One of the most critical aspects of any refinishing operation is often the least visible: air management.
When Surventis developed its new Regional Competence Centre (RCC), airflow control became a major engineering priority, particularly as modern waterborne paint systems continue to gain traction in the industry.
According to Mace Moodley, CEO of Your Equipment Supplier (YES), the starting point for any spray-booth installation should be the coating technology it is intended to support.
“The first consideration should always be what paint technology is going to be used in the spray booth,” says Moodley. “Modern waterborne paint systems require high and consistent airflow, particularly during the flash-off process. That means airflow volume, air velocity, pressure balance, and the physical distribution of air through the booth all become fundamental engineering considerations.”
The RCC’s spray booths each provide approximately 36 000 m³/h of airflow and incorporate advanced filtration, extraction, heating and drying systems designed to maintain consistent operating conditions.
Moodley explains that the engineering challenge extends beyond the spray booth itself.
“The objective is to engineer an environment where the paint technology, spray booth and technician can perform together. That is the difference between simply purchasing a spray booth and engineering a complete refinishing environment.”
To support different coating technologies, the facility is equipped with touch-screen control systems featuring dedicated waterborne and solvent-based programmes, allowing operators to select settings suited to the products being demonstrated.
Automation is integrated throughout the refinishing cycle. Once paint has been applied, the booths can automatically transition through flash-off, baking and cool-down phases, reducing variability and improving process consistency.
Equipped with 250 000 kcal/h Riello diesel burners, the spray booths operate at approximately 60°C during baking, while integrated control systems manage temperatures and process sequencing.
For Moodley, these technologies illustrate how the refinishing sector is evolving.
“Technology provides a controlled environment, while the technician remains responsible for applying knowledge, judgment and skill.”
Rather than focusing on a single coating system, the RCC has been designed to help technicians understand how a range of technologies perform within the correct operating environment and why the spray booth itself remains an essential component of the overall refinishing process.
Read the first article on the training centre here: https://bodyshopnews.africa/surventis-opens-regional-competence-centre-to-strengthen-refinishing-industry-skills
