In the automotive industry, one of the final steps in the manufacturing of a car is the application of paint. Because compressed air is so integrated into the car manufacturing process—even coming into direct contact with the end product—it is imperative that the air be absolutely pure. The following applications illustrate why the automotive industry relies on oil-free air throughout the car manufacturing process, from assembly to the application of a high quality finish.
- Vehicle Assembly – Compressed air is used in the operation of vehicle assembly robots and pneumatic tools such as nutrunners.
- Cleaning Car Surfaces – Prior to the application of paint, the metal surfaces of the car are thoroughly cleaned and dried with compressed air.
- Water-Based Paint – Water-based paints are increasingly used in paint baths and spray painting but are very sensitive to silicones, which are found in compressor lubricating oil.
- Paint Baths – Compressed air is used to agitate the paint in a paint bath to prevent clumping and to mix the paint for color consistency.
- Spray Painting – Compressed air is used to propel paint through paint guns or robots onto the clean metal surface of the car body.
The presence of oil in the compressed air can negatively affect all of these applications. Oil can cause damage to equipment, resulting in costly replacements or possible downtime; it can prevent adhesion of paint or cause the paint to crack or bead on the surface of the car; or it can affect the finish and may create future corrosion issues.
The simple way to eliminate the risk of oil contamination in the compressed air is to eliminate the presence of oil altogether. Only ISO 8573-1 Class Zero oil-free compressors provide clean, 100 percent oil-free air, virtually eliminating any risk of oil contamination within the manufacturing infrastructure.
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