3 minute read
INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
Global Wheels: Global Mask for Wheel Coating
Brais Ponte
Global Mask International SL, Barcelona – Spain sales@global-mask.com
Quick and efficient wheel coating process using patented hight temperature resistant rubber masks. A reduced number of rubber masks has been created in order to cover most of wheel sizes in the market, protect bolt holes and back hub from paint and ensure a smooth finishing at once.
Global Mask International has always been focused on providing from the simplest standard masking solutions to the most demanding customized solutions in order to ensure a smoother and easier coating process. This expertise has allowed the company to successfully provide several industries around the world with solutions especially developed to manage masking operations, nevertheless there was still a challenge with wheel coating refurbishment industry. All bolt holes and back hub of the wheel must be perfectly covered from paint in order to ensure right assembly process and avoid potential claims from customers. On the other side wheel refurbishment companies are dealing with small quantities but several wheel sizes which means it becomes very difficult to choose the right mask for each size. Despite there is a wide range of standard silicone products and disposable products like green polyester discs there was no specific standard solution for masking on wheel coating. The
solution was clear: to create a reduced number of masks to cover several wheel sizes, make them high temperature resistant in order to last from primer to final curing and make them reusable for a longlasting life. After a long development period working together with some wheel refurbishment companies, Global Mask is glad to introduce a new patented product branch under the brand Global Wheels to give a response to most of the wheel refurbishment industry needs. A smart patented combination of rubber discs and rubber flanged plugs to cover most of the wheel sizes in the market with a reduced number of masks. All plugs are combinable with all discs in order to cover several wheel sizes. Strong attaching of the masks is ensured by pulling flanged plug tail through discs holes. In order to provide an easier identification of the several mask sizes a colour system has been set up: each mask colour belongs to a specific wheel size. The benefits of using rubber wheel masks are way greater than usual disposable systems, they can be mentioned in 3 main points: • Quick and efficient coating: wheel coating process will become a lot quicker and efficient due to an easier applying and removing of the mask. On top of that the masks are 315 °C resistant so it is possible to easily apply the mask at the very beginning of the process (primer) and remove it at the very end (after curing) avoiding time waste. • Perfect finishing: when the mask is placed and all sensible parts are covered, a perfect finishing on bolt holes and back hub of the wheel is acquired at the first try avoiding any assembly problems, extra works or customer complains. • Cost saving solution: since it is a reusable and multi sizing masks a lesser number of masks will be needed while their lifespan will be a lot longer than usual disposable systems. Therefore, this solution will drastically reduce masking costs on coating jobs. On the other side it will also reduce waste on the garbage and help having a more sustainable production process.
New developments and challenges are always coming from the wheel coating industry and especially with wheel refurbishment business where we can find many small companies with lots of different ongoing projects. It is important that big players in the market are taking one step ahead looking at the bigger picture, identifying all small needs and trying to provide a consolidated response freeing the small customer from uncertain investment and risk.
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