Railway Spray and Coating Systems
At SCT, we offer spray and coating systems for liquid painting of railcars, locomotives and other railway infrastructure. We also provide fluid transfer systems and custom, automated spray solutions.
Ideal coatings for railway carriages and locomotives combine the aesthetics of automotive coatings with the strength and durability to withstand extremely harsh rail environments. Achieving this depends on using both the right coatings and suitable spray equipment.
For spray applications in the rail industry and other transport sectors, it’s most common to use air-assisted airless spray technology, leading electrostatic spray units or a combination of these.
Recommended electrostatic spray guns for rail applications
We recommend the Graco Pro Xp Manual Electrostatic Air Spray Gun, which is also used in the aerospace industry.
Graco is a trusted industry leader in high-performance spray guns, offering state-of-the-art technology for superior finishes.
Air-assisted airless spray systems for the rail industry
With railway applications, large surface areas are involved, so speed of application is an important consideration.
As a result, the industry tends to favour air-assisted airless spray systems over standard airless spray units. We recommend these air-assisted airless spray guns for railway spraying and coating.
Importance of rail coatings
The regular maintenance and upkeep of railways and rail infrastructure are essential for continued safety, efficiency and longevity. Damaged coatings allow corrosion, rust and structural degradation to set in, impacting integrity and performance.
Rail carriages, locomotives, tracks and railway equipment are exposed to many elements that cause coatings to degrade, fade, peel and flake, such as chemicals, heat and abrasions, corrosive products and atmospheres, environmental pollution and harsh weather, graffiti and airborne debris.
Regular painting and railway maintenance reduce long-term costs, improve operational performance and reliability, reduce unexpected breakdowns and infrastructure failures, and enhance passenger perceptions and experience. It also promotes company pride.
Railway paint and coating types
It’s important to choose the correct coating for railways and infrastructure. Critical factors that affect this decision include the railway’s service and exposure, service life, aesthetics and costs. Cost and service life are commonly the two most important factors.
The coating you choose will depend on the paint’s performance requirements, such as colour and gloss retention, and chemical and abrasion resistance.
Once you decide on your unique requirements, choose the coating that matches those needs. The three most commonly used coatings in the railway industry are polyurethanes, epoxies and acrylics.
It’s important to remember the railway industry faces unique logistical challenges given the large space requirement and the inaccessibility of many locations, such as tracks, bridges and tunnels. A particular challenge is paint booth construction, given the large space requirement for a rail carriage or locomotive.
Epoxy paints
Epoxy paints are two-part coatings that need to be mixed in exact ratios to achieve a good finish. They offer exceptional hardness when cured, and excellent temperature and chemical resistance.
They are the most economical option and last for five to 20 years, depending on the formulation.
Polyurethane paints
Polyurethane paints offer excellent resistance to chemicals, solvents and abrasion. They must be applied in a very well-ventilated spray booth, and have a shorter service life than epoxy paints.
Acrylic paints
Acrylic paints are water-soluble but become water-resistant when completely dry. This means the paint offers low toxicity and dries quickly, eliminating much of the wait time between coats.
Recommended spray system types for rail applications
Air-assisted airless spray systems are the top recommended spray system for rail applications. They can handle the large surface areas typical of rail spraying, and combined with the option of electrostatic technology, the quality and speed are further improved.
Alternatively, an air spray (gravity, suction or pressure) system works well for smaller volumes or more intricate coating work.
Choosing the right spray system for your requirements offers many benefits, including:
- significantly increasing productivity
- reducing paint waste
- reducing operator fatigue
- achieving consistent, high-quality finishes
- creating longer-lasting finishes
- compliance with safety regulations.
At SCT, we are experts in coating and painting spray systems for a range of applications. If you need more information about railway spray and coating systems, get in touch to discuss your needs.
