POWDER COATING
Industrial Powder Coating Services
Corrosion protection and aesthetics are the final steps in the manufacturing journey. Graphie’s in-house industrial powder coating services are a cornerstone of our vertical integration strategy. Located in La Pocatière, Quebec, this facility allows us to take a raw metal part; cut, bent, and welded on-site; and finish it without ever leaving our plant.
For manufacturers in the transportation and industrial sectors across Canada and the United States, including U.S. OEMs seeking a nearshoring alternative to offshore finishing, this integration translates into reduced lead times, lower logistics costs, and centralized accountability.
We do not simply “paint” metal. We engineer electrostatic industrial coating systems designed to protect components throughout their service life. Whether for exterior vehicle parts exposed to road salt or industrial enclosures subjected to oils, dust, and chemicals, our finishes perform as reliably as the metal beneath them.
The Superiority of Powder Over Liquid
Powder coating has become the gold standard for industrial finishing due to its mechanical performance and environmental advantages over traditional liquid paint.
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Durability: The electrostatic curing process creates long molecular chains, resulting in finishes that resist chipping, scratching, and abrasion; essential for transportation and mobile equipment exposed to vibration and impact.
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Corrosion Resistance: Powder coatings form a continuous barrier against moisture and chemicals, significantly extending the service life of steel and aluminum components.
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Eco-Friendly Process: Unlike wet paint, powder coating emits negligible volatile organic compounds (VOCs), supporting the environmental objectives of modern OEMs.
Precision Process Control: More Than Just Color
At Graphie, finishing is treated with the same level of scientific rigor as laser cutting, machining, or bending. A durable coating depends on controlling every variable - not just selecting a color.
Surface Preparation: The Key to Adhesion
Coating longevity is determined before the powder is applied. We use multi-stage chemical pre-treatment and washing systems, including Surfox technologies where applicable for stainless steel, to remove laser oxide, oils, and fabrication residues.
This preparation ensures maximum molecular adhesion, preventing peeling, blistering, and premature corrosion in real-world operating conditions.
Thickness Tolerance Management
In precision manufacturing, coating thickness is a functional parameter, not an afterthought.
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Controlled Application: We maintain a strict coating thickness tolerance of ± 0.002 inches.
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Assembly Assurance: By controlling film build, we ensure painted parts assemble correctly without interference, preserving the precise clearances defined during design and fabrication.
Coating parameters are documented and repeatable, making this service ideally suited for recurring production programs where consistency from batch to batch is critical.
Specialized Masking Capabilities
Keeping powder off critical features is one of the most complex aspects of industrial coating. Electrical enclosures require clean grounding points, while machined chassis demand paint-free mating surfaces.
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Custom Masking: Our team protects threaded holes, studs, and conductive areas using high-temperature silicone plugs and specialty tapes.
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Design Integration: Because Graphie manufactures the parts in-house, we know exactly which features must remain uncoated; eliminating guesswork and reducing the need for drawing markups required by third-party painters.
The Strategic Value of Integrated Finishing
One of the most common bottlenecks in metal fabrication is the external trip to a paint subcontractor. By keeping powder coating in-house, Graphie removes this friction entirely.
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No Transit Damage: Parts are not shipped between facilities, reducing the risk of scratches, dents, and handling damage.
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Rapid Response: The paint line is scheduled in sync with laser cutting, welding, and assembly. Urgent parts can be coated immediately after fabrication, compressing overall lead times.
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Single - Point Accountability: If a finish issue arises, there is no finger-pointing between suppliers. Graphie owns quality from the first cut to the final cure.
