FAQ

Why consider prepaint?

There are several very compelling reasons to outsource your paint operation, including:

  • Cost reduction
  • Reduce capital spend
  • Reduce environmental compliance expense and worry
  • Improve product quality

Why is outsourcing the best option?

By outsourcing to a proven, trusted supplier like Western Metal, you will be eliminating the necessity to spend part of what is undoubtedly a shrinking plant operations budget on an in-house prepaint operation. You will also be eliminating any environmental compliance issues (which continue to grow with increased regulation) by outsourcing.

Who should consider prepaint?

You should consider prepaint if you:

  • work with sheet metal that is fabricated into products that need to be post painted
  • are considering updating or replacing your paint line
  • experience production bottlenecks due to painting operations
  • are constrained by space or capital

When is a good time to convert to prepaint?

You should consider converting to prepaint when:

  • You have to cut costs to remain competitive
  • You are downsizing a plant or combining operations
  • Management dictates a new outsourcing strategy
  • You need to increase capacity
  • Complying with environmental regulations has become too burdensome
  • You need to accommodate new products and designs
 

How does the coil coating process work?

Coil coating is a continuous and highly automated process for coating metal before fabrication. In one continuous process, a coil of metal, up to 72 inches wide moving up to 700 feet per minute, undergoes the following process:

  1. The metal is cleaned and chemically treated to prep for painting
  2. Power brushing is employed to remove any contaminants
  3. The surface is chemically pretreated to enhance the bond between the metal and the coating
  4. Drying
  5. Primer applied on one or both sides
  6. Pass through the first curing oven (less than one minute)
  7. Cooling with air and water
  8. Finish coating on one or both sides
  9. Pass through the second curing oven (less than one minute)
  10. Cool to room temperature
  11. Rewind the coated coil

Since the coil coating process allows metals to be finished in one continuous pass, there is flexibility in how the metal is coated and the types of coatings that can be used. In fact, it is almost impossible to attain the finish that coil coating provides with any other type of painting process. Prepainted coils can be printed, striped and embossed to create special design effects.

Can prepainted metal be formed?

Yes. Prepainted metal can be formed and shaped with a finish that is actually superior to post-paint, since post-painted surfaces usually have more imperfections like dust and dirt, uneven application, etc.

Can prepainted metal be handled without marring the surface?

Yes. In fact, prepainted metal can be packaged and shipped and stored as coils for long periods while still retaining a beautiful, flawless surface. This is a significant advantage over post-painted metal.

Can the prepainting process accommodate special design and aesthetic needs?

Yes. Prepainted coils can be printed, striped and embossed to create all sorts of designs and special effects, providing limitless design possibilities that are almost impossible to achieve with post-painted metal.

Have a question about our process or what we can do for you? Contact us or request a free estimate today.

Western Metal Decorating Difference Reasons to choose us.

  • Ability to turn around small orders in 10 days
  • Unlike most of the competition, we will do smaller orders
  • We offer the fastest service
  • We can match any color for your products
  • We pride ourselves with our great quality finish