KALAMAZOO, MI — U.S.-based STC Dip Spin and Forplan AG, Brugg, Switzerland, have partnered to expand capabilities to serve the zinc flake coating industry. The strategic alliance between the two companies will allow them to offer equipment and processes to existing and new customers for the application of various coatings — particularly zinc flake paint. 

STC Dip Spin, a division of PRAB Inc., has been selling Dip Spin equipment for over 45 years, with an installed base of 490 machines and equipment still operating in the field and sold over 35 years ago — an indication of the robustness of the equipment. Capabilities include low-volume Dip and Spin units up to completely automated systems processing 22,500 pounds per hour.

Forplan AG offers a variety of coating systems for mass-produced parts — both for bulk items and rack parts. Large systems generating a coating capacity of more than 16,000 pounds per hour can be found in the product portfolio, as well as small systems for efficiently coating small-scale series or test parts. 

Both Forplan AG and STC Dip Spin work closely with coating manufacturers. The paint spectrum includes zinc flake systems, anti-friction coatings and oils, color topcoats, transparent lacquers, and other anti-corrosion coatings, ensuring that customers can always be served with the newest technologies.

Forplan AG brings to the table proprietary Dip and Spin technology with its latest Forplanet Planetary Coating Machine. This is the first of its kind technology utilizing a “true planetary” basket arrangement, meaning the baskets of parts are moving around themselves and a central axis, providing the best possible coating consistency.

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 the 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 processes are completed. The various spin cycles can be programmed on a part-specific basis, allowing for coating consistency and repeatability for each unique part.

“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,” said Tim Hanna, Vice President, STC Dip Spin/PRAB.

To learn more about STC Dip Spin coating equipment visit stcdipspin.com. To learn more about Forplan AG visit forplan.ch.