International. PPG and Air Tractor announced the first electrocoating primer system for the manufacture of large-scale original aircraft parts in the aerospace industry.
The two companies recently hosted aerospace industry representatives, elected officials, Air Tractor distributors and PPG executives to celebrate the launch and show a first look at the system at Air Tractor's agricultural manufacturing facility in Olney, Texas.
The quality and coverage of the finish of the electro-coated parts is superior to the chrome pretreatment and the spray primer process. Instead of spraying primer on the part, the traditional method, the piece is immersed in an electrically charged primer tank. Electrocoating maximizes paint adhesion and provides a top edge and surface finish with a precise and uniform film thickness.
"PPG is proud to partner with Air Tractor for this important achievement that will help drive the use of this innovative paints and coatings technology in the aerospace industry," said Michael McGarry, president and CEO of PPG. "We have opened a new chapter in aviation manufacturing, and we hope the industry will benefit from the protection that e-coat technologies have provided in other industries for more than 50 years."
The new three-story, 6,600-square-foot (≈613 m2) facility includes the electrocoating system and includes an automatic lift for parts, ten 5,000-gallon (≈ 18,900 l) immersion tanks, curing furnaces and a reverse osmosis water treatment system. The shelving system supports 3,000 aircraft parts of different sizes and shapes.
