Better coating quality for automotive components
Environmental issues forcing a shift toward sustainable mobility are beginning to stimulate the automotive industry. Moving away from fossil fuels and building lighter vehicles with a greater use of embellished plastic interiors is a trend which will accelerate the need for top-quality surface enhancement technologies and maximum production efficiency. All this in a market which will rely on the urgent need to replace fossil-fuelled cars and commercial vehicles in order to grow.
We have a technology which ensures better coating quality for vehicle components and increases productivity beyond all current standards
Applications of finishing technologies for the automotive industry
Technologies
Filds of application
Some specific application areas and finished products of the automotive industry
APPLICATIONS

Interior components

Car window glasses

External components

Seals
Flatbed
What are flatbed lines?
The bottom line for manufacturers of interior components for the automotive industry is the quality of the surface finish, especially as plastic is used as the preferred substrate for more and more components. Productivity is also a key to securing partnership with the car manufacturer, who outsources processing to tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers.
Traditionally coated on vertical spray coating lines with anthropomorphic robots, more suitable for larger parts like car bumpers or spoilers, smaller components such as dashboards, central console blocks, wing mirrors and wheel hubs can be handled on flatbed lines and the advantages are notable.

Quality
Flatbed lines: consistent quality
Lacquer sprayed onto parts in an overhead line tends to be affected by gravity, flowing towards one extremity of the component. Using a flatbed spray coater, this is no longer an issue. Furthermore, coating consistency is superior over time, especially in a better isolated environment which is easier to achieve using a line made up of flatbed coaters and UV curing and/or a vertical oven.
Before coating starts, we strongly advise uncoated parts are processed on one of our machines equipped with automatic, solvent-free and dry CO2 snow-cleaning capability to prepare the surface, which is then deionised to prevent dust accumulation.
These operations are a pre-requisite to optimum surface finishing quality.
Productivity
Flatbed lines: enhanced productivity
It is true that an overhead line is a general purpose solution, but our technologies combine the same flexibility with better quality and greater production efficiency.
Our high-capacity, twin-arm, Cartesian spraying robot, iBotic, capable of working simultaneously on pieces of different shape and thickness, with a non-stop steel strip conveyor, ensures superb productivity.
Fitted with our real-time monitoring software, cTracker, the integrated line tracks components requiring more than one coating process (e.g. primer, metallic paint, transparent top coat) automatically regulating coating operations and setting correct temperatures for subsequent drying. Moreover, the tool can track pieces on the line recording data to analyse productivity, so as to implement production changeovers without emptying the line. Flexibly exploiting the full conveyor width, even with different parts, which is simpler on a flatbed machine compared to a vertical spray coater, means there are no gaps in production and experience has proved that we can boost productivity by a good 20%, making ROI fast and worthwhile.
View all coating systems for automotive
Machines
Case studies
Case study
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MAGAZINE
We’ve been innovating in the surface finish field for sixty years.
Experts sharing skills in all areas and all industries, Cefla Finishing is a hub of expertise, a trusted source and partner who can help you achieve your business objectives.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- That the coating must match the substrate material to ensure proper adhesion.
- That the piece being coated must be able to pass through the machines/systems.
- Anthropomorphic robot: more freedom, virtually unlimited 3-way movement. Unlimited spray gun positioning.
- Cartesian robot: less freedom, but can accelerate and move much faster. Limited spray gun positioning.