Powder coating is a type of coating that is applied as a free-flowing, dry powder. The main difference between a conventional liquid paint and a powder coating is that the powder coating does not require a solvent to keep the binder and filler parts in a liquid suspension form. The coating is typically applied electrostatically and is then cured under heat to allow it to flow and form a “skin”. The powder may be a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer. It is usually used to create a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating is mainly used for coating of metals, such as household appliances, aluminium extrusions, and automobile and bicycle parts. Newer technologies allow other materials, such as MDF (medium-density fibreboard), to be powder coated using different methods.

Our Customer – Vysokie Technology

Our customer – Vysokie Technology (Russia), is one of leading manufacturers of Powder Coating equipment and tools in Russia. The key feature of their equipment is scalability. This means that Powder Coating Oven sections manufactured by Vysokie Technology can be combined together to create a chain of ovens. The ovens have integrated transport system that allows to cure parts continuously by loading them from one side and removing coated ones from another.

User Panel

The User Panel is intended for using by Oven’s operators and is capable to display the following parameters:

• Set temperature value
• Real-time temperature monitoring
• Process duration in minutes
• Set duration in minutes
• Current mode of operation: “Heating”, “Retention”, “Ventilation”

The User Panel includes a digital PID controller that holds the temperature within two degrees of the set temperature. The user panel is connected to Section Controllers that could be (in theory) up to 32pcs making the oven about 50 meters long.

Section Controller

Every Oven’s section has heaters, fans and temperature sensors. Power rails necessary to feed heaters and fans are driven by high-current relays that are driven by low-current relays located at section controllers. High current relays are able to switch currents up to 200A. Temperature sensors are connected directly to the section controller.

Section controllers are capable to do:

• power switching to fans and heaters
• fans regulation by speed and direction
• temperature monitoring
• air valves driving
• heaters driving

All section controllers are connected to a common RS-485 communication bus, that is connected to the User Panel. The User Panel collects sensors’ data and sends data packets to each of Section Controllers to tune fans speed and direction, open or close air valves, drive heaters.