20 www.finishingtodaymag.com July 2008

Filtech, Inc., a manufacturer/finisher of automo-

tive oil and air filters based in Findlay, OH, uses

automated electrostatic powder coating equip-

ment from Nordson Corp. to apply a quality

powder coating to its products. Unfortunately, the pow-

der coating also builds up on the racks used to carry parts

through the finishing operation.

The company originally cleaned its racks in burn-off

ovens, but as production requirements grew and energy

costs increased, this process became too labor-, energy-

and time-intensive. Filtech investigated allowing the same

racks to pass through the powder coating process up to six

times and then replacing them with new racks, but this op-

tion presented a cost concern. To remain competitive, the

company needed to find another way to remove powder

coating from its paint line racks and occasional powder

coating rework in-house.

An Eco-Friendly SolutionAfter evaluating a number of different options, Gary

Burns, project engineer at Filtech, selected Miles Chemi-

cal Solutions based in Rochester Hills, MI, to fabricate

ABOVE: Racks at Filtech are immersed in an eco-friendly chemical solution at 180 to 200°F and are then rinsed, dried and ready to be placed back on the powder coating line. The entire process takes just 60 to 90 minutes.

An eco-friendly chemical stripping solution has allowed Filtech to improve rack

stripping and powder coating rework.

ping solution has allowed Filtech to improve ra

StrippingEco-Friendly

The eco-friendly stripping solution allows Filtech to economically handle occasional rework on its oil and air filters.

ppprFFF

Inc ,

po

A

stripping and powder coastripping and powder coating

An eco-friendly chemical stripping sAn eco-friendly chemical strippin

Stripping

July 2008 www.finishingtodaymag.com 21

custom stripping equipment and provide eco-friendly

chemical stripping solutions. Miles Chemical Solutions’

founder, Samuel L. Miles, first patented methods in April

1999 and October 2001 to strip paint and remove coatings

from aluminum and galvanized substrates with a soap-

based stripper that is 99% free of volatile organic com-

pounds (VOCs). More recently, the company has devel-

oped environmentally friendly, low-VOC paint strippers

that also save energy by operating at lower temperatures

(<205°F/96°C), as well as proprietary technologies and

methods to salvage and recycle paint rework, thus avoid-

ing parts disposal.

Burns was impressed with the company’s capabilities.

After receiving the initial stripping equipment layouts

from Miles Chemical Solutions, Burns provided a few of

his own engineering improvements that were incorporat-

ed into the Filtech stripping equipment design. The equip-

ment was installed in spring 2008.

The stripping process at Filtech is operated daily on

two production shifts. The powder coating racks are al-

lowed to pass through the paint line only twice prior to

stripping and cleaning. This restriction maintains a cured

powder coating film build of no greater than 5 to 6 mils

for optimum chemical stripping index times of 60 to 90

minutes. The racks are immersed in the chemical solution

at 180 to 200°F (82 to 93°C) and are then rinsed, dried

and ready to be placed back on the powder coating line.

The plant uses three sets of parts racks; while one set is in

production, the second set of racks is in the stripping solu-

tion and the third set is clean and ready to replace coated

production racks.

Powder coating rework is subjected to the same pro-

cess. The technology restores substrate surfaces to like-new

condition with the original surface quality, allowing the

company to achieve “zero-tolerance” paint quality without

having to reprocess sanded and paint-repaired parts.

Improved StrippingAccording to Burns, the in-house powder coating rack

stripping process presents a number of advantages com-

pared to other stripping methods. Stripping in-house al-

lows the racks to be stripped and returned to service the

same day, versus three to five days for outsourcing, and

it provides greater control over the quality of the pow-

der coating racks. It minimizes rack replacement and is a

more operator-friendly process compared to corrosive or

higher-heat methods of paint removal. Additionally the

undercutting and lifting action of the stripping chemis-

try creates powder coating “skins,” which are easier to re-

move from the stripping solution process tank compared

to dissolving chemistries. As a result, the technology has

an increased stripping solution bath life for a more cost-

effective operation.

For Filtech, the technology has provided the stripping

solution the plant needed to optimize production while

minimizing its labor and energy costs and reducing its en-

vironmental impact.

For more information about Filtech, Inc., call 419.424.9713,

e-mail gburns@filtechusa.com or visit www.filtechusa.

com. For more information about Miles Chemical Solu-

tions, call 248.765.9946, e-mail sam@mileschemicalsolu-

tions.com or visit www.mileschemicalsolutions.com.

Filtech’s stripping equipment was customized to meet the needs of the plant.

PAINT STRIPPINGECO-FRIENDLY TECHNOLOGY

The P/S Factor

PROBLEM: Powder coating

buildup

on Filtech’s racks was caus

ing a

production bottleneck. Bur

n-off

methods were too labor-,

energy-

and time-intensive, and pu

rchasing a

continuous supply of new r

acks was

too costly.

SOLUTION: Custom strippin

g equipment

and low-temperature, eco-

friendly

chemical stripping solutions

allow the

company to strip racks in

60 to

90 minutes while minimizing

labor,

environmental impact and

energy

consumption compared to o

ther

stripping methods.

prood daily ony on

g racks are al-e al-

only twice prior tonly twice prior to

iction maintains a curedction maintains a cured

f no greater than 5 to 6 milsno greater than 5 to 6 mils

stripping index times of 60 to 90tripping index times of 60 to 90

are immersed in the chemical solutionimmersed in the chemical solutio

F (82 to 93°C) and are then rinsed, dried82 to 93°C) and are then rinsed, dried

y to be placed back on the powder coating line.to be placed back on the powder coating line.

plant uses three sets of parts racks; while one set is inlant uses three sets of parts racks; while one set is in

production, the second set of racks is in the stripping solu-roduction, the second set of racks is in the stripping solu-

tion and the third set is clean and ready to replace coation and the third set is clean and ready to replace c

roduction racks.duction racks.

Powder coating rework is subjected to thwder coating rework is subjected to

he technology restores substrate sutechnology res

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