Rescoll is a private company offering technological services at three sites in France – Pessac, Bayonne and Rochefort. With more than 7000 m² of laboratory space, the research company is able to conduct testing and industrial research on polymer materials applications in numerous industries. These include medical device, energy, transportation and construction. Rescoll works for its customers from the early stages of product definition and polymer formulation, but also in the context of regulatory qualification and material analysis through physicochemical analysis, mechanical testing, aging or fire tests, and for the validation of resistance under harsh environmental conditions.
Multi-stage test setup
Originally founded for the aerospace industry, the private research institute Rescoll, has increasingly opened up to other industries. In addition to the EcoBell2 equippped ready2spray robot, which has already been in use, Dürr's EcoPaintJet is now being added to the test portfolio at then Pessac laboratories. The test process takes place in several stages: First, the customer sends the relevant paint or substrate to Rescoll, where it is checked whether the material is suitable for carrying out the test at all, which is then performed. Once the test has been successfully completed, the results are sent to the manufacturer, who is then able to adjust the paints and substrates to ultimately adapt Dürr's technology. Dürr already refers to the possibility of testing inks as well as the substrates first at Rescoll in use with the EcoPaintJet in consultation meetings with its customers. If the results are satisfactory to the customer, a suitable integrator is then found in the integrator network who will bring the Dürr equipment to the customer's premises ready for operation.
Best practice from the automotive industry
As early as 2019, Dürr's overspray-free technology called EcoPaintJet was introduced in the automotive industry, where it is already being used in series production. The process is characterized by its high efficiency, as masking is completely eliminated. This is ensured by a completely new type of applicator that applies the paint with absolutely sharp separation. This means that the coating lands exactly on the intended surfaces, but not off them - even in very small quantities. What has already proven itself in the automotive industry is now to be used in other industries as well. All applications in which paint is applied in lanes are possible.
No more overspray
The EcoPaintJet achieves its high precision because the applicator works completely without overspray. This describes the paint mist consisting of tiny droplets that is produced by other atomizers and ends up outside the target area. In the case of the EcoPaintJet, a filigree nozzle plate measuring just a few square centimeters prevents overspray from occurring. The nozzle plate forms the underside of the rectangular applicator and is provided with around 50 barely visible holes, which have a diameter of around 1 tenth of a millimeter. The paint is applied in parallel jets from a distance of 30 millimeters through them.
EcoPaintJet paints live at PaintExpo 2022
PaintExpo is the world's leading trade show for industrial painting technology and gathers the who's who of the industry every two years. This year, the trade show will be held in Karlsruhe from April 26 to 29, where Dürr will not only be represented with an impressive booth but will even demonstrate the overspray-free technology live to visitors with its EcoPaintJet.