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Forklifts

Impact-resistant protection for frequent contact and oily conditions

Forklifts include frames, forks, overhead guards and other equipment used indoors and outdoors. Continuous exposure to load impact, oil contamination and temperature changes requires good impact and stain resistance.

Veri Coating offers high-durable polyester-HAA smooth powder and standard-durable polyester-TGIC smooth powder, with good adhesion, verified salt-spray and impact performance, and no failure after 480 hours of humidity testing. TGIC grades provide a clear cost advantage over HAA grades.

Application notes: Aluminium parts should receive chromate pretreatment, and the recommended film thickness is 60-120 um.

Typical Powder Coating Challenges for Forklifts

Insufficient Abrasion and Scratch ResistanceFrequent friction causes scratching, requiring a balance of hardness, toughness and abrasion resistance.

Insufficient Abrasion and Scratch Resistance

Forklift frames, guards and steps are readily scratched, lose gloss or expose the substrate during handling, impact, tool contact and frequent cleaning. Simply increasing hardness can embrittle the coating and reduce impact and bend performance.

Formulation Design

  1. Use a weatherable polyester system with a relatively high glass-transition temperature (Tg), balanced for hardness, flexibility and impact resistance.
  2. When using hard fillers such as silica or quartz, control particle size and loading; slip additives must preserve intercoat adhesion and surface appearance.

Process Control

  1. Provide additional film build in high-wear areas without creating pinholes or internal stress through excessive thickness.
  2. Ensure the part reaches the specified metal temperature and completes the cure schedule; undercure significantly reduces hardness and wear resistance.
  3. Conduct combined testing with the friction materials and cleaners used in actual service.
Validation Focus
  • Pencil hardness and scratch resistance
  • Taber or reciprocating abrasion
  • Cracking after impact/bend
  • Gloss and adhesion after cleaning
Edge Coverage and Corrosion ProtectionLow edge film build requires improved edge rounding, powder deposition and touch-up.

Edge Coverage and Corrosion Protection

Welds, fork-support structures and sharp edges on forklift frames often develop low film build after electrostatic application and melt flow. Muddy water, salts and mechanical damage then make these areas preferential corrosion sites.

Formulation Design

  1. Control particle-size distribution and melt thixotropy to improve edge build and reduce pull-away during flow.
  2. For highly corrosive service, use a two-coat system of epoxy anticorrosive powder primer and weatherable polyester topcoat.

Process Control

  1. Round sharp edges, dress welds and ensure complete degreasing and phosphating.
  2. Pre-coat welds, formed edges and inside corners, adjusting gun distance, spray angle and local voltage.
  3. Confirm cure from actual part temperature to avoid undercure or excessive flow.
Validation Focus
  • Minimum dry-film thickness at sharp edges
  • Continuity of weld coverage
  • Corrosion creepage after salt spray
  • Primer-to-topcoat adhesion