Technical Insight
Corrosion: What It Is, How It Works and How to Stop It
Corrosion explained for engineers: what it is, how the anode and cathode drive it, the main types, what it costs and how coatings and design control it.
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Industrial Finishing Knowledge
Guidance for engineers, procurement teams, OEMs and fabricators planning coating and surface-preparation work.
Technical Insight
Chemical Stripping of Industrial Coatings: Methods and Selection
How chemical stripping removes paint and powder coating from industrial parts: stripper types, how to protect the substrate, US rules, and recoating prep.
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Technical Insight
ISO 9001 vs ISO 13485: Which Standard Applies and When
ISO 9001 vs ISO 13485 explained for engineers and quality managers: scope, documentation, risk, suppliers, and what each certificate proves in a supply chain.
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Technical Insight
ISO 9001 vs AS9100: What Changes for Aerospace Suppliers
ISO 9001 vs AS9100 explained: what AS9100 adds, which one your customers require, and how it affects coating and finishing suppliers on aerospace parts.
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Technical Insight
Sandblasting vs. Shot Blasting: How to Choose
Sandblasting and shot blasting differ in how media is thrown, what it does to metal and where it fits. See how to pick one before coating, plating or peening.
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Technical Insight
Cable Tray Powder Coating: Specs, Prep and Grounding
How to specify powder coating for cable trays: when it beats or complements galvanizing, surface prep, film build, grounding continuity and QA documents to request.
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Technical Insight
FEVE vs PVDF: Which Fluoropolymer Coating Fits Your Spec?
FEVE vs PVDF compared for engineers: chemistry, AAMA 2605 performance, gloss range, cure, VOCs and field repair, plus how to write a spec that works.
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Technical Insight
Galvanizing vs. Powder Coating: How to Choose for Steel
Galvanizing or powder coating? Compare corrosion life, scratch behavior, color, cost drivers and duplex systems, so you can specify the right finish for steel.
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Technical Insight
Powder Coating vs Paint: Which Finish Fits Your Metal Parts
Powder coating vs paint for industrial metal parts: durability, cost, VOCs, surface prep and geometry limits, with a clear way to choose for your spec.
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Technical Insight
ANSI 61 vs RAL 7035: What the Gray Codes Really Specify
ANSI 61 and RAL 7035 are both light grays, but neither is a coating spec. See how to write a powder coating callout that gets the part you expect.
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Technical Insight
RAL vs Pantone: Which Color Standard to Specify
RAL vs Pantone for coated metal parts: what each system defines, why no official conversion exists, and how to specify color so parts arrive right.
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Technical Insight
Outgassing in Powder Coating: Causes, Fixes, Process Control
Why pinholes and bubbles appear in powder coating on castings and galvanized parts, and the preheat, cure and prep steps engineers use to stop them.
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Technical Insight
Powder Coating Pinholes? Start With a Control Panel
Trace pinholes in powder coating with a control panel, one variable per test, film thickness checks, and a clear path to lab testing when defects persist.
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Technical Insight
Wet vs Dry Blasting for Manufacturers: Test Before a Large Run
Compare wet and dry blasting for powder coating prep, from adhesion and finish repeatability to dust, waste, throughput, and the test panel to run first.
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Technical Insight
High Temperature Powder Coating: Why Oven Settings Can Mislead
Match high temperature powder coating chemistry to service heat, verify cure at the metal, and control pretreatment to prevent failures in production.
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Technical Insight
Orange Peel in Powder Coating: PMT Checks for Finishing Engineers
Diagnose orange peel in powder coating with part metal temperature and film thickness checks, then correct cure settings and use hot coating on heavy parts.
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Technical Insight
Powder Coating Cost Per Square Foot: $1.50–$4.50 Plus the Formula
Compare powder coating prices per square foot, then use coverage and transfer efficiency to estimate material costs and build a complete shop quote.
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Technical Insight
ESD Powder Coating: Set Acceptance Criteria Before Production
See how ESD powder coating works, what engineers should specify in an RFQ, and how ASTM D7378 and ISO aligned quality checks protect critical parts.
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Technical Insight
Powder Coating Cast Iron Without Pinholes Takes Prep and Oven Control
Learn how cleaning, abrasive blasting, powder choice, and oven controls help prevent outgassing, pinholes, and blisters when powder coating cast iron.
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Technical Insight
Insulation Resistance Testing: 3 Methods for Engineers, Lab Escalation
See how engineers choose among three insulation resistance tests, apply IEC, IEEE, and ASTM guidance, and know when coating results need lab validation.
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Technical Insight
Engineers: Shrink vs Stretch Film for Coated Parts, Avoid Finish Damage
Rules for engineers and packagers to choose shrink or stretch film for coated metal parts. Protect finishes, avoid heat or excess tension damage, and pick...
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Technical Insight
Pull at 180–200°F: Plug Sizing and Masking for Powder Coating
Practical shop floor masking for powder coating. Choose tapes and plugs by bake rating, size plugs precisely, and remove masks at 180–200°F for the...
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Technical Insight
Powder Coating Galvanized Steel: Duplex Spec Checklist for Engineers
Duplex checklist for engineers specifying powder over hot dip galvanized steel. Cite ASTM D7803, require pre bake controls, and run a sample trial before...
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Technical Insight
Fix Production Powder Coating Blistering: <30 µS/cm, 45–60 min Prebake
Troubleshoot powder coating blistering on production runs. Get the <30 µS/cm final rinse target, 45 to 60 minute prebake, film thickness limits, and...
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Technical Insight
Engineers: Avoid Adhesion Failures When Powder Coating Stainless Steel
Adhesion first guide for engineers. When to powder coat stainless steel, what passivation and timing to demand, ASTM test benchmarks, and what to request...
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Technical Insight
Engineer's Checklist for Dielectric Powder Coating Specs and Tests
Actionable dielectric powder coating specs for engineers. Learn to tie test voltage to film thickness, call out ASTM D5162 and hipot testing, and write...
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Technical Insight
Specifiers: Corrosion Resistant Powder Coatings That Meet ISO 12944
For engineers and specifiers: match corrosion resistant powder coatings to ISO 12944, set pretreatment and test targets, and set realistic service life...
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Technical Insight
6 Report Fields Engineers Need to Validate Dielectric Tests (IEC/ASTM)
Standards-first guide for engineers: the six report fields to accept dielectric strength tests, how IEC/ASTM methods differ, and why coatings and...
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Technical Insight
200 Hour Tests: Hard Anodize Outlasts Powder Coating for Engineers
Engineer-focused guidance to pick anodize or powder coating using short (2 hour) and long (200 hour) corrosion tests, tolerance rules, repairability, and...
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Coating Specification · 6 min read
Industrial Powder Coating Specification: A Buyer’s Checklist
What to include in an industrial powder coating RFQ: substrate, exposure, pretreatment, masking, film thickness, cure, inspection and records.
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Quality & Testing · 5 min read
Powder Coating Thickness: How to Specify and Measure It
A practical guide to dry film thickness, measurement locations, calibration and acceptance for coated steel and aluminum parts.
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Quality & Testing · 6 min read
Salt Spray Testing for Powder Coating: What Results Actually Mean
Understand ASTM B117 test hours, scribe creep, panels and why salt spray exposure does not predict years of outdoor service.
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Industrial Applications · 6 min read
Powder Coating Data Center Enclosures: A Specification Guide
Coating considerations for data center cabinets, power enclosures and support frames: heat, grounding, masking, airflow and service exposure.
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Industrial Applications · 6 min read
Coating Transformer and Switchgear Enclosures for Outdoor Service
A practical coating brief for power-distribution cabinets and frames, including edges, water traps, grounding and inspection.
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Coating Specification · 5 min read
Faraday Cage Effect in Powder Coating: Recesses and Corners
Why powder coating can miss deep corners, channels and boxed geometry, and how to plan coverage before production.
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Coating Specification · 5 min read
Powder Coating Cure: Oven Temperature vs. Part Metal Temperature
Why powder coating cure depends on the component's temperature and dwell time, especially for heavy fabrications and mixed loads.
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Surface Preparation · 6 min read
Blasting Steel Before Powder Coating: Cleanliness and Profile
How to specify steel surface condition, abrasive blasting and profile without treating one blast standard as a complete coating system.
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Industrial Applications · 6 min read
Coastal Aluminum Powder Coating: What to Specify
A guide to pretreatment, edges, drainage, weathering and inspection for powder coated aluminum near salt exposure.
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Coating Specification · 5 min read
How to Get an Accurate Industrial Powder Coating Quote
The drawings, quantities, masking, exposure and acceptance details a manufacturer should send for a useful coating quotation.
Read article: How to Get an Accurate Industrial Powder Coating Quote →Coating Specification · 4 min read
FBE Pipe Coating: Specification and Inspection
Specify fusion-bond epoxy for pipe and fittings: exposure, surface preparation, cure, end masking and continuity inspection.
Read article: FBE Pipe Coating: Specification and Inspection →Industrial Applications · 4 min read
Marine Metal Coatings: Exposure Comes First
Compare marine coating requirements for coastal steel, enclosures and immersed components before selecting powder chemistry.
Read article: Marine Metal Coatings: Exposure Comes First →Quality & Testing · 4 min read
AAMA 2604 vs 2605: Selecting an Aluminum Finish
Choose architectural aluminum coating requirements using the applicable AAMA edition, exposure and product-specific evidence.
Read article: AAMA 2604 vs 2605: Selecting an Aluminum Finish →Surface Preparation · 4 min read
Chemical vs Mechanical Metal Stripping
Choose coating removal around substrate, geometry, existing finish and the condition needed for recoating.
Read article: Chemical vs Mechanical Metal Stripping →Surface Preparation · 4 min read
Iron vs Zinc Phosphate Before Powder Coating
Review iron and zinc phosphate pretreatment by substrate, corrosion duty and process control rather than colour alone.
Read article: Iron vs Zinc Phosphate Before Powder Coating →Industrial Applications · 4 min read
Defense Component Coatings: Define the Requirement
Specify coating for defense support components using drawing revisions, approved materials, masking and inspection records.
Read article: Defense Component Coatings: Define the Requirement →Coating Specification · 4 min read
Powder Coating: Environmental Tradeoffs for Buyers
Assess powder coating using pretreatment, cure energy, material use, rework and service life instead of blanket green claims.
Read article: Powder Coating: Environmental Tradeoffs for Buyers →Browse by subject
Coating Specification
Powder chemistry, substrates, film build, cure and performance requirements.
Surface Preparation
Blasting, stripping, cleaning and pretreatment before coating.
Quality & Testing
Inspection, testing, documentation and specification compliance.
Industrial Applications
Practical finishing considerations for demanding sectors and components.
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6 min read
Cross-Border Powder Coating Shipping Checklist
Plan a U.S.–Canada industrial finishing shipment: part details, freight responsibilities, documentation, packaging and delivery milestones to confirm before dispatch.
5 min read
Comparing Industrial Finishing & Freight Costs
A procurement worksheet for comparing local and long-distance coating quotes using the same specification, shipment scope and delivery requirements.
5 min read
Industrial Powder Coating Quote Checklist
The drawings, specifications and production details a coating supplier needs to prepare a useful industrial quote.
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