Surface Coating Equipment for Steel Drums

Surface Coating Equipment for Steel Drums

Surface Coating Equipment for Steel Drums

SCT is a leading supplier of spray and surface coating equipment in South Africa. This includes surface coating equipment for the lining and coating of steel drums, such as those used in the mining, construction, agricultural, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Manual spray systems for coating steel drums

For coating steel drums, a pneumatic airless spray system is recommended. Our top choice is the Graco Merkur. At a more economical price, the Italian-made Apollo 30 or the AX1300 also offer excellent performance.

Graco Merkur
Cosmostar AX1300
Berizzi Apollo 30

Automatic spray systems for surface coating of steel drums

Along with the above pneumatic airless spray machines, the following automatic spray guns can be used to make up an automatic spray system suitable for drum coating.

Krautzberger KAA 1300
Berizzi B81
Meite WA 200

Quality powder coating equipment for steel substrates

While powder coating is not the ideal coating system for steel drums, there are many other steel components that require this kind of coating for corrosion protection. As this requires a significant initial upfront investment (from R700000 upwards if you have no existing equipment), it is only advised for industries requiring high-volume applications.

To set up a powder coating plant, you will need a spray booth, a powder curing oven, a powder recovery cyclone (recommended), a means of conveyance (e.g. an overhead conveyor) and a powder coating unit with a gun. You will also need to clean the steel components according to the powder supplier’s specifications.

Powder Coating Gun
Airstatic Powder Coating Unit
Electro-Mechanical Oscillator

The Electro-Mechanical Oscillator is required if you want to automate your powder coating application, as it moves the guns up and down to coat the components as they are conveyed through the booth.

In addition to our range of coating equipment, we supply advanced pneumatic spray systems for industrial machinery.

We also provide expert input on custom, automated coating solutions.

About lining for drums

Chemical surface coatings and linings are applied to steel drums for a number of reasons. For example, this helps to:

  • prevent contamination between the drum and contents and/or the environment
  • protect the steel against corrosion and extreme temperatures
  • comply with quality standards and regulations.

When combined with epoxy, phenolic resins form high-performance surface coatings.

These types of industrial coatings offer greater adhesion. They also have flame retardant, chemical resistance and anti-corrosion properties.

Depending on their intended use, the interiors of steel drums are often lined.

This process involves pre-treating the surface with an alkaline solution and anti-rust agent. An epoxy-based powder is then applied using an applicator system to achieve an even and precise thickness.

Drums are heated prior to and following powder application. Heating accelerates the fusion of the powder particles to the steel, and the setting and curing of the coating.

Typical exterior paints for steel drums

Traditional steel drum coatings are solvent-based and contain a combination of polyester, alkyd and/or amine resins.

These types of stoving paints have a glossy finish and advanced impact and chemical resistance properties. Coatings are hard, flexible and resilient.

Water-based paints are more environmentally friendly yet equally effective at protecting the steel from moisture, UV and mechanical damage.

A unique characteristic of water-based paints is superior bleed resistance – a property which makes this type of coating ideal for multi-colour applications.

Coating equipment for steel drums: what to consider

Applying coating to steel drums is not a complex process. That said, it does require the right tools and equipment to achieve the desired results.

Here are a few considerations to bear in mind.

1.     Choice of spray technology

For spraying of anti-corrosion and protective coatings (including drum coatings), pneumatic airless sprayers offer the best results.

These systems use consistent high pressure to atomise fluid, with no introduction of air – resulting in smooth, consistent finishes. They can spray high-viscosity fluids without requiring that they be diluted, and are safer for use in potentially hazardous environments than petrol-operated units.

2.     Coating type

Surface coatings can be in liquid form or as free-flowing dry powder. Liquid coatings are either water- or solvent-based.

Each type of coating has its own unique properties, ranging from aesthetics to mechanical and chemical features. Matching a suitable applicator to the coating is key.

3.     Size and scale of coating operations

The scale of coating operations must be taken into account. Equipment suitable for a conveyer-type system may not be the best solution for smaller-scale spray or powder coating techniques.

Similarly, when there is limited space in which to operate, hand-held spray guns or units limited in size are more practical than larger, more cumbersome coating solutions.

4.     Up front and long-term costs

The ideal spray equipment for coating drums is cost-effective – but not at the expense of efficiency or production uptime. It should save on time and labour, help minimise waste of materials and be robust enough to endure heavy, prolonged use.

Contact us at SCT for high-quality surface coating equipment for steel drums, and for practical advice and recommendations as to the best solutions for your individual needs.

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