New Ford Transit Debuts with Industry-First Ford Paint Technology that Improves Durability and Sustainability
27 Maggio 2014 - 6:02AM
Business Wire
- All-new Ford Transit uses
industry-first paint technology that is more durable than other
commercial van exterior coatings
- Paint applied through the new process
will retain 90 percent of its gloss at four years in service*
- New two-wet monocoat paint technology
significantly reduces energy and water use, and lowers carbon
dioxide and other emissions at Kansas City Assembly Plant
The all-new Ford Transit makes its North American debut with
more durable paint, thanks to an industry-first paint technology
now in use at Kansas City Assembly Plant.
Ford celebrated the start of North American Transit production
at Kansas City Assembly Plant on April 30, and vans will be
available on U.S. and Canadian dealer lots this summer.
The Transit vehicles built in Kansas City are the first to use
the new two-wet monocoat paint process developed by Ford and its
paint suppliers. The technology results in more durable paint, uses
less energy and water, and reduces carbon dioxide and particulate
emissions compared with conventional paint processes.
The new paint had to meet or exceed “Built Ford Tough”
standards, and was subjected to a battery of tests that simulates
typical conditions the vehicle will see during 10 years. The paint
was tested for its resistance to chipping and scratching,
pollutants and sun exposure. Advanced weathering testing indicates
that paint applied with the new two-wet technology will retain 90
percent of its gloss at four years in service compared to 1 percent
gloss retention for paint applied using a conventional monocoat
process.*
“Durability was a critical consideration when we initiated this
project,” said Dennis Havlin, Ford global paint engineering
development and launch supervisor. “The advancements in paint
chemistry enable us to deliver the appearance, performance and
durability our customers demand.”
In addition to making paint tougher, the process reduces
painting time and energy use by cutting the number of paint
applications from three to two and the number of drying procedures
from two to one.
It is another example of the innovative technologies Ford is
implementing to support its global manufacturing strategies with
regard to carbon dioxide emissions and water use. Ford plans call
for a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per vehicle
produced from 2010 to 2025, and a 30 percent reduction in water use
per vehicle produced from 2009 to 2015.
The new paint process uses less energy and water, and reduces
carbon dioxide and particulate emissions compared with conventional
paint processes. The reduction in paint and energy consumed is
expected to result in 9,500 tons fewer carbon dioxide emissions and
a 35-ton savings in particulate emissions on an annual basis.* An
innovative dry scrubber system will help save more than 10.5
million gallons of water.* Overall, the system should save 48,000
megawatt hours of electrical power,* enough electricity to power
3,400 homes.
The two-wet monocoat process uses a primer coat that requires
only a few minutes of open-air drying time before the color coat is
applied. The color coat is formulated with the same appearance and
protection properties of the clear coat, which eliminates the need
for a separate clear coat. The painted body is fully cured in an
enamel oven after the color coat is applied. The total process
removes one paint application step and one oven drying step when
compared to conventional paint processes.
The new paint procedure is being used for white-colored
vehicles, which account for 80 percent of Ford Transit production
at Kansas City Assembly Plant. As each color must be developed
uniquely for the two-wet monocoat process, other colors will be
considered based on demand. A conventional three-wet process –
primer, base coat, clear coat – remains in use for metallic-colored
vehicles.
Gaining production efficiencies
The two-wet monocoat system helps increase production
efficiency. The more streamlined process takes the vehicle body
through an electrostatically bonded corrosion-resistance (E-coat)
bath. The Transit body remains on a carrier that is lowered into
the E-coat by four pendulums, rather than being manually removed
from the carrier and attached to chains to be taken down, only to
have to repeat the same steps before moving on to the paint
booth.
The pendulums take the vehicle body into and out of the bath at
steep angles, reducing the length of the bath by as much as 320
feet. Transit’s paint operation requires less space than that used
in production of the smaller Ford Fiesta.
“The two-wet monocoat process allows us to design a system
considerably smaller than a conventional paint shop, especially
with regard to a vehicle of this size and complexity,” said Havlin.
“Because painting time is cut down, the technology enables greater
productivity using less equipment.”
Environmental savings
A conventional paint process uses water filtration – known as a
wet scrubber system – to remove the overspray from the air in the
paint booth that produces sludge. The new dry scrubber system pumps
the air through a filter containing limestone that can be recycled.
The dry scrubber system alone reduces energy use and carbon dioxide
emissions by 44 percent, cuts particulate emissions by 99 percent
and uses 75 percent less water annually.*
* Data based on preliminary testing.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide,
the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The
company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit corporate.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.Follow
www.twitter.com/ford or www.facebook.com/ford
Ford Motor CompanyJessica Enoch,
313-594-7933jenoch@ford.comorKristina Adamski,
313-588-0849kadamsk1@ford.com
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