Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is a high-tech coating application, used to manufacture high-end consumer products, jewelry and medical products. The PVD coatings are hard, thin film coatings, deposited in a vacuum chamber from a physical source, as opposed to a chemical one. The coating process is performed by sputtering, where atomized material from a solid target is transferred to the product by energetic bombardment of its surface layers by ions or neutral particles. Magnetron sputtering is an extremely flexible coating technique that can be used to coat virtually any material. 

The application of high temperature coatings requires a cure temperature that exceeds 300°C/572°F. High temperature coatings, such as PTFE are used extensively in the manufacture of cooking utensils, cookware, irons and hair grooming products, where the coating needs to withstand high operational temperatures and often provide a non-stick product functionality. Other high temperature coating processes include high temperature Dacromet coatings for nuts, bolts, catches and other parts, often used in the automotive and construction industry.

A critical part of the manufacture of 2 piece metal cans is the thermal cure of the internal lacquer coating. The lacquer, applied to the inside surface of the can, is cured by passing the cans through a low height mesh belt oven, often referred to as an Internal Bake Oven (IBO). Such coating is essential to provide a barrier between the metal of the can and the beverage, or food contained within it. Correct cure of the barrier coating is important to guarantee both long term integrity of the metal can and food safety.

Coating manufacturers supply a wide variety of industrial coatings (paints, powder coatings, lacquers, PTFE, etc.) to end-users, who apply coatings in the manufacturing of their own specific products.

In the automotive market, the manufactuing of cars, trucks, bikes and other associated modes of transportation requires the application of many coating, polymer and adhesive cure applications. Each application requires thermal treatment to provide the finished product with the required protection, cosmetic appearance and safety demanded by industry regulations, such as CQI-12, CQI-9 and ISO9000.

Applications include:

Coating of car body shell in automotive assembly - E-coat, primer surfacing, base coat, top/clear coat.

Structural sealing and bonding of car body shell - structural adhesives, PVC/ mastic sealers, thermal treatment of composite materials.

Coating of parts and accessories supplied to automotive OEMs - engine blocks, oil filters, brake pads, air bags, Internal trim, control panels, rubber door seals, and internal cloth coverings.

In the manufacture of aluminum metal tube packaging using the monobloc manufacturing process, the aluminum tube, bottle or aerosol can is drawn deep from an aluminum disc, which is then coated internally with lacquer and externally with primer, print ink and varnish.  This is followed by a cure process, which involves sending the tube through an IBO oven to cure internal lacquer and then through a pin chain oven (or ovens) to cure external decorative coatings.

This application involves the manufacturing of 3 piece metal cans used for food and other consumer packaging solutions. As part of the process, the can body needs to be coated to provide both physical protection and cosmetic quality. The can body requires an internal lacquer coating to create a barrier between the metal and can contents to ensure food safety and prevent damage to the packaging. The external can surface needs a decorative coating to provide product identity/branding and a decorative finish. Both coating processes require controlled thermal curing of large tin plate sheets, performed in a specifically designed Wicket oven. As part of the can assembly process, curing of lacquer applied to the welded side seam is performed in a separate side seam / side stripe oven.

In the manufacture of consumer household products, such as furniture, kitchen cabinets, computer desks, doors and windows, coating is applied to wood or synthetic wood products, such s MDF. Different coating systems can be applied, from simple low temperature paint/varnish to powder coating systems, but each requires some degree of thermal treatment or thermal curing.