The powder coat application introduced in October, provides a uniform, durable, high quality finish which is resistant to chipping, corrosion, chemicals, abrasion and ultra violet rays.
The process applies powder to metal and creates a hard finish that is tougher than conventional paint. Powder coating also produces a thicker coating and eliminates running or sagging, which can occur with conventional paint.
The paint is applied electrostatically by charging the powder particles and applying directly to a grounded part. The powder, which is a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin, adheres to the surface until put in a curing oven. The powder melts, bonds and cures to the surface, forming a Aca,!A"skin.Aca,!A?
The powders used at the depot must meet a military specification. They are tested and approved by Army Research Labs (ARL). Tobyhanna has approval from ARL to use four different colored epoxy powders, explains Ron Scarnulis, industrial engineer, Productivity Improvement and Innovation Directorate. He reviews the installation of the system, making sure it is completed according to drawing specifications.
The process is also environmentally friendly because it does not contain solvents and volatile organic compounds (VOC) are not emitted into the atmosphere.
Aca,!A"Since the implementation of powder coating we have reduced our VOC emissions, created a safer working environment for our painters, and reduced our processing times on select workload,Aca,!A? Scarnulis said.
Kanuik works in the Systems Integration Support Directorate. Tobyhanna Army Depot is the largest full-service Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) maintenance and logistics support facility in the Department of Defense. Employees repair, overhaul and fabricate electronics systems and components, from tactical field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network.
TobyhannaAca,!a,,cs missions support all branches of the Armed Forces. The depot is the Army Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence (CITE) for Communications-Electronics, Avionics, and Missile Guidance and Control Systems and the Air Force Technology Repair Center (TRC) for ground communications and electronics.
About 5,700 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army CECOM Life Cycle Management Command. Headquartered at Fort Monmouth, N.J., the commandAca,!a,,cs mission is to research, develop, acquire, field and sustain communications, command, control, computer, intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors capabilities for the Armed Forces.
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