Responding to the rise in energy costs and environmental concerns, U.S. manufacturers are being prompted to look at alternate technologies and processes to achieve sustainable finishing operations. This has particularly been true on the paint line. Since the dawn of centralized mix rooms, new strategies have been developed to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and minimize environmental impact – all while delivering a world-class paint finish.
These changes include advances in mix room equipment, especially pumps. Although pumps have been a staple in mix rooms for decades, the technology has changed considerably. Up until the late 1960s, most automotive manufacturers were using 2-ball pneumatic pumps until paint plants became standardized and they started using centrifugal pumps.