Powder Coating and Galvanizing

Whilst we recommend a professional finish on all fabrication, it can be left untreated, allowing you to paint it yourself. Alternatively it can be powder coated or powder coated and galvanized.

What is Powder Coating?

Powder coating is an advanced method of applying a decorative and protective finish to a wide range of materials and products that are used by both industries and consumers. The powder used for the process is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, which is sprayed onto a surface to be coated. The charged powder particles adhere to the electrically grounded surfaces until heated and fused into a smooth coating in a curing oven. The result is a uniform, durable, high-quality and attractive finish.

Benefits of Powder Coating

• Powder coating gives consumers, businesses, and industry one of the most economical, longest-lasting, and most colour-durable quality finishes available.
• Powder coated surfaces are more resistant to chipping, scratching, fading, and wearing than other finishes and colours stay bright and vibrant for longer.
• Powder coating is also highly protective of our environment. While liquid finishes contain solvents which have pollutants known as volatile organic compounds (VOC), powder coating contains no solvents and releases negligible amounts, if any, of VOC into the atmosphere. Thus, there is no longer a need for finishers to buy costly pollution control equipment. In addition, most powder coating overspray that does not adhere to the part can be retrieved and reused, virtually eliminating the waste commonly found in liquid finishing processes.

What is Galvanizing?

Galvanizing is a corrosion protection technique applied to mild steel, cast iron, and steel alloys in which work pieces are immersed in liquid zinc at 500 degrees Celsius. A zinc/iron alloy is formed at the surface of the workpiece giving it an adherent coating of zinc. Galvanized coatings are generally about 0.005 inches thick and can give rust protection for 10 to 20 years.

Benefits of Galvanizing

• Galvanizing, when compared to alternative coatings, is almost invariably the cheapest technique in the long term, because it lasts longer and needs less maintenance.
• The life expectancy of galvanized coatings is far in excess of 50 years in most rural environments, and 20 to 25 years plus, even in severe urban and coastal exposure.
• A galvanized coating has a unique metallurgical structure which gives outstanding resistance to damage.
• Galvanized coatings corrode preferentially to steel and unlike organic coatings, small damaged areas need no touch up.
• Every part of a galvanized article is protected, even recesses, sharp corners and inaccessible areas. No coating applied to a fabrication after completion, can provide the same level of protection.