Paintexpo: Heraeus Noblelight shows future-proof infrared and UV technology

Heraeus Noblelight will be presenting infrared and UV technology for future-proof coating solutions at PaintExpo in Karlsruhe in April 2022. In doing so, the manufacturer is demonstrating that it is worth putting the dryers used to date to the test, as the example of a British manufacturer of goal posts shows. With modern, precisely controllable infrared systems, drying can now be three to four times faster: A combination of a conventional infrared oven with an infrared booster is helping Goalpost Ireland, a manufacturer of sports field equipment, speed up the curing of painted goalposts and accessories. The new oven also provides more precise control of powder coating curing and helps process a wider range of products than the previous oven.

Goalpost's posts, standpipes and accessories are made of aluminum and powder coated with white paint. For the past several years, the paint has been cured in an infrared oven, through which they pass continuously suspended on a conveyor belt. However, curing became slower and slower, mainly because powder buildup occurred over time due to powder carryover and inefficient curing. In addition, the heating power of the oven was not controllable. It also limited the product groups that could be coated due to a low height. However, the company was convinced of the advantages of an infrared oven over a convection oven for this application and turned to Heraeus Noblelight to explore installing a new system. The infrared specialists at Heraeus Noblelight installed a modern infrared oven with a greater working height, so that assembled products can now be processed up to a height of two meters. Problems with powder build-up on plates were solved with a 120 kW infrared booster in front of the oven, which is divided into four zones. The new combination of infrared booster and oven has a simple, precise control that can be adapted exactly to the part passing through.