Industrial painting projects need additional skills than other painting projects. The structures and equipment require special cleaning, preparatory and coating materials. This is especially true since industrial equipment is often exposed to a variety of corrosive elements, both natural and manmade. Contractors need to have the knowledge to pair the right coating with the job, to ensure the longevity and protection of the finished product.
As with all projects, the devil is in the details. Proper planning helps provide good outcomes – meaning no detail is too small or can be overlooked. For instance, a silo used for food storage presents its own set of challenges. The interior walls need to be thoroughly cleaned with a cleaner that is safe to use around food products. All residue has to be completely eliminated before any coatings can be applied. The coatings also have to be approved for food storage and contain no harmful elements.
Interference with day to day business also has to be kept to a minimum. It’s rare that a company will completely close to have painting done. At Celtic, we work closely with management to make sure project impact on daily business is as low as possible. Here again, this means careful planning. We know where – and how – to protect areas outside of the immediate project.
For example, imagine there’s a pump room that needs recoating. The equipment is showing signs of rust, huge areas of old paint have flaked off and the floor is grimy with oils and dirt. Prep work, including sealing off the room from other busy areas, starts the job off. Stripping away years of grit, oils and paint keeps the job moving. Depending on the type of material being painted, primers, sealers or inhibitors are applied to lengthen the life of the finishes. The walls are where the painting process begins, followed by the equipment and the floor finishes off the project.