Environmental protection and sustainability are closely linked to the surface technology used in the balance sheet across all manufacturing steps for many products. In view of the dramatic rise in energy costs, resource-saving process optimization and modernization are becoming even more important. Whether it is a question of converting or modernizing a production line or a process, very few companies in the woodworking and furniture industry have the resources, the technology and also the capacities in-house to be able to take process development completely into their own hands. In this respect, many users rely on external support for process development. In order to be able to provide its customers with the best possible answers in this respect, the paint manufacturer Adler from Schwarz in Tyrol has set up an extremely extensive technical center covering 2000 square meters. From simple manual spray booths to casting and rolling systems to highly automated window coating lines with flooding systems and painting robots, just about every conceivable process in the wood and furniture industry can be simulated here.
In addition to the classic processes, Adler is also intensively involved with the various curing methods, from UV to microwave to electron beam curing. Intensive development projects are currently still underway in the matte and dull matte area; here, the goal is to make these surfaces as resistant and easy to handle as possible. It is also worth noting that the coatings manufacturer, together with industry partners, has developed a robot with a force-sensitive sanding attachment for the automated sanding of window profiles and has already won an innovation award with this.
Read more about the diverse possibilities and processes of the technical center at Adler in Schwarz in Tyrol in the May issue of the magazine for surface technology or shortly on oberflaeche.de under the heading Knowledge/Topics.