6 key advantages of automation in liquid finishing

Have you considered automating your industrial coating processes? Automation is slowly but surely transforming the world of liquid finishing, revolutionising traditional paint lines. Explore the six compelling benefits that paint shop automation brings to improve efficiency, quality and overall operations.
 

Whether it is through detailed flow control or paint mixing, optimised workflows through real-time monitoring, robotic precision in spraying, or comprehensive automated paint lines, automation has the power to transform your operations. By seamlessly integrating these processes, automation streamlines your workflow. Let’s take a look at how automation can positively impact your business.

1) Increased efficiency

In the mixing phase, automation can mix paints with equal precision and consistency, resulting in carefully calculated paint consumption and minimal paint waste. Automated systems dose, mix, apply and measure with uniform precision. Moreover, automation offers the advantage of flexibility in terms of colour changes and other transitions between processes. Programmable settings allow for swift adjustments in colour, viscosity and application technique. Manual adjustments can be time-consuming and error-prone. The use of automated systems helps to reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency.

For example, during the spraying phase, robots can target the intended surface area accurately to improve spraying quality and consistency. And by maintaining a stable distance, angle and speed during application they ensure that each part receives the exact amount of paint required. 

“Automated systems dose, mix, apply and measure with uniform precision.”

 

2) Cost savings

Automating your industrial finishing process is not a cost, it is an investment. It brings an excellent Return On Investment (ROI) by optimising paint consumption, reducing material waste, providing consistent quality and working more efficiently overall. The sum of all these benefits ultimately leads to an excellent ROI for your company. Moreover, depending on the spray gun you use, you can decrease paint waste up to 30% compared to manual painting, meaning a more cost-effective and more sustainable use of your paint. 
 

3) Increased capacity

Automated systems for liquid finishing offer the advantage of continuous operation, enabling you to boost your production capacity. Unlike manual processes that rely on shift-based work schedules, automated systems can work around the clock without breaks, ensuring uninterrupted productivity. This continuous workflow translates to a substantial increase in output over time, enabling your company to meet higher demand and tackle larger volumes of work.
 

4) Improved safety

Workplace safety can be drastically improved by reducing the need for human intervention in potentially hazardous tasks. By removing operators from direct contact with chemicals, the risk of accidents and exposure to harmful substances is significantly reduced. Further along in the workflow, optimised transfer efficiency guarantees a significant reduction in released VOCs. This reduction of toxic fumes and material waste contributes to energy-efficient processes that have a reduced environmental impact. Finally, automated systems are equipped with sensors and safety features that ensure safe operation around human workers. 

“By removing operators from direct contact with chemicals, the risk of accidents and exposure to harmful substances is significantly reduced.”


 

5) Higher quality

Automated workflows ensure that paint is dosed, mixed and applied with exact measurements, resulting in higher consistency. The elimination of human inconsistencies, such as variations in technique or fatigue-related mistakes, results in a finish that meets quality standards. Additionally, automated systems monitor and adjust parameters in real time, minimising the likelihood of defects and ensuring that each product meets its requirements.
 

6) Better insights

Automated systems are equipped with sensors and data collection mechanisms that track variables such as paint viscosity, pressure, application speed and environmental conditions. This real-time data is captured and analysed, providing valuable insights into your process performance and product quality. Deviations from the system parameters are immediately detected, allowing for prompt adjustments to prevent defects or inconsistencies. These insights enable data-driven decision-making, process optimisation and identification of trends over time.

Moving forward one step at a time

We can all agree that automation holds potential benefits for every company, regardless of its size or industry. However, the nature and extent of automation should be customised based on the unique needs and characteristics of each company. While some may benefit from partial automation in specific areas, others might find value in comprehensive automation across their workflows. Are you ready to explore how automation could transform your business?