What to Look for When Choosing a Coating Applicator

Is The Company ISO 9001 Certified?

ISO 9001 is a quality management certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In plain terms, it means a company has its processes documented and can show it’s consistently meeting customer needs. It isn’t specific to coating, but it’s a good sign that the company is organized and takes quality seriously.

If you want something closer to the coating process itself, ask about CQI-12. It’s a coating-specific certification that looks at how a coating company actually runs its operations.

If a coater doesn’t have at least ISO 9001, that’s a red flag. You’ll probably want to look at other options.

Do They Have Experience and Proven Solutions?

When looking into a coating company, it is important that they are able to provide proven experience or a portfolio. A good coating applicator should be looking beyond the obvious solutions and find one specific to the situation. There have been numerous times at DECC where a customer arrived with a specified coating, application method, or surface treatment, and our team developed a solution that performed better.

Having real experience, solving problems, and working with customers to find the best solution is a mandatory service for coating applicators. Functional coatings are not a widely discussed topic, and making sure you are choosing experts in the field who have extensive knowledge of what solution will fit your issue can save your company both time and money.

Can They Work With Different Types of Coatings and Applications?

A professional applicator should be comfortable working with a wide range of coating systems and explaining which one is best for your environment, budget, and performance goals. Not every coating is built for the same job, and choosing the wrong type can lead to early failure, unnecessary downtime, and higher long-term costs. Here are a few common types:

• Chemical-resistant coatings: Phenolics and fluoropolymers are often used where parts are exposed to harsh chemicals, fuels, or solvents.
• Corrosion-resistant coatings: Most fall into two types. Barrier coatings keep moisture and oxygen from reaching the metal, while sacrificial coatings, such as zinc flake, corrode in place of the base metal to protect it.
• Non-stick and low-friction coatings: PTFE, best known by the brand name Teflon, is the most familiar option. FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene) is a similar fluoropolymer with a lower melting point, which can make it a better fit for certain applications.

These are only a few of the options, and many coatings claim to do the same thing. Every application is different, so look for an applicator with the knowledge and ability to test and compare several coating systems for your part. That’s how you end up with a solution that provides long-lasting components.

The same goes for the method of application. A larger part needs a line with room for larger dimensions, while a small fastener that can run through a dip-spin machine may get a better finish if it’s rack sprayed instead, especially if it has threads or recesses that need even coverage.

What Quality Assurance Tests Do They Have Available?

Quality assurance matters when you’re choosing a coater. Customers often need coatings to meet specific requirements, and the coater should be able to prove they’re hitting them. A few common tests:

• Thickness testing: makes sure the coating is not too thin, losing its protective barrier, or too thick, where a part won’t fit in the required space.
• Salt spray testing: shows how well the coating holds up against corrosion.
• Adhesion testing: checks that the coating actually stays stuck to the part and won’t peel or chip.

If you supply parts to an OEM, this matters even more. Many OEMs have their own coating specifications, and they often spell out which tests a part has to pass and how the results need to be documented. An experienced coating company should be familiar with working to OEM specs and know what’s expected, so you aren’t finding out about a requirement after your parts are already coated.

What Are Their Turnaround Time and Available Capacity?

Turnaround time, especially on a strict schedule, can be a deciding factor in which company to choose. For bulk coating, you want to make sure that the company can handle the volume without dropping quality standards. The same thing goes for smaller orders, making sure that they are receiving the same kind of care as the larger orders. For example, DECC has an R&D department that takes on a lot of the smaller orders where quality can be managed appropriately.

What In-House Capabilities Do They Have?

If a coating company does not have in-house capabilities such as multiple forms of surface prep, your part may need to be sent elsewhere to get that service done. This removes quality assurance from the coating company and allows room for errors. The same principle applies to masking, racking, and assembly too. Keeping all value-add services under one roof decreases turnaround times and allows for tighter quality control compared to outsourcing.

If your part needs some areas coated and others left bare, making sure the company has an engineering team that can work on masking and changing the racks to fit the part’s needs is important. Sometimes having a closely integrated engineering and production team means problems get solved on the floor instead of through emails and delays.

Do Their Core Values Match Yours?

The coating company you choose reflects strongly on the core values your company upholds. As the coater you choose is going to directly influence your products and processes, you want to make sure they reflect well on your company. Some indicators are communication and responsiveness, environmental impact, company safety, and dedication to employee training.

The right coating applicator should do more than just put a finish on your part. They bring certifications, testing, and knowledge that keep your parts performing and keep your business on schedule.

Before you choose your coating applicator, make sure you know the answers to these questions and ask for a tour of the facility and sample parts.

If you want to talk through your coating application, contact us and we can help.