Environmentally friendly paint process reduces solvent consumption

Citation

(2006), "Environmentally friendly paint process reduces solvent consumption", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778dad.015

Environmentally friendly paint process reduces solvent consumption

Environmentally friendly paint process reduces solvent consumption

Keywords: Solvents, Paints,Environmental management

Technology from global innovations company 3M has helped a paint shop at leading aerospace and defence organisation, BAE Systems to win a prestigious Chairman's Award for Innovation. The Bronze award was presented for the implementation of the 3M paint preparation system (PPS) by the Airbus Operations paint shop team. The 3M product has been instrumental in reducing solvent consumption since it was introduced last year to the paint shop at the BAE Systems design and manufacturing site in Samlesbury, Lancashire.

BAE Systems Samlesbury adopted PPS as part of a programme to improve quality and reduce the consumption of solvents during its painting processes. The business manufactures airframe structures for a number of major civil and military aircraft manufacturers including Airbus. The PPS system reduces the need for solvent cleaning of spray guns during part painting by means of an innovative system of lightweight disposable liners.

“PPS has really fulfilled its promise in our paint shops,” says Martin Topping, Airbus Operations Paint Shop supervisor at the Samlesbury site. “Not only has the system reduced our consumption of solvents by around 60 per cent, we have also seen a reduction in quality problems cause by inclusions in the paint and our working environment is now much cleaner and more pleasant. The fact that the system operates equally effectively with the spray gun in any orientation has boosted productivity too, particularly when working with the complex parts that our team deals with every day.”

Since, the introduction of the system at the beginning of 2005, BAE systems has extended the use of PPS to seven separate paint shops on four sites. The company uses the original PPS system as well as the Mini PPS and Refillable PPS variants.

3M's PPS is an innovative new type of dispensing system designed to reduce paint wastage, improve finish and dramatically cut solvent consumption during the spraying of primers and finish paints onto aircraft parts.

PPS is a modular dispensing system that comprises reusable plastic cups and disposable, flexible liners and lids. Paint or primer is mixed in the liners within the reusable cups. The system, which contains a built in filter, then attaches directly to standard spray guns. During use, the liner collapses, ensuring maximum paint utilisation. Once empty, the liners are discarded, eliminating the need to clean the system with expensive and toxic solvents. PPS works with both gravity- fed and siphon spray guns.

Details available from: 3M UK Aerospace technical helpline, Tel: +44 (0)161 237 6174. E-mail:transportation_solutions.uk@mmm.com