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pfonline.com/experts 34 SEPTEMBER 2015 — pfonline.com p f o n l i n e . c o m / e x p e r t s PAINTING C L I N I C NICK BARTOSZEK The Sherwin-Williams Company paintingclinic@pfonline.com Formaldehyde-Free Coatings Q. What are the benefits of formaldehyde-free coatings? A. Transitioning to formaldehyde-free finishes improves air quality, produces excellent performance characteristics and easy line drop-in capabilities. Formaldehyde-free finishes offer two simultaneous air quality advantages for manufacturers: They don't contain the strong odor of formaldehyde during the finishing process—thus improving the work environment of finishing personnel during finishing and curing—and they also don't contain the residual formaldehyde odor that often causes complaints from customers during unpacking and installation of wood products. Whether or not a product meets Business + Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association standards may also serve as a primary determinant for customers. The use of products like formaldehyde-free finishes enable businesses to accumulate LEED points, which may be an integral piece of for the company's sustainability goals. Selecting formaldehyde-free finishes does not mean performance will be compromised. Finishers using these finishes can meet the high performance and appearance expectations of their customers, all while addressing consumer interest in improved indoor air quality. Formaldehyde-free finishes have the overall look, feel and application benefits of finishes that contain the chemical compound, and are subjected to the same performance tests. Formaldehyde-free finishes work well with standard spray equipment and can be easily assimilated into an existing line without incurring additional equipment costs. Guidance on how to reduce overspray and proper spray techniques helps ensure the proper millage is achieved and will save additional dollars. According to a report from Cleveland-based consulting firm The Freedonia Group, residential and construction materials that are environmentally friendly will grow 11 percent annually through 2017. Finishers who evaluate the benefits of formaldehyde-free finishes as an alternative are well positioned to capitalize on this growing demand. With all the benefits of formaldehyde-free finishes, it's difficult not to consider. Decreasing Energy Usage in Paint Lines Q. Is there a way for our shop to decrease energy use on our paint line? A. Operating a finishing line has always been a balancing act. One tip of the labor, materials and equipment scale, and the entire operation can fall off track. Add energy conser- vation and sustainability to that scale, and finishers have an even bigger juggling act. Although energy use is just one component of the finishing equation, it does have the ability to affect overall production costs. When executed efficiently, it can provide real cost savings. While materials and labor can cause a more immediate cost impact, decreasing energy use on a paint line is becoming top of mind for finishers—especially because sustainability and energy conservation are increas- ingly important to both OEMs and tier suppliers. There are multiple ways to decrease energy use on a finish line, but if the ultimate goal is to decrease energy use while also saving on operational costs, the best thing to do is minimize line operation time. Two key clichés to consider here: "Do it right the first time" and "time is money." If both principles are applied while operating a finishing line, overall energy and repro- cessing costs can be controlled. High density racking and proper scheduling will help eliminate rework, which can save a finisher thousands of dollars in energy costs over the course of a year. "Do it right the first time." Coating as many parts as possible, as quickly as possible, without compromising application quality is key to operating any line efficiently. However, reprocessing parts that were improperly coated during the first pass causes an increase in energy use and cost. Conducting routine equipment maintenance will help ensure application accuracy and proper film thickness. "Time is money." No phase should sit, as idle time leads to money lost, but no phase should be overburdened. Proper scheduling is crucial to decreasing energy use on a paint line, and just as importantly, providing a safe work- place. Overworking operators and ignoring the ergonomics of the line is not a recipe for success. Proper scheduling considers every position on the line. While production out-the-door may lead to faster profits, a thorough audit of all components on a finishing line is undoubtedly a wise investment. Every minute spent correcting an error is an expense, but every minute spared operating the line can result in overall production savings. Nick Bartoszek is global marketing director of Liquid and Powder Products for Sherwin-Williams. Find a Paint or Equipment Supplier Looking for the coatings and painting equipment discussed here? Access hundreds of suppliers by category. short.pfonline.com/PaintSupp