Industrial paint products, whether they are liquid or powder, protect the finish of most surfaces such as metal, fiberglass, ceramics, rubber, wood, plastic and paper. Workplace machinery, supplies and other equipment occasionally require some form of maintenance so they can continue to function and to reduce the risk of defects or injury. Additives, solvents, resins and pigments typically make up industrial paint products. Applying these products safely requires the use of industrial paint supplies such as brushes, rollers and spray systems.

Another necessity for protecting your equipment is industrial coatings. These materials consist of films that protect any work surface and supplies from corrosion and wear and enhance color and other properties of industrial equipment. Common industrial coating products include epoxies, aluminum, acrylic-based paints, latex, oil-based paints and more. As for supplies, dispensers and coating tools include sponges, brushes, sprayers, rollers and screening applications. Advanced supplies for industrial painting and coating products include spinners, electrocoating and autophoretic applications.

1. Visit certified paint producers or suppliers for your industrial paint and tools.

2. Seek paint suppliers for industrial coating as well as maintenance coating needs.

3. Remember to buy proper safety equipment in addition to supplies for industrial painting and coating products.

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Shop at certified paint producers' websites for your industrial paint and tools

Find everything from industrial paint color to rollers to spray booths for coating or finishing your equipment.

I recommend: Warren Paint & Color manufactures high-heat coatings, enamels and architectural paints. Custom industrial paint brushes, rollers and paint scrapers can be found at Kirschner Brush. Elliott Equipment supplies electrostatic spray guns, paint supply pumps and other equipment.

Find paint suppliers that offer industrial coating products and materials

Look for the right tools and other supplies to apply your industrial coating products to your business equipment, or consider professional coating services to get the job done.

I recommend: PPG TrueFinish stocks pretreatment chemicals, powder and liquid industrial coatings. In addition to providing industrial painting and coating products, Sherwin-Williams offers services such as paint equipment rental, repairs, maintenance, customer support and training. Foutch Industries features custom color-matching, warehousing and engineering services for industrial coatings.

Buy safety equipment to operate industrial painting and coating products

Use protective headgear, eyewear and other types of safety equipment to prevent injury or health hazards while using industrial painting and coating products.

I recommend: Norkan Industrial Supplies distributes protective clothing and face protection for working with industrial coatings and other materials. Ketone Industrial sells a variety of safety equipment for working with industrial painting and coatings, including fresh air systems, eye wash stations and respirators.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some manufacturers offer rental services for industrial painting and coating supplies. Choosing to rent supplies or equipment can save your business some money, especially if the equipment will only be used short-term.
• •  Supplies for industrial painting and coating products should be compatible to use with surfaces and equipment that are conductive, heat resistant or waterproof. System integrators may also be needed to finish painting or coating materials. Some of these applications include a washing system, a drying oven, powder or dip coating machines and curing units.

As a business owner, you have valuable indoor and outdoor equipment to protect. Industrial equipment that is exposed to the elements can become pitted and rust, then weaken. If not maintained regularly with industrial paint or industrial coatings, your valuable investment suffers, as will your pocketbook.

A business vehicle isn’t the only equipment stored outside that needs maintenance. Industrial painting or industrial coating is done on holding tanks for water and chemicals, storage facilities, welders, compressors and other industrial equipment. Not only does industrial painting or industrial coating save the outdoor industrial equipment, it saves you the hassle of dealing with code enforcement officers. Equipment that is in good condition and looks good gives your customers a good impression of your business. Most new customers will think twice about dealing with a business that doesn’t take care of their equipment.

Choose the industrial paint supplies specific for your need. If you have chemicals stored in a holding tank, make sure the paint suppliers know what chemical is stored; the type of industrial paint supplies will vary according to use.

1. Buy your industrial coating products and industrial paint products from industry specific suppliers. For example, the marine industry uses coatings and industrial paint supplies far different than those used by dairy farmers who need food grade coatings.
2. Industrial coatings and paint must meet specific guidelines if used in public places or where the public can go, including hospitals, schools, libraries and hotels. Make sure the industrial coating or industrial paint meets the code for your city or town.
3. Avoid buying "heavy duty" paint or "commercial grade" coatings from a hardware store, unless they have a contractors department. Many of the so-called "heavy duty" grades available at a local hardware store are meant for heavy-duty homeowner use, not commercial or industrial uses.

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Use flame retardant paint when possible for public places

A modified latex paint is available for painting public places, which is a flame retardant paint. Aside from the benefits of being flame retardant, the paint is a white base and tintable in many colors. An interior paint, flame retardant paint is especially useful for hotels, theaters, restaurants or anywhere large crowds of people congregate.

I recommend: Check out the spec sheet and application instructions for flame retardant paint at Pittsburgh Paints.

Reduce the prep time by painting directly over rust

If your industrial equipment is rusted, you can paint directly over it or use an epoxy coating directly over the rust. This is especially helpful when access to your equipment is difficult. You can apply the coating or paint to the rusted equipment as long as the rust isn't peeling off in long pieces. Not only is this type of epoxy paint or coating easier to use, but is a great labor saver.

I recommend: Check out the spec sheet for epoxy coatings that can be used directly on rust.

Apply elastomeric coating to protect equipment

Coatings made with elastomeric material add strength, flexibility and protection and can be used on a wide variety of materials. Elastomeric coatings can be applied to wood, metal and masonry. Elastomeric products work great for roof protection, too.

I recommend: Compare the benefits of elastomeric coatings for your next job.

Look for environmentally friendly industrial paint

Even industrial paint suppliers are painting themselves green. Well-known brand names and smaller paint producers are investing in industrial paint products that are easy on the environment.

I recommend: Look at Sherwin-Williams's Green Solutions if you need to meet green building specifications. Rohm and Haas sells a selection of water-based industrial paint products. Green Planet Paints and Cox Paint also sell petroleum-free industrial paint supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always follow industry guidelines to protect yourself, your workers and the public.

From the facade of your building to the surface of your equipment, you can jazz up the face of your business with industrial painting and coating products. Industrial coatings are manufactured to cover, protect and seal all types of materials, including steel and other metals, concrete, rubber and plastics. There's even an industrial coating for underwater application.

Whether you're painting a concrete or steel building or putting a fresh coat on construction vehicles, learning industrial painting and coating products basics can help you ensure you're using the proper industrial coating and industrial paint supplies. Before you start to contact paint suppliers or purchase any industrial paint products, here are a few things you might like to know about industrial painting:

1. Learn about where industrial painting and coating products can be applied.
2. View the many types of industrial paint and coatings.
3. Add primers and strippers as an important part of industrial painting.
   

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Consider the many places you can apply industrial painting and coating products

Whether you're painting a corrugated metal warehouse, steel catwalks in an industrial setting or traffic markers on a highway, you'll find there are dozens of applications for industrial painting and coating products. These industrial coatings are specifically designed to adhere to nearly any type of surface in almost any kind of environment.

I recommend: United Coatings provide information about many applications for industrial painting and coating products, including fiberglass, concrete, pipes and metals. Davis Paint lists industrial coatings for many uses, including surfaces such as plaster, brick and steel, traffic and zone marking in parking lots and highways, and products for farm machinery and even storage tanks. Learn about products for appliances, trucks and commercial construction at PPG Industrial Coatings.

Review the different types of industrial paint and industrial coating products

Industrial painting and coating products are not 'one size fits all' products. Coatings used for high temperatures, for instance, will not be the same as those used for underwater applications. Choose from a variety of acrylics, epoxies and other types of coatings.

I recommend: Carboline provides helpful information about the many types of industrial painting and coating products including acrylics, epoxies and polyurethanes, as well as products best used for specific purposes such as for architectural coating, maintenance coating, marine settings, equipment finishes and concrete floors. Sound Speciality Coatings has many solvent-free epoxies for a variety of uses, such as low- and high-temperature, for floorings, and even for specific applications such as in pulp and paper mills or water treatment plants.

Research industrial coating primers and strippers before applying industrial paint

In some cases, the surface you're painting may need to be primed, or the old industrial paint or coating removed, before any industrial painting or coating products can be applied. Stripping old surfaces or adding primers can help paint or coatings better adhere to whatever you're painting.

I recommend: Learn about industrial primers for steel, concrete and many commercial applications at Krylon Industrial. Find tough preparation compounds for removing nearly any industrial coating at Eldorado Solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure you have the right industrial paint supplies for the type of paint you're using and the surface you're applying it to; for instance, special underwater application tools are required when painting well shafts or pools.

Awareness of industrial painting and coating products key terms can help you decide on the types of resins, pigments and primers needed for your business. Pick various types of resins, pigments, colors and primers that are suitable to apply to materials and equipment used in commercial and industrial applications. Overall, the purpose of industrial painting and coating products is to protect or enhance the appearances of ceramics, glass, metal, wood and other surfaces.

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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Some industrial painting and coating products are made with polytetrafluoroethylene, a polymer-based chemical that has good chemical and abrasion resistance. PTFE paints and coatings withstand high temperatures ranging from 350 to around 750 degrees.

I recommend: Micro Powders gives additional information about PTFE-based industrial coatings and paints, as well as the appropriate applications. Learn how PTFE coatings benefit food processing, semiconductor and other equipment at Precision Coating.

Spin coating

Spin coating, or spinning, uses a spread or flood dispense technique to coat thin films or wafers and apply them to flat substrates. Spin-coating machines are common in optical applications.

I recommend: YTC America presents research and an overview of the spin coating process.

Acrylic-based vs. solvent-based

Acrylic-based industrial paints contain synthetic chemical resins that are most common in water-based or latex applications. Acrylic is compatible with plastics, ferrite, oily surfaces, metal and glass. Volatile organic compounds make up solvent-based coatings and paints. Solvent-based paints and coatings are used mostly for heavy-duty automotive and industrial applications.

I recommend: Plasticolors features product literature on solvent-based coatings and paints. Read about the attributes of acrylic industrial paints and coatings at Gellner Industrial.

Epoxy

Epoxy is another grade of industrial coatings and paints providing clear finishes to materials such as floors, aircraft components and cement. Epoxy is quick-drying, and can be used in different environments without degradation.

I recommend: Learn more about high-performance epoxy floor coatings for concrete at Prime Polymers. Search for guides and photographed examples of epoxy coating applications at U.S. Industrial Coatings.

Electrocoating

Electrocoating equipment relies on electrochemicals to apply industrial paint. The process goes through four steps, including pretreatment, the electrocoat bath, post rinses and the bake oven. Topcoats and primers can also endure the electrocoating process. Some manufacturers turn to electrocoating for its finish quality, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

I recommend: MetoKote Corporation presents the specifics, the advantages and the typical process of electrocoating operations.

Paint spray booths

Paint spray booths are bench top, portable or floor-model structures used to add powder coating to automobiles, appliances, furniture and more.

I recommend: Find descriptions of industrial paint spray booths and additional solutions to painting and coating needs at Spray Systems.