Once the metal is cleaned, treated, and painted, the strip is rewound into a coil size prescribed by the customer. From there, the coil is removed from the line and packaged for shipment or additional processing.
After the primer is applied and cured, then the metal strip enters the finish coat station where a topcoat is applied. Topcoats provide color, corrosion resistance, durability, flexibility and any other required physical properties. Like primers, the topcoat is cured using thermal cure ovens.
Oven
Coil coating ovens can range from 130 feet to 160 feet and will cure the coatings in 13 to 20 seconds.
During this stage, the strip enters the prime coat station whereby a primer is applied to the clean and treated metal. After the primer is applied, the metal strip travels through a thermal oven for curing. Primers are used to aid in paint adhesion, improve corrosion performance and enhance aesthetic and functional attributes of the topcoat.
S Wrap Coater
The S wrap coater design allows for primers and paints to be applied to the top and back side of the metal strip simultaneously in one continuous pass.
The cleaning and pretreating section of the coil coating process focuses on preparing the metal for painting. During the cleaning stage, dirt, debris, and oils are removed from the metal strip. From there, the metal enters the pretreatment section and/or a chemical coater whereby chemicals are applied to facilitate paint adhesion and enhance corrosion resistance.
Dried-In-Place
In this stage a chemical that provides enhanced corrosion performance is applied. This treatment can be chrome free if required.
The accumulator is a structure that adjusts up and down to store material, which makes continuous operation of the coil coating process possible. This accumulation will continue to feed the coil coating processes while the entry end has stopped for the stitching process. As much as 750 feet of metal can be collected.
Ski resorts are a hub of winter sports and outdoor recreational activities, attracting thousands of visitors every year. To withstand the harsh winter conditions and ensure the safety and longevity of their infrastructure, ski resorts must invest in durable and corrosion-resistant solutions such as hot-dip galvanizing.
Lake Tahoe, Nevada is a top destination for winter skiing. One of the many resorts is Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe located twenty minutes from Reno, Nevada with a base elevation of 8,260 feet. Over the past two seasons, this resort has seen a heavy increase in growth, due to people engaging more in outdoor activities. With this growth, Mt. Rose was able to install a new ski lift, giving customers new trail additions. The lift called Lakeview Express provides customers with views of Lake Tahoe to the Southwest and to the North, a panoramic view of Reno, NV.
The lift and line towers were fabricated by Leitner-Poma of America in Grand Junction, Colorado. Leitner utilized hot-dip galvanized steel for the line towers, rocker arms, catwalks, and rails that make up the new Lakeview Express lift. All parts above are galvanized externally and internally due to the extremely harsh environment of subzero temperatures, constant contact with snow, rain, ice, and winds blowing over eighty miles an hour at the summit.
Hot-dip galvanizing was the superior choice with the metallurgical reaction of the steel and zinc creating a moisture resistant barrier allowing the Lakeview Express lift to service Mt Rose – Ski Tahoe customers for decades to come.
At AZZ Galvanizing and Plating – Milwaukee, precision and performance come together to deliver reliable corrosion protection and surface finishing solutions.