Prepainted metal is a solution for many manufacturers that use post-painted fabricated sheet metal for decorative or corrosion protection purposes. When using prepainted metals, large coils of metal sheet stock can be coated in a continuous, highly automated process prior to fabrication and comes in a wide variety of coatings.
10 Reasons a Manufacturer Should Consider Prepainted Metal
Converting from in-house post-painted metal to outsourced prepainted metal can save manufacturers cost, time, and aggravation. Here are 10 indicators a manufacturer should consider when deciding to use prepainted steel or aluminum.
1.) Increased in-house paint shop expenses: When maintenance budgets are growing and plant capital expenditures are being made in order to comply with ever more strict EPA regulations, prepainted metal and aluminum is often a cost effective alternative to in-house paint lines.
2.) Lower internal operating costs: By outsourcing prepainted metals, factories can eliminate costly in-house paint operations and the associated expenses of employing paint professionals and complying with EPA regulations.
3.) Increased plant capacity: By purchasing prepainted metal, plants can greatly reduce or eliminate the size of in-house paint shops, generating more floor space for other uses.
4.) Improved coating quality: Coil coated metals are uniformly cleaned, pretreated, painted and cured as a flat surface, so that the edge-to-edge and side-to-side variability is virtually eliminated. The prepainted part has two coats of paint, tightly bonded to the metal as compared to a post-painted part, which generally has only one coat of paint. In most cases, the prepainted part has paint on both sides as compared to the post-painted part which is typically only coated on one side.
5.) Plant down-sizing: Manufacturers can reduce expenses significantly and increase paint quality by outsourcing the painting process. Coil coated metals can be cut with superior corrosion resistance and formed for many uses.
6.) New product models: Many times when design changes are being made, a prepainted metal can be specified and the new design can be more cost effective to produce.
7.) Manufacturing bottlenecks: Delays in the plant are caused due to paint issues such as stoppage while parts are painted, dried, and cured before moving to the next stage of assembly. These bottlenecks can be eliminated with the use of prepainted metals.
8.) Paint line updates: Capital expenditures can be avoided and a long term cost savings achieved by choosing prepainted steel and aluminum, rather than refurbishing or upgrading a paint line.
9.) Outsourcing options: Purchasing prepainted metals is a cost-effective outsourcing option which improves the durability of the coating.
10.) Plant equipment changes: When significant changes are made at the plant, it creates an opportunity to improve many aspects of the manufacturing process, including the use of prepainted metal.
Prepainted metals offer many cost savings and quality benefits. Throughout the process, coil-coated metals offer superior quality over post-painted alternatives. Manufacturers can get help with analyzing prepainted metal products by visiting www.coilcoatinginstitute.org or call the National Coil Coating Association at 1-216-241-7333.
