Lincoln Industries

‘From Start 2 Finish’ is a series that outlines the comprehensive services Lincoln Industries provides companies across North America, based on our Integrated Finishing Services philosophy. ‘Coating Selection & Application’ is part three in the S2F series.

The act of selecting and applying a finish to a metal product isn’t necessarily difficult. Applying the right finish to the right metal in the right way for the right reason, however, is an entirely different matter. Selecting and applying coating materials requires expertise, process control and the best equipment. Even so, there is no substitute for the valuable insight that comes with years of application experience.

When it comes to the application process, Lincoln Industries possesses both state-of-the-art equipment and certified electro finishers that have perfected their craft with decades of experience. That experience is necessary to quickly determine and implement the most effective application processes. “Many of our customers come to us from other suppliers who have failed to meet their needs. The other suppliers simply can’t develop and control the application process effectively,” said Christie.

Several issues must be considered when selecting a coating, including: wear, corrosion, aesthetics, temperature and lubricity. The effects of any of these issues can be drastically altered depending on which coating is chosen. Often, the challenge isn’t one-dimensional. According to Tom Christie of Lincoln Industries, “Many of our customers’ products experience multiple adverse conditions, which means we have to create a solution that will meet all of their performance requirements.” Finding such a solution is the responsibility of the Technology and Project Development Teams at Lincoln Industries. The teams consist of experts who proactively find answers to customer challenges by combining innovative thinking and breakthrough technology, giving Lincoln Industries a significant advantage in meeting customers’ needs.

Understanding the nature of a wide variety of coatings and how they perform with the metal products to which they are applied is critical to the process as is a detailed understanding of the end product’s function, as well as its environment. According to Christie, Lincoln Industries has established a reputation for success because its people have learned to adapt and adjust to the difficult situations and numerous variables that emerge in the application process. “They have a knack for making the little tweaks that make a big difference.

Even the smallest error can be very difficult to correct. When time, cost and product performance are on the line, customers can rely on Lincoln Industries to have the expertise, capabilities and process controls to deliver the optimal solution.