Monday, June 27, 2016

TCI Powder Coatings Welcomes Kimberly Tyler as Customer Service Representative

We are pleased to welcome Kimberly Tyler as our newest customer service representative. Kimberly will be ordering products and materials for both customers and sales associates as well as ensuring customers have a great overall experience with TCI. She will be working in the customer service department of TCI’s Americus office.

Previously, Kimberly worked for Ameris Bank in Ellaville, GA as a teller. Prior to her position as a teller, she worked in two other companies as a human resources assistant and customer service representative. Her experience in service related roles makes her well equipped to take on this new position with TCI. Kimberly is also currently enrolled in the accounting program at South Georgia Technical College.
When she is not hard at work, Kimberly loves spending time with her family and friends and being involved in the community. Kimberly is sure to be a great fit for the TCI family and is eager to start her journey. Please help us congratulate Kimberly!

Friday, June 24, 2016

The Problem-Solution Series: Part 22

Pestered by Pinholes



Problem:

Pinholes have formed on the surface of the coating. What do you do?

Origin/Cause:
An incompatible powder is contaminating the coating. 

Solution:
Clean the application equipment when you are changing the powder from one powder to the next. 

Second Origin:
Out-gassing is producing pinholes. Luckily, there are many possible solutions to this problem. 

Solution 1:
Determine the metal porosity. Then, adjust processing to minimize the effects of the metal porosity. 

Solution 2:
Adjust the dry-off oven temperature to ensure no moisture is on the part. 

Solution 3:
Check the powder for moisture introduced in reclaim, from air supply, or from the virgin powder. 

Solution 4:
A thick film may be causing out-gassing. Reduce the film thickness so that the gas can escape through the surface during cure. 

Solution 5:
Urethane powder coatings may emit a blocking agent. Due to this, pinholes may occur on the surface at a film build above 3 mils.

For additional information on powder coatings, visit our website at tcipowder.com. Feel free to contact us today to have someone from our experienced team answer your powder coating questions or to see how we can help you with your powder coating needs.

Monday, June 20, 2016

The Problem-Solution Series: Part 21

Orange Peel Predicament


Problem:
The film displays too much orange peel (has a rough appearance). 

Origin/Cause:
The coatings could vary in their amount of orange peel properties. 


Solution:

Your best bet is to call or email TCI for information and recommendations. 

Second Origin:
The film thickness may be too thick or too thin. 

Solution:
Increase or decrease the film’s thickness according to information.

For additional information on powder coatings, visit our website at tcipowder.com. Feel free to contact us today to have someone from our experienced team answer your powder coating questions or to see how we can help you with your powder coating needs.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

TCI Powder Coatings and BASF Forge Strategic Alliance


BASF CathoGuard® Electrocoat Technology Now Available to TCI Customers


At TCI Powder Coatings, we have teamed up with BASF to sell the BASF CathoGuard® electrocoat technology to specified market segments. According to Jack Bostock, vice president of sales and marketing, this alliance will build on TCI’s commitment to market differentiation. He talked of the pairing to be a “win-win for customers looking for performance." Thaddeus Lepkowski, BASF tier metals market manager, agreed, stating, “We’re very pleased that TCI can deliver our innovative product line more broadly to their customers.”

The BASF CathoGuard coating combines several unique performance qualities for use on parts that are more difficult to paint efficiently. Read more about the CathoGuard here.

Through the new alliance, TCI market segments with access to this technology will include general finishing, off-road and heavy equipment, office furniture, and appliance. CathoGuard will also be available to custom coaters for the automotive market.

BASF offers automotive OEM coatings and refinishes, decorative paints, and industrial coatings to guard surfaces, add color, and increase luster. Their technical and qualitative materials are environmentally friendly, functional, and have superior design advantages. See the BASF website for more information.

To read the full press release from TCI, visit this webpage.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

The Problem-Solution Series: Part 20

Poor Hardness of Film

Problem:
The film has poor hardness, and you’re not sure why. 

Origin/Cause:If a film has low hardness, it is usually because it is under-cured. 

Solution:
Modify the cure conditions by either increasing the temperature or dwell. 

Second Origin:
Systems are varied in their hardness. 

Solution:
Contact TCI for information and recommendations.

For additional information on powder coatings, visit our website at tcipowder.com. Feel free to contact us today to have someone from our experienced team answer your powder coating questions or to see how we can help you with your powder coating needs.

Friday, June 10, 2016

The Problem-Solution Series: Part 19

Poor Corrosion Resistance

Problem:
You notice that the cured film has poor corrosion resistance.
 

Origin/Cause:
This may be due to insufficient cleaning or pretreatment. 

Solution:
Assess the conditions and the chemicals of the cleaning, rinse, and pretreatment stations. 

For additional information on powder coatings, visit our website at tcipowder.com. Feel free to contact us today to have someone from our experienced team answer your powder coating questions or to see how we can help you with your powder coating needs.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

The Problem-Solution Series: Part 18

Low Flexibility and Impact Resistance 

Problem:
You notice that the coating has been showing low flexibility and little impact resistance. 

Cause/Origin:
It is possible that a change has been made to the substrate, but nothing has changed about the process.
 

Solution:
Contact your suppliers to ensure no changes to the substrate have been made.
 
Second Origin:
The film may be too thick. 

Solution:
Reduce the film thickness to the TCI specs.
 

Third Origin:
Under-cured films have low flexibility.
 

Solution:
Modify the cure conditions by increasing the temperature and/or dwell.

For additional information on powder coatings, visit our website at tcipowder.com. Feel free to contact us today to have someone from our experienced team answer your powder coating questions or to see how we can help you with your powder coating needs.

Friday, June 3, 2016

TCI Powder Coatings Welcomes Jim Alexander as Field Technical Service Representation

TCI Powder Coatings is excited to welcome Jim Alexander as the newest Senior Field Technical Service Representative to join our team. Jim has spent an impressive 42 years in the coating industry with the last 21 of those years as a Senior Application Engineering/Technical Services Manager at Valspar. He primarily helped manage technical service representatives for all coating technologies in the 14 southern states and border towns in Mexico. Jim assisted customer in line designs for new paint systems to improve operations in all technologies.
Jeff Wilhelms, TCI Director of Field Technical Support, adds, “We are so excited to have Jim join our team. Jim has valuable experience with many different technologies, including wood coatings and finishes, metal coatings, and coil coatings for architectural wall panels.”
We are looking forward to all that Jim will bring to the TCI team in terms of his exceptional work with customers as well as his technical know-how and industry background. Read more about the hire of Jim Alexander in the press release.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

TCI Welcomes Sean Stevens as Field Technical Service Representative

We are pleased to announce Sean K. Stevens as the new Field Service Representative for our West Coast Region. Sean brings over 15 years of extensive experience including six years managing a powder coatings operation. Prior to several other positions in the powder coating industry, Sean served in the United States Army as part of the Armor Division. 
Jeff Wilhelms, TCI Director of Field Technical Support, states, “We are thrilled to have Sean join our team. Sean has developed a unique troubleshooting and customer interface skill set from his experiences” and added that, “his support from a field technical service capacity will truly benefit our customers and the TCI organization moving forward. Sean will help us further advance our Premium Brand position in the powder coatings market.”

Sean will continue to reside in the Southern California area with his family. Welcome Sean to the TCI team! Read more about the hire of Sean Stevens in this press release.

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

TCI Hires Nancy Wright as Director of Quality

We are thrilled to welcome Nancy Wright to our team as the Director of Quality. Nancy brings over 20 years of experience in various roles with quality and process improvement. For the past 10 years, Nancy has gained valuable experience holding positions as an Engineering Group Leader and Operations Manager, among several others. Her knowledge and expertise in areas of quality, process improvement, and project management make Nancy an exceptional choice for her new role at TCI.
Tommy Reno, TCI Vice President of Manufacturing, asserts, “Nancy is a great asset to further advance our premium brand position in the powder coatings market.”

Nancy will be relocating to South Georgia to work out of the Ellaville manufacturing facility. Read more about the hiring of Nancy Wright in this press release.