By Cynthia Challener, CoatingsTech Contributing Writer
Sustainability has many different definitions, but in general it is understood to involve the adoption of practices that minimize harm to people and the environment while providing some form of societal benefit.
For paints and coatings, that means producing products that are durable and potentially exhibit positive functionality in a manner that minimizes resource consumption and emissions generation. The choice of manufacturing equipment plays a key role in achieving the latter goal.
Manufacturing equipment can have economic, environmental, and social impacts, according to Sara Fulford, vice president of sales and marketing for Hockmeyer Equipment Corporation. “Green equipment provides faster and more efficient production and lower energy usage, while maximizing raw material development,” Fulford explains. “It also results in less waste and lower VOCs. Long lifespans mean less scrap and less shipping as well, while enhanced safety for operators leads to improved brand reputation and greater ability for coating manufacturers to attract and retain talent.”
Dustin Thomas, Hockmeyer’s applications lab manager, adds: “Sustainability must be considered during the design process in order to maximize the impact. Eco-efficient solutions help streamline operations, promote creativity, and ultimately save money along with the environment.”
Of course, greener paint and coating manufacturing equipment often comes with a higher price tag. Persuading manufacturers to envision the long-term benefits and how they outweigh the initial investment can be a challenge, according to Fulford.
“Cost is often a major reason why manufacturers shy away from exploring and implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. Some believe that changing production methods will increase costs without giving enough in return,” she says. “However, if they examine the options closely, they will see that the returns go well beyond the short term. The benefits will have a direct impact on their long-term business success through improved operational efficiency, increased profits, support of regulatory compliance, improved brand perception, and greater employee engagement and retention.”
Thomas also notes there are intangible benefits of the positive impact on the environment and their communities. “We hope that more and more companies will realize that sustainable manufacturing is in fact an economical choice and that the benefits go well beyond the factory floor and often have a direct impact on their ongoing success,” he remarks.
New high-efficiency dispersion and milling systems are an example of improvements in traditional coating manufacturing equipment. These new production solutions, says Thomas, significantly shorten process times by leveraging rapid recirculation and vacuum technologies; maximize raw material use; incorporate advanced sensor and remote monitoring technologies for real-time data gathering, which enables informed decision making; and offer a safer alternative to potentially dangerous roll mills.
The development of rapid recirculation and vacuum milling and dispersion have been key advances in paint and coating manufacturing, according to Fulford. It also allows coating manufacturers to disperse and mill using a single, existing tank, which minimizes material transfers, cleanup, and movements in the factory.
There are other areas in the paints and coatings manufacturing process where sustainability can be improved. Hockmeyer is focusing on two areas that involve further reduction of VOC emissions with the introduction of completely closed systems and automated processing solutions to help mitigate operator variances.
May 2021 | Vol. 18, no. 5