External Rotators for the Efficient Powder Coater

Mighty Hook President Scott Rempala and his team can pretty much design any hanging solution for the industrial coating industry, thanks to spending countless hours on their own powder coating line to achieve maximum line density and efficiency.

“Whether (coaters) are looking for greater line capacity, hooks for larger pieces or greater line efficiency, we create custom solutions to meet their expectations every time, and without breaking the bank,” Rempala says.

Recently, client Hasse and Wrede, a division of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, asked the company to develop a powered rotator drive to speed up the previous manual rotation of its torsional vibration dampeners as they pass through the paint booth suspended from an overhead monorail conveyor. The client said that manual rotation was inconsistent and labor intensive, and often the operator had to stop the line to ensure proper coating coverage.

The Mighty Hook engineering team designed a power rotation mechanism driven by a variable-frequency drive, explosion-proof motor, reduction gearbox and single-strand roller chain. The dampeners, similar in shape to a large disc-brake rotor, are spun at a steady 50 rpm during their 7.5-foot travel through the booth.

“This enables the spray gun operator to smoothly and easily apply an even organic protective coating to all of the exterior surfaces,” Rempala says. “Rotation speed is adjustable and reversible, and the unit may be instantly disengaged manually to remain passive when rotation is not required or to clear a stuck rotator.”

Traditionally, powered rotators incorporate two chains that are permanently fixed to the conveyor track, limiting production capacity while incurring a high purchasing cost. But Rempala says the new power rotator design uses only one chain bracket set, allowing increased speed and reversibility while reducing cost of production and labor.

“The rotator spins the hook to maximize its profile as it moves across the line,” he says. “Parts move across at a faster rate while maintaining their coating consistency. Therefore, the design increases speed without sacrificing quality.”

In recent years, Mighty Hook has developed several innovative designs like this one for companies with hanging and masking problems. From the Angle Pivot Tooling System, which increases coating line capacity, to material handling carts that streamline a coating process from fabrication to assembly, Rempala says his team is constantly innovating.

“When you ask for a Mighty Hook solution, you receive an innovative, functional and cost-effective design that provides you with a groundbreaking way to accomplish your hanging and masking need,” he says.

If a coater is looking for a standard product due to time constraints, Mighty Hook has plenty of those, too. In fact, a whole catalog full. The company offers 150 product categories and maintains an inventory of more than 15 million total products. In addition, its website makes customers’ shopping experiences quick and convenient, although customer service team members also can still take a phone call.

Mighty Hook Inc. / Chicago, Illinois
773-378-1909 / mightyhook.com