SOUTH BOSTON, VA - AWFI is pleased to announce the completion of their new research and training lab in South Boston, Virginia. The lab, named the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE), is a one of a kind, world class training and process engineering facility. This $4,000,000 investment provides resources for automated finishing along with hand spray coatings application.

AWFI provides services to all sectors of the coatings industry, including both large and small manufacturers. The mission of the facility is to provide resources and personnel development to advance coating application processes. These services include new process engineering development, process validation, research and development, transfer efficiency studies, finish failure analysis, and robotic path programming.

This new facility is an excellent resource for real world hands-on training. Our goal is to replicate a process used in manufacturing to enable the trainees to experience all types of spray applications, whether it is hand spray or robotic spraying. The training is provided as public training seminars or company specific, customized training. Each training event is tailored to the attendees’ coating industry sector, which includes automotive, aerospace, and general industries. Our advanced applied finishing technologies and course curriculums provide a training path forward to equip employees for all types of careers in the finishing industry.

Technology and automated equipment available incorporates a fully integrated flat line finishing system, a fully programmable hang line, which includes robotics, IR curing, three-dimensional UV curing, and high temperature convection curing. Other technologies include automated sanding and surface preparation equipment and a large, enclosed automotive type spray booth with an auto-balance spray environment. The entire facility is climate controlled for both temperature and humidity to simulate real world conditions in any location. All types of application technology from rotary atomizers to electrostatics are available for use in the lab.

The lab facility is open to allow equipment and coating manufacturers to validate their equipment and coating technologies. Manufacturers may rent lab facilities or use AWFI’s technical resources to help them reach their project initiatives.

Let AWFI partner with your company on your next finishing or research project, or your upcoming training needs. Contact information: www.awfi.org or 888-840-2934.

Source: AWFI