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Gateway Extrusions invested in a new vertical powder coat paint finishing line, which is now installed, tested and in full operation, according to a release from the company.
“The new vertical paint line allows Gateway to handle lineals up to 25 feet, compared with 18 feet with our old equipment,” says Tom Ziegler, Gateway president of operations.
With the new line, it can run one shift with ten employees compared to two shifts with 16 employees on the old line. “This has significantly improved productivity and enabled Gateway to reassign employees to other areas where they are needed,” reads the release.
The profile handling equipment, which includes the conveyors, pre-treatment booth, dry-off oven, and infrared pre-warming and powder paint bake ovens, was supplied by ABD Equipment Co., based in China. Bulk Chemicals of Reading, Pa., designed the chrome-free pre-treatment wash system, and international manufacturer Gema of Switzerland supplied the powder application equipment. Both Sherwin Williams and PPG supply the powder paint.
Installation of the new equipment required the construction of a new 50-foot-high building addition to Gateway’s existing facility to accommodate the vertical components.
