KALAMAZOO, MI - STC Dip Spin, based in Kalamazoo, MI, and Forplan AG located in Brugg, Switzerland, have formed a strategic alliance to offer state-of-the-art equipment and processes for the application of coatings—particularly zinc flake paint.
The two firms, scheduled to exhibit at Fastener Fair USA 2021, jointly offer a proprietary Dip and Spin technology in Forplan’s Forplanet Planetary Coating Machine. This is the first of its kind technology using a “true planetary” basket arrangement, with the baskets of parts moving around themselves and a central axis to provide the best possible coating consistency.
STC Dip Spin, a division of PRAB, has been selling Dip Spin equipment for over 45 years with an installed base of 490 machines and equipment still operating in the field sold over 35 years ago, indicating the robustness of the equipment.
“By working together Forplan AG and STC Dip Spin will have a full complement of state-of-the-art coating equipment and services available for our existing and new customer base—raising the bar for both our companies,” says Tim Hanna, Vice President, STC Dip Spin, which will build and service Forplanet systems in the U.S.
The Forplanet two-basket coating system reduces paint consumption up to 30% while simultaneously achieving better quality with consistent coating on parts in thickness and weight. Baskets tilt and rotate in a “true” planetary motion during the dip and spin process, keeping the parts moving for more consistent coating throughout the batch. Forplanet also reduces number of different coating recipes required.
Both Forplan AG and STC Dip Spin say they work closely with coating manufacturers. The paint spectrum includes not only zinc flake systems, but also anti-friction coatings and oils, color topcoats, transparent lacquers, and other anti-corrosion coatings, so that OEMs can always be served with the newest technologies.
Forplan AG also supplies complete Dip Spin Rack Systems. These systems come with custom designed racks for specific parts. Surface preparation is a key component that can include both alkaline cleaning and surface blasting, followed by Dip Spin process, and finally curing of the coating. In this automated system the only time a part is handled is when it is placed in the rack, and when it is taken off after all the processes are completed. Due to the various spin cycles that can be programmed on a part specific basis, coating consistency and repeatability is achieved for each unique part.
To learn more about STC Dip Spin coating equipment visit www.STCDipSpin.com. Learn more about Forplan at www.forplan.ch