INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE

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The Contractor King family.

The King™ Continues to Reign

Tom Vandevenne

Graco Distribution BV – Maasmechelen, Belgium tom.vandevenne@graco.com

Graco launches its new Contractor King™ pneumatic protective coatings sprayer and the Silver Plus (HP) spray gun.

Responding to requests from contractors for a lighter, more mobile, protective coatings sprayer that could increase their productivity, Graco has launched its new Contractor King™ airpowered sprayer.

“We have designed a sprayer that offers outstanding performance and durability yet is compact and mobile at the same time,” says Tom Vandevenne, Graco. “It’s 38 kg lighter and has a 45% smaller footprint than comparable sprayers in its class, which makes it a dream to manoeuvre around a job site and lift on and off a truck.”

XL 6500 air motor with de-icing technology

The beating heart of the Contractor King™ is the powerful XL 6500 air motor which incorporates anti-icing technology to keep the unit spraying. For example, the externally mounted pilot valves are thermally insulated to prevent icing. De-ice bleed control allows air to bleed, which again keeps the system ice-free during heavy icing conditions. In case icing should occur, a manual reset button allows the air pump to be quickly restarted. In addition, the air motor’s durable aluminium, steel and

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The Contractor King 70:1.

composite construction resists common jobsite abuse, while the heavy-duty modular air valve offers unmatched performance for worry-free operation. The oversized muffler shroud protects the air motor while providing quiet operation, and the heavy-duty air regulator with ball valve and pressure gauge offers total air control.

Endurance™ pump with QuikChange™ design

“Another great feature to increase productivity is the Endurance™ pump with QuikChange™ design for fast pump removal,” explains Vandevenne. “It allows the pump to be removed in three easy steps: remove the rod coupling, inlet hose and paint hose; loosen the jam nut; and spin the pump to remove. On-site troubleshooting and maintenance have never been easier and quicker!” Other features of the pump include its Chromex™ rod and stainless steel cylinder for maximum life and performance; Xtreme Seal™ UHMWPE and leather packings for ultimate durability; and the QuickAccess™ intake valve for easy access to the lower ball check. The overall result is that the pump delivers sharp, smooth changeovers for the best finish.

Compact cart for easy mobility and one-person loading

The cart for the Contractor King™ is equipped with integrated lift handles, which contribute to stability and also makes it very easy for one person to lift the unit on and off a truck. The cart’s rugged, welded steel construction incorporates chrome plating for maximum protection and durability. Heavy-duty flat-proof tires ensure trouble-free transport.

Multiple configurations

The Contractor King™ is available in three different pressure ratios: • The 45:1 has a maximum fluid pressure of 310 bar and a maximum flow rate of 17.4 l/min. With this high flow rate it’s the ideal sprayer to use for multiple guns and can handle the most common epoxies. • The 60:1 has a maximum fluid pressure of 415 bar and a maximum flow rate of 12.8 l/min. It can handle epoxies, polyurethanes and high solids. • The 70:1 has a maximum fluid pressure of 500 bar and a maximum flow rate of 10.9 l/min. With its high fluid pressure it’s the sprayer to choose for difficult coatings, 100% solids, and applications where long hoses are needed. Each model comes in three different configurations: the bare unit; a complete package with 15 meters of hose, whip hose, a Silver Plus (HP) gun, and guard & spray tips; and the “Big 150” configuration with 45 meters of hose, whip hose, a Silver Plus (HP) gun, and guard & spray tips. What’s more, the Contractor King™ can be built the way it’s needed. It can be upgraded with an optional lift hook, a 45-liter stainless steel paint hopper, an air filter and lubrication kit, a heater mounting unit, and a paint outlet filter kit. A further benefit is provided by the QuikChange™ Endurance lowers which can be purchased separately and quickly fitted to spray specific coatings, without having to buy additional pumps.

A new Silver Plus spray gun

Launching simultaneously with the Contractor King™ is Graco’s new Silver Plus spray gun, which is rated to work with maximum fluid pressures of up to 500 bar. The Silver Plus gun is delivered with the 45:1 package; the Silver Plus HP (high pressure) gun is delivered with the 60:1 and 70:1 configurations and comes with a 4-finger or 2-finger option. This latter feature, plus the fact that the Silver Plus (HP) spray gun is lighter than competitive guns, leads to reduced operator fatigue and maximum control when spraying. The Silver Plus (HP) spray gun is packed with beneficial features. Heavy-duty design ensures maximum performance and long

life; the spray gun is guaranteed for life against breakage. As it’s rated at 500 bar (7250 psi) it’s ideal for use on any sprayer up to this pressure, which reduces a contractor’s inventory of spray guns to just one model. The stainless steel fluid tube routes fluid directly to the tip for maximum performance, and is colour-coded to match the high-pressure hose. Here’s the verdict of the Contractor King™ from a Swedish company that tested it at their facilities. They used it to spray a two-component, durable and non-chalking semi-gloss polyurethane paint as a generalpurpose topcoat for constructional steelwork and machinery: “We loved its mobility. We frequently perform external jobs on large sites or vessels, and the Contractor King™ is so easy to manoeuvre around without any problems. We also see a big benefit in the QuikChange™ feature of the pump. It enables our operators to simply swap the pump when there is a leakage and service the lower later. We are delighted with the higher productivity that this new sprayer from Graco gives us, and after the trial period was over we immediately placed an order.”

Contractor King™ hits the sweet spot

“Overall, I believe the Contractor King™ is an exceptional product,” summarizes Vandevenne. “It hits that sweet spot for contractors by offering the combination of outstanding mobility due to its compactness and weight, and maximum productivity thanks to its high performance and easy maintenance. Throw in the lightweight, comfortable and 500-bar rated Silver Plus (HP) gun and I am expecting the Contractor King™ to sell like the proverbial hot cakes!” ‹

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Contractor King’s hose and gun.

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The 4F Silver HP Plus spray gun.