Physical capital, such as machinery or equipment, is an important investment. With high price tags attached to every component of most industrial processes, it’s only natural that businesses seek to protect their machinery as much as possible. One essential tool to achieve that long-term protection is industrial painting.
Industrial Painting 101
Industrial painting helps optimize industrial processes by protecting otherwise exposed surfaces. In the manufacturing and construction industries, painting machinery and equipment can help it resist chemical and physical harm. Other fields, such as the automotive industry or the marine transportation industry, paint their vehicles to slow their degradation. 
If your company has valuable materials that are consistently exposed to harsh environments, painting is a great way to preserve their long-term value. Whether it’s a submarine traveling in an area with high saline levels or a laser cutter working with highly acidic materials, industrial painting can make sure that those precious surfaces stay protected.
Getting to Know Industrial Paint
Unlike commercial painting, which emphasizes the look and feel of paint, industrial painting is all about functionality. While various types of industrial paint may come in different colors and textures, selecting these features for aesthetic value is not the priority. Instead, painting contractors focus on what chemical and physical properties the paint can provide, like fireproofing, insulation, and protection against corrosion.
On a more technical level, this means that industrial paints are usually oil-based, which takes longer to apply and dry but has a high level of durability. Commercial paints, however, are usually made with latex, which provides a nice finish but needs more frequent updating.
At the same time, some industries–such as the automobile industry–must consider both the functional and aesthetic value when choosing a paint. In this case, the process is still industrial painting since the end product must be exceptionally durable, but painters must take more caution in choosing colors and textures that consumers will enjoy.
Because of this wide range of potential applications, there are many different types of industrial paints, including:
Because of this wide range of potential applications, there are many different types of industrial paints, including:
- Epoxies. These are incredibly versatile and can be used for multiple layers, bottom to top. Their main benefits are high resistance to moisture, a broad range of temperature adaptation, and thickness.
- Mainly used as a top coat, these paints are selected for their durability and resistance to abrasion. They will often lock in other more functional layers.
- These are often used in civil engineering projects, like bridges and wastewater plants, due to their high weather resistance. They are also often combined with epoxies for UV and chemical protection.
- Organic and inorganic zinc-rich.Widely applied to steel surfaces, these paints fight corrosion.
The Industrial Painting Process
Because the goal of industrial painting is so different from commercial projects, the entire process changes, too. There are three main steps that go into painting an industrial-grade surface:
- Surface cleaning. Painters eliminate irregularities in the surface, such as unwanted bumps, roughness, or dents, in order to create a smooth surface where the paint will stick the best. This process can include thoroughly cleaning and sanding surfaces.
- After sectioning off the desired area, painters apply a protective sealing primer.
- High volume spray-painting.To maximize efficiency, layers of industrial paint are applied through spray painting.
This process ensures that the paint will live up to the high standards of durability and full coverage that industrial settings require.
Contact Base Construction for Your Industrial Painting Needs
If your business falls into one of the above categories or you recognize a need to protect your physical capital, industrial painting is the simplest way to add powerful protective features to any surface.
For businesses in the Southern California area, Base Construction is the perfect painting contractor to get the job done. We listen to your unique needs and develop a painting process that accomplishes each of your goals as efficiently as possible. Request more information about Base Construction’s industrial painting services to see what we can do for you.
