Coil in transport markets
Coil coating is used in all forms of transport, from railway carriages, tube trains, automobiles, caravans and lorry containers to bicycle mudguards and licence plates.
Prepainted aluminium is often used for the exterior coating of caravans, mobile homes and lorry containers because it is light, corrosion-resistant and flexible.
Prepainted products are widely used in the automobile industry and were first developed in the USA in the 1970s to combat the problems of interior corrosion in the body voids. Cold-rolled steel substrates are generally coated with a primer rich in zinc, which is highly corrosion-resistant. The Japanese steel industry subsequently developed another form of prepainted sheet metal based on electro-galvanised steel, with a chromic acid-based surface treatment and a thin protective organic coating.
Beckers has introduced new primers, such as a weldable primer, which was developed by Beckers’ LTD group in conjunction with Beckers Sweden, the Technical University (KTH) in Stockholm and major automotive manufacturers. Targeted at automotive component and general engineering manufacturers, it will enable them to meet environmental compliance standards economically by cutting out pre-treatment and priming processes.
Accessories and spare parts can also be prepainted using a polyurethane-based paint that enables sheet metal to be deep stamped.
Other applications for the transport sector include dashboards, instrument dials, spare wheel holders, luggage racks, oil filters and crankcases.
Specific coating types include:
- Polyester — this is the most commonly used system for transport applications, for internal and external use.
- Polyurethane — polyurethane coatings are used where a high level of performance is required, especially if coupled with deep forming.
- Vinyl — vinyl systems are particularly valuable for ultra-deep drawing or forming.
