How to Extend the Life of Your Industrial Equipment

Equipment is an important component of any industrial business. It is also, oftentimes, one of its biggest investments. As soon as a piece of industrial equipment is purchased, a plan should be put in place to ensure its longevity.

There are a number of ways to extend the life of industrial equipment that go beyond the manufacturer’s recommendations. One is the application of machinery painting. With machinery painting one can enhance the performance of new equipment by applying special coatings optimized for its substrates. The benefit of applying machinery painting is the protection against the elements that can lead to early failure and the appeal you can bring to equipment.

The Seven Key Dimensions to Keep in Mind When Maintaining Equipment

Every work environment is different so the type coating used and the equipment to be maintained will vary from case to case. Assistance from an expert team of professional painting contractors, such as Alpine Painting & Sandblasting, can help you make the right decision. When working with clients, we typically assess the best way to maximize their equipments’ performance along seven key dimensions:

1. Weather Resistance

Acid rain, salt attack, and rust are all factors that machinery painting can prevent. Additional UV protection also makes your paint less likely to crack or peel.

2. Thermal Protection

Protection extends not just to long periods of high temperatures, but also sudden fluctuations in temperature that can cause cracking.

3. Coatings in Sensitive Areas

The more vulnerable areas that could suffer damage you address, the more likely your equipment will be around for the long haul. Coatings can be touched up over time, improving your return on investment.

4. Essential Equipment

When a key piece of equipment goes down, it often takes days to get to the root of the problem and may take hours to even perform a startup. With the right coatings, this is likely to happen less.

6. Resale Value Outlook

In the event you plan to resell equipment rather than destroy it, machinery painting can be a wise idea to help extend its shelf life.

7. Aesthetic Appeal

Knowing that maintaining a great appearance can help you keep morale high in your workplace can help determine what equipment you should give extra attention. Prioritizing aesthetics is also good for making the best possible impression on business partners, executives, and inspectors.

Types of Machinery Painting Coatings for Your Project

There are four common coating services that make up the majority of machinery painting projects:

1. Direct to Metal (DTM) Finishes

Direct to metal coatings are becoming extremely popular. They are also less sensitive to temperature and humidity during the application process.

2. Epoxy

Epoxy can be applied to some equipment to provide defense against abrasion, turbulence, temperature extremes, and corrosion. Since it is non-toxic and resistant to chemicals, it can be great for both metal and concrete.

3. Urethane

Urethane coatings are preferred in situations where aesthetic appeal is a factor. Urethane comes in a wide range of colors and its superior UV protection means less noticeable fading over time. They can also be customized to align with your VOC safety requirements.

4. LINE-X Paint

LINE-X is a spray-on paint most commonly used on vehicle parts, especially truck bed liners. However, it can also be used on exposed steel beams. It can hide or highlight the key structural elements of a building.

Alpine Painting & Sandblasting Contractors works with many clients to make the right choices when developing a maintenance plan for their industrial equipment. Give us a call today so we can assist you in developing your industrial equipment maintenance plan.