few different brands as we got going, and with Reliant it was just a feeling. We went with our gut. Communication was there, pricing was reasonable, and everything felt right. Quality was another factor. We could tell just by talking with you guys that you take pride in your products and care about what you send out. So, it felt right for us to do business with folks who shared our drive to do quality work and support our customers.

What are the future plans for Gemstone?

For now, we’re concentrating on doing quality work, providing local jobs, and being a good resource for our community. We’re excited to grow and give back and create new opportunities. Growth and expansion are definitely things we want in the future. We may branch into other areas of the finishing world like Cerakote. I want to be known for producing high quality finishes for customers throughout our entire region, which includes eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, and southern Montana.

Thank you again for your business and thanks for taking time to share your story with us. We’re happy to hear that you’re getting good results from your Reliant powder coating equipment and enjoying success with your new business!

Visit Gemstone Powder Coating at https://gemstonepowdercoating.com/ or check out their Facebook page. You can also follow them on Instagram.

System 1

The High Cost of Poor Finishing Equipment Maintenance

0

Whether you operate a small coating operation, run a fabrication shop, or manage a high-volume production line, your powder coating equipment is a vital asset—and maintaining it is not just a matter of good practice, it’s a strategic necessity. This article explores the importance of regularly maintaining powder coating equipment, the risks of neglect, and how proactive maintenance can significantly improve operational efficiency, finish quality, and long-term profitability.

Tips for Implementing a Maintenance Program:

  • Establish relationships with equipment manufacturers to establish proper service intervals and get support. Use equipment only as the manufacturers intended.

Click HERE to see a sample oven maintenance guide.

  • Work with suppliers of powder, blasting media, and pretreatment chemicals to establish “best practices” and ensure proper use of expendables.
  • Train both operators and finish line managers on basic daily upkeep procedures.
  • Develop a written preventative maintenance schedule—and enforce it!
  • Keep detailed records of inspections, repairs, and replacements.
  • Maintain a supply of filters and common maintenance & repair parts to prevent delays.
  • Conduct regular audits of system performance and safety compliance. Consider having annual line audits performed by a third party. 
  • Use only properly skilled service personnel, like Reliant’s factory-authorized technicians, to deal with serious problems.

By treating equipment maintenance as a core operational priority, successful businesses position themselves for long-term success in the competitive powder coating, fabrication, and manufacturing markets.

Maximize Equipment Lifespan

A properly designed professional coating system isn’t cheap. One of the fundamental reasons to maintain powder coating equipment is to protect your investment. A well-maintained system can operate efficiently for many years, often decades. Some of Reliant Finishing Systems’ customers have equipment that’s been in operation since 2005, our first year in business. Whether it’s your pretreatment or blasting equipment, powder booths, spray guns, conveyor, or drying and curing ovens, every component has a limited lifespan that can be extended with proper care.

Just like vehicles or other industrial machinery, powder coating systems are subject to wear and tear. Accumulated powder buildup, clogged filters, poorly adjusted burners, contaminated chemistry tanks, debris-covered motors, damaged controls, and warn nozzles can all retard your system’s performance and accelerate the deterioration of your equipment. Regular maintenance—including cleaning, inspection, and timely replacement of parts—helps ensure that your equipment stays in peak working condition and avoids premature failure.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership

Some business owners hesitate to invest in aggressive maintenance because it seems like an added expense. In reality, it’s an investment that pays for itself many times over. The total cost of ownership for any type of industrial equipment includes not only the initial purchase price, but also the operational costs, repair costs, and expense of downtime.

Neglected equipment tends to break down more often, require more repairs, and operate less efficiently. In contrast, well-maintained systems are less likely to fail, use fewer resources, and deliver more consistent results. Over time, the cost savings from fewer emergency repairs, less unplanned downtime, greater energy efficiency, and fewer finish defects more than justify the cost of proper upkeep.

Reduce Downtime and Production Interruptions

Unexpected equipment breakdowns can be catastrophic in a production environment. Clogged washer nozzles, a damaged spray gun, or a malfunctioning oven can bring an entire coating line to a halt, causing costly delays and missed deadlines. In industries where turnaround time is critical, even a few hours of unscheduled downtime can cost thousands of dollars in lost productivity and overtime labor.

Routine maintenance helps prevent these types of disruptions. By identifying and addressing minor issues before they evolve into major problems, companies can schedule necessary repairs during planned downtimes rather than reacting to emergencies. This minimizes operational interruptions and keeps production schedules on track.

Postponing routine maintenance is a top cause of unscheduled downtime for both batch and constant process finishing processes.

Maintain Consistent Product Quality

Consistency is the key when it comes to finish quality. Whether they’re buying a finished product or powder coating services, customers expect finishes that are unblemished, uniform, and durable. Poorly maintained powder coating equipment can compromise finish quality in several ways.

For example, an improperly calibrated powder gun or worn tip can lead to uneven film thickness or poor coverage, while a dirty booth or clogged filters can result in finish contamination from old powder or airborne debris. Decreased booth airflow can result in missed coverage by operators due to poor visibility resulting from inadequate overspray dissipation. Temperature fluctuations in an oven due to faulty sensors or damage to insulated panels can cause improper curing, leading to poor durability, gloss issues, or discoloration of lighter colored finishes.

Maintaining your powder coating equipment ensures that it performs to the manufacturers’ specifications, delivering the consistent quality your customers require and reducing costly rework situations or rejected parts.

Improve Efficiency and Reduce Material Waste

Powder coating operations rely on efficiency to maintain profitability. This is especially true in high-volume production environments. Equipment that is not functioning optimally tends to consume more powder, blasting media or pretreatment chemistry, fuel, and electricity, which directly affects your bottom line.

As an example, a poorly maintained powder recovery system can fail to capture overspray effectively, increasing powder waste. A dirty, improperly adjusted, or misaligned spray gun may require more passes to achieve coverage, consuming more time and materials. Similarly, damaged ovens that allow heat loss and ovens with incorrectly adjusted burners will require more energy to maintain curing temperatures.

Routine maintenance keeps all components functioning efficiently, reducing waste, conserving resources, and increasing throughput.

Comply with Environmental and Safety Standards

Powder coating is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional liquid paint systems, largely due to low VOC emissions and the ability to reclaim powder overspray. However, this advantage can be compromised if equipment isn’t properly adjusted and maintained.

Overspray accumulation, clogged or damaged exhaust filters, and leaky powder delivery systems can lead to powder escaping into the air, potentially violating local environmental regulations, contaminating nearby machinery, and putting worker health at risk. Overheating ovens, careless blasting or chemical pretreatment practices, damaged electrical components, and malfunctioning safety devices also pose serious safety hazards.

Properly maintaining your equipment helps ensure that your operation complies with OSHA regulations, environmental standards, and insurance safety requirements. It protects your employees, your other equipment, and your business from the consequences of non-compliance.

Support Scalability and Business Growth

As your business grows and your production volume increases, the demand on your powder coating equipment will also rise. If your equipment is already operating at reduced capacity or demonstrating inconsistent performance due to poor maintenance, scaling your operations becomes significantly more difficult and financially risky.

By taking an aggressive approach to coating equipment maintenance, you guarantee that your finishing department is ready to meet increased demand without sacrificing quality or unreasonably extending delivery times. Proactive maintenance practices also allow you to better forecast production capabilities and plan for expansions or upgrades.

Enhance Your Business Valuation and Resale Value

For companies thinking long-term, whether preparing for a sale, merger, or expansion, properly maintained equipment holds higher resale value and contributes positively to the company’s overall valuation. Potential buyers or investors look favorably on operations that have well-documented maintenance procedures and equipment in good working condition.

Conversely, neglected equipment can be a red flag that signals operational inefficiency, future capital expenditure needs, poor management practices, or an undesirable company culture.

Don’t Ignore Maintenance

Maintaining your powder coating line isn’t just about avoiding breakdowns—it’s about protecting your investment, ensuring product quality, and keeping your business running efficiently and profitably. In a competitive market where reputation and consistent performance matters, regular maintenance is one of the smartest strategies a company can implement.

Whether you’re a small job shop or a large-scale manufacturer, integrating a robust maintenance schedule into your operational plan isn’t just prudent, it’s essential to long-term success. You’ll not only extend the life of your equipment, you’ll also build a more resilient, efficient, and profitable business.

Reliant Can Help

If you want to talk to an expert about your existing finishing equipment, need technical support, or have questions about acquiring new coating equipment, Reliant is here to help! Give us a call at (256) 355-9000 and we’ll be glad to assist you.

CART UNIT

How Manufacturers, Fabricators & Coaters Can Thrive in 2025

0

After weeks of rapid policy shifts, the majority of the U.S.’s new reciprocal tariffs have been paused, but some remain in force. If you’re in the manufacturing, fabrication, industrial painting, or powder coating business, your inbox has likely been flooded with “the sky is falling” alerts, and the current pause is the perfect time to get up to speed on the situation and make an effective plan.

We’ll break down which materials and countries are affected, how manufacturing and finishing operations—especially powder coating shops—might feel the pressure, and practical steps you can take to mitigate these changes and thrive as a business. This article is based on information that was current as of May 12, 2025, after it was announced that a temporary trade deal had been made with China.

The Tariff Landscape: What You Need to Know

While the tariff scene is evolving and subject to change, manufacturers and coaters need to understand which materials and imports are being targeted so they can prepare adequately. Here’s a breakdown of major developments impacting finishing, fabrication, and general manufacturing:

Steel Products

Steel tariffs—first enacted in 2018—were expanded in March of this year. The 25% base rate remains, but fewer exemptions and tighter loophole enforcement for things like trans-shipping make this round of tariffs potentially more disruptive. Since steel tubing, bars, rods, and flat-rolled products are commonly used in fabricated parts that are later coated, price hikes could ripple across the entire steel materials supply chain.

Aluminum Products

Aluminum tariffs, increased from 10% to 25%, now cover a broader range of products, including cans and sheets. This change hits fab shops and manufacturers that rely on pre-formed aluminum parts or extrusions. While Canada and Mexico are mostly exempt under the USMCA, imports from other major sources like China and Germany will be more expensive.

Machinery and Tools from China

A broad 145% tariff on all Chinese imports became effective on April 9, 2025. Then, on May 12, 2025, it was announced that a trade deal had been struck that would temporarily reduce the tariff to 30% for 90 days. If increased tariffs reappear, it will have massive implications for manufacturers considering imported machinery, paint or powder coating booths, industrial ovens, conveyors, control systems, or parts. As an example, there has been a recent influx of inexpensive Chinese automated finishing systems that mimic finishing lines from established US and European brands. Some US companies were willing to risk the long lead times and lack of support to save money. A substantial tariff drastically reduces the appeal of these systems by decreasing the cost difference. It may also put past purchasers of Chinese products at a disadvantage since repair and maintenance parts may no longer be within budget. Less costly equipment sourced from China, such as shop tools, will also be impacted, so this potential change demands attention from almost every US manufacturing business.

Universal Import Duty

This blanket 10% tariff affects ALL goods entering the U.S., with few exceptions. For powder coating operations that source chemicals and supplies (e.g., degreasers, pretreatment agents, or powders) internationally, this means higher input costs—regardless of supplier country.

Who’s Feeling the Pressure?

Metal Fabrication and Finishing

Higher costs on raw or semi-finished metals mean higher base material prices. Since powder coating or painting is typically one of the final steps in the production chain, some operations may see delays and/or cost increases passed down from upstream. This could have a broad impact because everyone from small fab shops to large-scale manufacturers of metal products commonly rely on powder coating and industrial painting as a part of their production process.

Automotive and Equipment Manufacturing

Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and auto parts could mean U.S. manufacturers of vehicle frames, truck enclosures, and other components for vehicles, vehicle conversions, or heavy equipment will feel margin pressure. Finishing specialists serving this market should anticipate tighter budgets, shifting sourcing strategies, and possible production slowdowns. Established customers may choose to bring coating in-house to save money and offset increased material costs.

Construction and Infrastructure

Aluminum extrusions and steel components for building products such as railing systems, window frames, and HVAC components are key targets of current tariffs. Businesses in this sector may find themselves juggling uncertain material costs and increased competition from domestic suppliers ramping up production. On the other hand, an increase in domestic suppliers could result in more choices when sourcing critical components.

Strategies for Coaters and Manufacturers to Mitigate Tariff Impacts

Cost Reduction

Now’s the time to reassess your vendor base for everything from industrial machinery to shop supplies and small hand tools. Domestic producers are increasingly attractive, especially if you’re considering replacement or upgrades to big-ticket items like capital equipment. Established US firms that have a strong presence in your market may have more appeal than ever before. Tools like ERP systems can help you compare pricing across suppliers, streamline procurement, and avoid duplication or waste.

For powder coating operations specifically, optimizing material usage and reclaiming powder overspray more efficiently can offer serious savings. Simple steps, such as reviewing your coating thickness targets and ensuring you’re not over-applying, will become more valuable if material prices rise.

Operational Efficiency

Boosting throughput and/or reducing processing costs without compromising quality is key. This may require fresh investment in equipment, as well as more sophisticated quality control processes. Improvements might include Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) tracking and the implementation of predictive maintenance tools. Minimizing unplanned downtime with fabrication equipment, automated production machinery, and finishing equipment like pretreatment washers, spray booths, and ovens can dramatically improve your margin during times of supply strain.

Smart Automation

Automation doesn’t just mean production-boosting robots or sophisticated finishing systems, it includes software-based process improvements. Barcode scanning of materials/inventory/WIP, AI-assisted workflow scheduling, and real time inventory tracking are the types of improvements that can allow your team to run leaner, faster, and with fewer errors. For larger industrial painting and powder coating operations, using automation to track parts as they go from pretreatment through cure can shave off hours of manual labor every week.

Looking Ahead: Thriving in a Tariff-Challenged Business Environment

The current pause in tariff escalation offers a temporary window to reassess sourcing, optimize processes, and invest in equipment and systems that increase productivity and improve your company’s resilience. Your reliability to your customers, as well as your profitability as a business, may end up being linked to how well you navigate tariff-related volatility. But what if you want to do more than just survive—you want to thrive? Amidst the current uncertainty lies massive opportunity. Here’s what it looks like:

Leverage the “Buy American” Momentum

No matter what your political views, an undeniable outcome of the current tariff climate is a renewed national emphasis on sourcing domestically. As imported metals and machinery become significantly more expensive, large U.S. manufacturers will be increasingly turning to local suppliers and service providers. For businesses of all sizes, this is a unique opportunity to grab market share from overseas and beat large domestic players who are slow to adapt.

To take full advantage:

  • Go all-in on your company’s domestic roots. Whether your company is nationally known or competing in a small metropolitan area, emphasize your role in the domestic supply chain by touting your predictability, proximity to customers, reduced shipping times, competitive lead times, and responsive service. These are all highly appealing in a disrupted market, particularly one where price points are subject to fluctuation.
  • Get bona fide. There’s going to be a glut of companies who rely on “flag waving” to attract buyers. Distinguish your company by doing more than just talking the talk. Refine your reference lists and don’t take aging relationships for granted. Get involved with promotional and educational organizations within your industry. Join established business advocacy groups that have been supporting US businesses for years. If applicable, attain certifications like ISO 9001 or American Welding Society (AWS) endorsements to increase your credibility with larger buyers looking to switch from offshore partners.
  • List in procurement directories. Register with platforms and databases used by governmental agencies, prime contractors, OEMs, and large manufacturers looking to source from local or regional suppliers.

Rethink Your Supply Chain—Without Sacrificing Quality

The increase in steel and aluminum tariffs has hampered some companies that relied on imported materials, but those businesses that can pivot towards domestic suppliers, can mitigate the damage.

Steps to consider:

  • Renegotiate with suppliers. Build strategic partnerships with local mills or distributors who might offer volume discounts or payment flexibility to secure a long-term relationship.
  • Cooperate with other shops. Join or form co-ops or buying groups with nearby businesses to improve purchasing power and lower raw material costs.
  • Audit material specs. Determine which domestic alternatives can be used without compromising product integrity or customer standards. This probably won’t be an issue since most businesses choose to buy imported materials and products because of lower prices, not because of higher quality.

Invest in Operational Efficiency

If you can’t effectively manage your raw material costs, the next best way to protect your margins is by improving throughput, reducing waste, and automating repetitive tasks.

  • Upgrade equipment where possible. New CNC production capabilities, added robotics, larger booths and ovens, and conveyorized finishing system upgrades can help significantly reduce labor hours.
  • Adopt ERP and OEE software. Modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools can help even smaller businesses forecast demand, track materials, streamline quoting, and optimize scheduling. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) tools can identify performance bottlenecks and reduce downtime for companies of all sizes.
  • Lean manufacturing. Even a basic implementation of lean principles such as 5S, standardized work, and just-in-time production can reduce scrap, improve workflow, and lift profitability.

Add Value Through Secondary Services

In an uncertain or highly competitive landscape, the more value you can offer beyond basic production work, the more attractive you become to your customers.

Popular add-ons include:

Powder coating and paint finishing. Tariffs on aluminum and pre-finished goods have driven up demand for suppliers with in-house finishing capabilities. Savvy businesses use their ability to apply unique-to-market, custom, or extremely high quality finishes as a way to differentiate themselves from competitors.

  • Assembly and packaging. Help customers reduce handling and shorten their own supply chains by shipping finished assemblies or sellable products rather than just parts.
  • Design-for-manufacturing support. Collaborate with customers earlier in the design phase to recommend cost-saving tweaks and ensure manufacturability. Technical prowess and astute project management are valuable sales features.

Target Reshoring Manufacturers and Strained Industries

As big companies begin to reshore manufacturing in response to high import costs, they’ll need nimble, capable local partners. Focus your outreach and sales efforts on industries that are actively seeking domestic supply chain partners.

Hot segments include:

  • Aerospace & Defense: Despite the recent focus on reducing government spending, there’s a huge demand for domestically-provided parts and services in support of government aerospace and defense projects. Support contracts can be lucrative and somewhat insulated from consumer market volatility. As private companies continue to expand commercial space ventures, a similar demand for domestic components is likely.
  • Agricultural equipment: With many imported components now facing a 25% tariff, U.S. ag equipment makers are looking to domestic shops for components and finishing services. There’s also a growing refurbishment industry for big agricultural equipment. 
  • Consumer goods: Brands eager to highlight “Made in the USA” credentials are on the hunt for domestic metal parts and components. It makes sense that these domestically-sourced parts will need to be painted or powder coated in the US as well. 
  • Automotive: The Big 3, Japanese companies with established US plants, and electric vehicle start-ups are all looking for their suppliers to shift away from tariff-exposed materials and parts. The same goes for aftermarket companies that provide vehicle upgrade and customization components for automotive, commercial trucking, and recreational vehicle applications.

Embrace Flexibility as a Competitive Advantage

Unlike large, capital-intensive businesses that are burdened with high overhead and long project cycles, fabricators, coating businesses, and even midsize manufacturers can change direction more quickly and use their agility to:

  • Take on short-run jobs that larger companies might decline.
  • Offer custom prototyping, rush work, or repair services for customers that require special attention or fast turnarounds.
  • Experiment with new materials, equipment, or processes that might provide an edge in a disrupted market.
  • Look outside their comfort zone to build products for new applications or find work from unexplored market segments.

Plan for the Long Game—Don’t Just Survive, Strategize

The current tariffs are partially paused but may change for better or worse at any time. Use this moment to future-proof your business.

  • Don’t ignore technology. If your business has the financial means to do it, consider investing in fresh machinery or updated software. These purchases can increase your company’s productivity no matter how the economic climate changes.
  • Build cash reserves if possible. If you’re already benefiting from higher domestic demand, save strategically to enable near-term equipment and automation purchases while building a cushion against future price volatility.
  • Diversify your customer base. Don’t become too reliant on one industry or client. Spread your risk and revenue across customers from various sectors.
  • Monitor policy changes. Stay informed about tariff updates, USMCA modifications, and proposed legislation. Being proactive about how you operate your business will give you a major competitive advantage, especially against larger, less agile competitors.

We hope you’ve found this article informative. If your business is considering modernizing, expanding, or upgrading existing finishing capabilities, or if you’re considering bringing powder coating or paint finishing in-house, the experts at Reliant Finishing Systems can help. Give us a call at (256) 355-9000.

Bruce Training 3

How To Get The Best Powder Coating Training For Your Business

0

Our customers frequently ask about training for their new employees who have no coating experience. Although we answer questions and provide basic hands-on guidance with new customers, we don’t routinely host training classes. Unfortunately, there aren’t many classes or trainers that we feel comfortable recommending. This article covers what to avoid when seeking powder coating training.

1. Don’t Rush It

In our opinion, the best approach is to let new employees work with senior coaters to learn all they can BEFORE you enlist a trainer or send them to classes. Without any prior coating knowledge, a new employee won’t have the experience needed to understand basic terminology or ask critical questions. When you send employees to a coating class, the instructor is going to cover a set curriculum, so the chance to get specialized help will typically only come during the Q & A sessions. If your employees don’t know what to ask, they won’t get maximum value from the class. 

2. Consider On-Site Trainers

There’s a lot to be said for having someone come to your facility and teach your employees on the equipment that they’re going to be using. This is one of the best ways to train your employees, but it comes with a risk. Unlike organizations that offer classes, trainers have almost no overhead. They don’t have to buy finishing equipment or maintain a facility. Because there is no real barrier to entering the training business, anyone who knows a bit about powder coating and isn’t afraid to hit the road can tout themselves as on-site training experts. Our advice is to check out their credentials and insist on talking directly with past students in unmonitored conversations. Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions about whether or not the training they received had value.

3. Don’t Waste Time Or Money

We also advise against classes where there isn’t a substantial amount of hands-on training that will allow your employees to improve their skills. Spending half a day taking turns using a pretreatment wand and a powder gun isn’t going to achieve much. These less-than-effective classes tend to fall into two categories: “pep rally” classes designed to generate enthusiasm about the coating business in general and classes designed for hobbyists trying to launch a backyard business.

4. Avoid Getting Hustled

Many non-academic classes are tied to companies that will offer your workers free or heavily discounted passes to attend. No established powder coating organizations or professional brands offer these types of freebie classes. Be careful or you may end up paying the bill to send your employees to nothing more than a pep rally where the instructor will use classroom time to tout the equipment or supplies they sell, followed by minimal technical training. As a general rule, stay away from training being offered by anyone trying to sell you something. Instead, consider training from a neutral party, such as an independent organization. 

5. Go Big Or Stay Home

As we mentioned above, one type of class that may flood your online search results is the “get rich in powder coating” or “start powder coating” training offered by numerous online outlets. The problem with many of these classes is that they are taught using small hobbyist equipment set-ups, so your new employee who is going to be coating spiral staircases or big industrial machine parts isn’t going to get much useful hands-on experience. It pays to get the details before you invest in powder coating training.

6. Check For Fitment

At the other end of the spectrum, some classes are so detailed and science-oriented that newcomers can easily be overwhelmed. These are usually more advanced classes and (unlike the others outlined in 3-5) have a good bit of value—they just aren’t a good fit for new coaters.

Our last bit of advice is to ask blunt questions about any training class you are considering and make sure it’s suitable for your company’s needs before you commit. Remember, you can often receive in-depth guidance from powder, paint, and chemistry vendors who want to establish or retain your business. This is also a great opportunity to establish long-term relationships with suppliers that can be beneficial to your company.

So, who do we recommend for training?

Consider contacting the Powder Coating Institute:

https://www.powdercoating.org/page/Workshops

This organization offers classes that are a good fit for new coaters, as well as those looking to expand their knowledge and capabilities. 

If you need finishing advice or want to discuss your finishing equipment needs, the experts at Reliant Finishing Systems are ready to help! Give us a call at (256) 355-9000. If you’re looking for a quote, we’ll talk with you about your needs, provide a budgetary estimate, and promptly follow it up with a detailed plan that defines the equipment, layout, and associated costs for your project.

Load More