EDITED BY JESS LARKIN ASSISTANT EDITOR
Miller Welding and Machine coats big parts
with process knowledge, quality control.
Fabricator's
New Powder
Coat System is
Technology Driven
The second ColorMax system contains
twelve Nordson Encore automatic guns on
two oscillators with in/out positioners, and
two Encore LT manual guns.
24
JANUARY 2016 — pfonline.com
POWDER
Miller Welding and Machine Co. is a custom metal fabricator
with a focus on process control, product quality and an under-
standing of new technology.
It's a formula that works well, as the company has
expanded over the years from a small 2,400-square-foot
garage into three large facilities in western Pennsylvania—
Sandy Lick, Maplevale and Homer City—exceeding over
500,000 square feet in total.
Started in 1963 by David Miller, along with his brother,
Lawrence, and wife, Sara, the company's capabilities include
fabricating, welding, machining, finishing and mechanical
assembly.
"I've been in the industry for over 33 years and have
seen my fair share of steel fabrication facilities throughout
the world," says John Binder, powder market manager for
Nordson Corp. of Amherst, Ohio, one of the industry's leading
suppliers of powder coating application equipment.
"My experience with custom metal fabricators is that
companies that continue to invest in new technology and
people have a better chance of growth and sustainability than
their counterparts that don't invest as wisely."
At Miller Welding, "whatever it takes" is an attitude that
permeates the shop floor. Employees have the solid under-
standing and skills necessary to maintain the high-tech equip-
ment in the facility.
"It's almost a hyper sensitivity toward understanding the
various processes and how to operate a machine to maximize
its capabilities," Binder says.
Replace Powder System
In 2014, Miller Welding decided to replace its existing powder
coating system with two Nordson 22,000 cfm ColorMax
systems. Large parts required large systems and Nordson
delivered two ColorMax systems, each with 22,000 cfm
cyclones and dual 11,250 cfm after filters. The first ColorMax
system in the powder coating room accommodates two