Fast-track to quality coater

High logistics costs, inflexibility and inconsistent quality in contract coating led the Reku Group to set up its own powder coating facility - since then, Reku Color has taken over powder coating for internal and external orders.

The Reku Group is a contract manufacturer with a wide range of processes and procedures. Around 2,000 tonnes of different components had to be outsourced for coating every year. Although setting up an in-house coating line is associated with major uncertainties and an enormous upfront investment, a thorough analysis showed that the improvements in the process organisation would be promising enough to take the risk. Short distances, a high degree of flexibility and direct control over qualitative aspects tipped the scales in favour of the venture.

In the centre of the new hall, Reku has placed an automatic powder booth with seven guns per side, which are automatically moved as close as possible to the component via a scanner bar according to the object contour. In front of this is a storage area and a platform for masking work. A four metre long manual coating zone adjoins the automatic booth. Systems for chrome-free pre-treatment and drying have also been installed. A thermo-optical coating thickness measuring device made it possible to compensate for the lack of experience of the in-house crew by providing valid measurement results. Reku's approach impressively demonstrates that with the right partners and a well thought-out system concept, a competitive powder coating line can be set up even without many years of experience in powder coating.