American Trim Receives $994,000 in Economic Stimulus Funds for New Energy Efficient Coating Line
American Trim, which specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates has announced that it has received $994,000 from the State Energy Plan of Ohio, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to install a new state-of-the-art coating line to produce products for the alternative energy, automotive, and appliance industries. The new coating line will consume far less energy than the existing processing line, according to the company.
The new line, which uses coatings cured by UV light, will reduce energy consumption by up to 95% when compared to the old thermally cured coatings. This eliminates the need to heat the coating and the substrate, cure the coating, and then cool the panel back to a temperature that can be easily handled. This new protective film coating technology will be marketed under the name SelectiveGuard. These coatings will be selectively applied, which allows the part to retain the protective coating throughout the manufacturing process, continue through the sales process and into the consumer's home, where the protective coating can then be removed.
"We will add over $1.3 million of our own funding to bring this state-of-the-art installation to our facility," says Steve Hatkevich, director of research and development at American Trim.