Powder coating for construction machinery

Surface Finish Options Overview

Engineering machinery is an important part of the equipment industry. Engineering machinery can be seen in major areas related to national livelihood, such as national defense construction, transportation construction, industrial construction and production, mining, as well as production, water conservancy construction, construction, urban construction, and environmental protection.
 

In the “13th Five-Year Plan for the Prevention and Control of Volatile Organic Compound Pollution”, the engineering machinery manufacturing industry is also listed as a key target for rectification, and its transformation goals and paths are very clear: promote the use of powder and high-solid coatings; actively adopt advanced coating technologies such as robot spraying and electrostatic spraying, and the organic waste gas collection rate is not less than 80%.
 

Standard engineering machinery powder coatings have the following advantages over engineering machinery solvent-based coatings:

(1) The powder coating rate is good and can be recycled, with high coating utilization rate;

(2) The thickness of a single spray can reach 50-300μm, which is equivalent to the thickness of several or even dozens of layers of solvent-based and water-based coatings, which can significantly reduce the number of spraying times and improve production efficiency;

(3) Powder coatings are easy to apply, and do not require high spraying skills from workers, and are easy to master, while solvent-based and water-based coatings have high requirements for workers and the construction environment.

Therefore, engineering machinery powder coatings have great advantages over solvent-based coatings.

Types of powder coating

Powder coatings can be categorized by resin system (epoxy, polyester, hybrid, polyurethane), appearance (smooth, texture, hammer, metallic, pearlescent), or performance level (anti-corrosion, heat-resistant, UV-resistant, architectural grade, automotive grade).

Powder coating colours and effects

Powder coatings offer thousands of colors in gloss, matte, satin, metallic, candy, texture, wrinkle, hammer tone, wood grain, fluorescent, and other custom effects. Special powders can create soft-touch, anti-scratch, anti-fingerprint, or anti-graffiti surfaces.

Powder coating process

The process generally includes surface pretreatment (degreasing, phosphating, chromating, sandblasting), drying, electrostatic spraying, curing in an oven, and cooling. A well-controlled pretreatment and curing process ensures strong adhesion and long service life.

Powder coating benefits

Powder coatings are environmentally friendly, solvent-free, and produce minimal waste. They offer excellent corrosion resistance, weather durability, mechanical strength, and uniform film appearance. The coating is tough, impact-resistant, scratch-resistant, and has a long lifespan.

Applications for Powder Coatings

Powder coatings are widely used in appliances, aluminum profiles, architectural components, automotive parts, bicycles, furniture, outdoor equipment, machinery, electrical cabinets, pipeline systems, and general industrial and consumer goods.

FAQ

What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is a dry finishing technology where finely ground powder is electrostatically sprayed onto a metal or non-metal surface and then cured at high temperature. After curing, the powder melts into a continuous, durable, and decorative coating layer.

What does powder coating do?

Powder coating protects the substrate from corrosion, weathering, chemical attack, and mechanical wear. It also provides decorative appearance with rich colors, gloss levels, textures, and special effects.

Is powder coating better than paint?

In many industrial applications, powder coating outperforms liquid paint. It forms a thicker and tougher coating, resists corrosion and chemicals better, and does not contain VOCs. It also provides excellent consistency and cost-effective mass production.

Why is it called powder coating?

It is called powder coating because the coating material is a solid powder instead of a liquid paint. The coating is formed by melting and curing powder particles under heat.

What are the different types of powder coating?

Powder coatings include several families depending on resin chemistry:

• Epoxy powders

• Polyester powders

• Epoxy-polyester hybrid powders

• Polyurethane powders

• Acrylic powders

• Fluorocarbon (PVDF) powders

Each type has its own performance features such as corrosion resistance, UV resistance, chemical resistance, outdoor durability, or decorative properties.

Which material is used in powder coating?

Powder coatings are based on thermoset or thermoplastic resins combined with pigments, curing agents, fillers, additives, and in some cases metallic or effect particles. Common substrates include steel, aluminum, galvanized metal, MDF, and certain heat-resistant plastics.

How long will powder coating last?

The lifespan depends on powder type, film thickness, application method, pretreatment, and service environment. Indoor coatings can last more than 10–20 years. High-grade outdoor polyester or fluorocarbon powders can last 15–25 years or longer under UV exposure.