Instruments for the Paints Industry

A paint plant handles fine powders, viscous liquids and flammable solvents, often in the same building. Batches have to be weighed, dispersed and tinted to a tight specification, and much of the plant sits in a hazardous area. We supply measurement, control and safety products for each stage, from raw material silos to filling and effluent treatment.

Pigment, filler and resin handling

Titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, talc and other fillers are stored in silos and day bins. Vibrating fork, vibrating rod, rotating paddle and admittance level switches from Trumen detect high and low levels in these dusty powders. Boot and membrane level switches and pendulum level switches from Filsa watch bins, hoppers and conveyors, and a chute jam level switch warns of a blockage at transfer points.

Dispersion and milling

High-speed dispersers and bead mills heat the batch as they grind pigment into the resin. RTD probes with temperature transmitters measure batch and jacket temperature, and infrared temperature sensors from Calex read surfaces without contact. Process and PID controllers from Pixsys and digital indicators from Shinko hold each vessel at its setpoint.

Let-down, blending and storage tanks

Resins, solvents and finished paint sit in mixing vessels and storage tanks. Guided wave radar, ultrasonic and capacitance level transmitters give continuous level in viscous and foaming liquids, and hydrostatic level transmitters and flush diaphragm transmitters suit thick products that coat a sensor. Point level switches give high and low alarms. Smart pressure and differential pressure transmitters from Trumen and the Pixsys DST400 cover pumps, filters and transfer lines.

Solvent and hazardous areas

Solvent storage, thinner handling and solvent-based production are classified hazardous zones. ATEX pressure switches and ATEX differential pressure switches from Beck, flameproof differential pressure transmitters, and ATEX pendulum and membrane level switches from Filsa work safely in these areas. The Calex ExTemp is an intrinsically safe infrared sensor for the same zones, and ATEX vibration sensors from Hauber watch pumps and agitators.

Spray booths, ventilation and dust collection

Booth extraction and plant ventilation keep solvent vapour and powder away from operators. Differential pressure switches and transmitters from Beck and Halstrup-Walcher track filter loading, flameproof air velocity transmitters confirm extraction is running, and the EMA 200 digital manometer supports site checks. In powder handling, broken bag detectors from Auburn give an early alarm when a filter bag tears.

Filling, rotating equipment and automation

On filling and packing lines, integrated stepper motors from Halstrup-Walcher set guides and stops for each can size, and stroke sensors from Hauber monitor reciprocating pumps and presses. Vibration sensors and a portable vibration meter flag bearing and balance problems on dispersers, mills, pumps and fans.

Water and effluent

Water-based paint lines and wash-down produce effluent that has to be treated before discharge. pH and multi-channel analysers from Chemitec, pH electrodes from Kuntze, conductivity transmitters, dissolved oxygen, chlorine, turbidity and suspended solids sensors cover the effluent plant and process water.

We supply these brands to paint and coatings plants across India, South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, and help with product selection and after-sales support.