Metal finishing solutions

Metal substrates come in all shapes and sizes. Commonly found in the building industry, they may be mild steel, alloy steel, stainless steel or even aluminium, and range from profiles to coils produced by a steel mill, or even structural pipes. Each of these requires a different finishing process to obtain specific functional or aesthetic characteristics.

Products By - Materials

What is meant by the industrial surface finishing of metal substrates?

Metal substrates undergo a finishing process in most cases, yet only a few of these can be considered as a coating process, either using paint or powder. Other finishing processes for metal include a wide range of techniques which may even alter the molecular structure of the substrate. Applied to enhance the surface of a product made of metal - for example: plating, anodizing, electropolishing – coatings are also used to embellish the surface and protect it from weathering.

Processes

Why is metal coating important for certain industrial sectors?

The construction industry is one sector in which metal substrates are quite common, usually in applications for use externally, such as windows, doors, sidings or even decorative panels. Metal piping is another product requiring a finishing process, found in general industrial applications. Each substrate, either due to its shape or due to its final destination, will need to undergo a different finishing process. These processes include:

  • Coating: mostly performed using spray coating technologies and equipment, roller coating and vacuum coating techniques are also used for specific products.
  • Wrapping: aluminium profiles that may be a part of a window frame can be wrapped on high-tech, automatic machinery to improve their look and feel.
  • Industrial digital printing: enables attractive personalisation of the surface, and both large volumes as well as batch one assignments.
  • Drying: following most coating processes, a drying stage is required to maintain constant line output.
metallo

In which industries are metal finishing solutions used?

Integrated finishing lines for metal elements can be found in diverse sectors and for several different products:

Sectors

Technologies

APPLICATION FIELDS

Here is a selection of metal finished specific products

APPLICATIONS

01

Architectural structures

Whatever their size, shape or complexity, within reasonable limits, architectural elements in many different materials can be decorated to enhance their aesthetics, using spray coaters, vacuum coating technologies or on automatic wrapping machines.
02

Windows

Windows can be coated as assembled or non-assembled elements. Depending on this condition, we advise overhead spray-coating lines or vacuum coaters and impregnation solutions for non-assembled parts.
03

External components

From the uncoated element to an aesthetically and structurally finished product, components used outdoors can be decorated using our spray, vacuum or roller coating machines, plus ovens, fully integrated into a complete production line.
04

Profiles and structural metalwork

Wrapping technologies for metal profiles, as well as vacuum coating methods, are the two most common solutions for these semi-finished products.
05

Coils

06

Tubes

Special lines designed to process tubes featuring rotating elements that facilitate the spray coating operations can be installed in a complete production line.
07

Pots

Non-stick surface treatments and other heat-resistant coatings are applied to pots and pans on a roller coater, while still in their flat form, or on a spraying line, if already formed.
08

Clutches and brakes

Glue application or special coatings for automotive componentry are tasks that require correct parameter settings and experience, as well as the right coating equipment.
09

Seals

Special coatings can be applied to gaskets on a roller coater or spray coater. The resulting finish will help preserve the gasket which is subject to severe stress during its lifecycle.
10

Aircraft structural parts

Extremely high standards and meticulous control over the coating thickness to respect weight tolerances are key aspects of the coating process for the aerospace industry.
11

Interior components

Interior components are made of a variety of substrate materials, from wood to plastic, metal or ceramics. According to shape and size, they can be coated on complete lines implementing combinations of roller coating equipment, curtain coaters, industrial digital printers, vacuum coaters and spray coaters.

Metal finishing technologies and processes

Different finishing technologies are used for metal substrates according to the production volumes as well as the geometries of the end product. The following are a selection of the most common processes found in different industries:

A flexible solution which ensures coating consistency applying lacquer to all sides of a 3D product. Spray coating is accomplished on flatbed lines or overhead lines with special spraying robots.

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For excellent transfer efficiency, this coating technique can be used on flat panels and panels with shallow grooves, performed on specially equipped roller coaters. For ultra-high-gloss surface finishing, a Laser roller is the perfect solution.

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High-quality coating with almost 100% transfer efficiency using 100% UV acrylic lacquers for flat surfaces and edges, especially if the edge needs to match perfectly with the surface finish applied to the panel.

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The ideal solution for customisation or batch one requirements, this technology transforms a unique digital image into a printed decoration and can be integrated into lines using other coating technologies.

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Part of automatic equipment providing solutions for a complete process including an adhesive coater unit, wrapping is performed on profiles and window frames in aluminium.

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Different ovens implementing IR or UV technologies are available to dry the lacquers used to coat the metal substrate. 

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Thin sheets

Which finishing technologies are used for thin metal or graphite substrates?

Our roller coating equipment can be tailored to coat thin metal sheets, and according to where the final product is used, will be handled in an appropriate environment if this needs to be dust-free.

While coating thin metal sheets, the machine works with two counter-facing rollers, one above to apply the lacquer and one below acting as a support and featuring a cleaning device to keep the lower surface lacquer-free.

Metal engine head gaskets can be coated this way or on specially designed spray coating equipment to ensure a perfect, closely controlled surface finish.

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SHEETS METAL

Our technologies have been developed to optimise the industrial finishing of metal substrates

Machines

iBotic

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Easy

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Ceramic
  • Wood
  • Fibre Cement

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Prima EVO

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Fibre Cement
  • Glass

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

iGiottoApp

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Mito

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Ceramic
  • Wood
  • Fibre Cement
  • Glass

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Smartcoater PRO

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Ceramic
  • Wood
  • Paper
  • Fibre Cement
  • Glass

Machine Type:

  • Curtain and Roller Application

Omnidry

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood
  • Fibre Cement

Machine Type:

  • Ovens

J-Print SP

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Ceramic
  • Wood
  • Paper
  • Fibre Cement

Machine Type:

  • Digital Printing

MultiWrap Window

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal

Machine Type:

  • Wrapping

iGiotto

Materials:

  • Plastic
  • Metal
  • Wood

Machine Type:

  • Spray coating

Case studies

Case study

We have helped hundreds of companies around the world achieve their quality, efficiency, and productivity goals. Here are their stories.
We have helped hundreds of companies around the world achieve their quality, efficiency, and productivity goals. Here are their stories.
01

A new way to coat aluminium sidings for Canada’s Dizal

02

New-generation finishing technologies for Di Canosa

03

High-tech solutions for hand-crafted percussion instruments

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MAGAZINE

Explore the topic on our blog. You can find articles on technologies, innovative techniques, and tips to improve the efficiency of your finishing line.
Explore the topic on our blog. You can find articles on technologies, innovative techniques, and tips to improve the efficiency of your finishing line.
01
    Roller coating

So many ways to cook an egg and a few good ways to coat a cooking pan

02
    Automotive

Painting of Car parts: Innovation and Precision

03
    Roller coating

Coating doors and kitchen cabinets: changing the rules to save money

We’ve been innovating in the surface finish field for sixty years.

With network of finishing experts sharing skills in all areas and all industries, Cefla Finishing is a hub of expertise, a trusted source and partner who can help you achieve your business objectives.

Tell us where you want to go and our finishing experts will help you get there.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What are the advantages of spray coating?
Firstly, spray coating ensures all sides of the piece are covered. Secondly, the product shape is unimportant and, since it is not a contact-type coating, different tolerances between products are compensated for automatically.
02 Which materials are suitable for roller coating?
All materials are. The only requirement is to have a flat surface.

Examples of products suitable for roller coating:
  • cabinet doors
  • parquet
  • doors
Examples of materials suitable for roller coating:
  • wood and wood-based materials
  • glass
  • cork
  • plastic
  • fibre cement
  • metal
  • roll-to-roll for edges etc.
03 What are the advantages of roller coating?

High flexibility in terms of output rate and choice of cycles/processes according to the line make-up.

Zero solvent emissions thanks to 95% use of products with high dry residue (UV) content.

Possibility of using the roller technique for any application on all flat surfaces.

04 What are the advantages of drying?
Let's talk about the advantages of the whole finishing process, which includes lacquer application and drying. The "finished" item ends up with improved resistance and protection from external agents, as well as a better aesthetic presentation.
05 What are the advantages of vacuum coating?
This technology has many benefits. To start with, transfer efficiency reaches an astonishing 99%. Vacuum coaters have a limited footprint, so they occupy little factory space. Production efficiency is optimised because by using a vacuum coater, 360° sanding, coating and curing of a profile is dealt with in a single pass. Overspray is absent and the process is environmentally friendly. Coating thicknesses are high and, for example, can reach 700 µm on glass wool panels.