Schiele Vacumat®


During the past five years, E&R has performed extensive research with the Schiele Vacumat® coating system to improve and increase it’s application capabilities. The time and research has proven successful! Improvements made to the Vacumat® now allow the application of water-repellent preservatives.
The system is unique in that it is the only one that allows the operator to control the amount of preservative (ppm) penetrating the different types of wood species used in the manufacturing of windows and doors.

Highlights and Key Issues:
"National Wood Window and Door Association’s Treatment and Coatings Committee has found that , Buckman Laboratories’ Busan 112 water repellent preservative when applied in a Vacumat® Process, meets the requirements of NWWDA I.S.4-94."
-NWWDA Technical Bulletin, November 22, 1996.

"According to NWWDA Industry Standard I.S.4-94 "Water-Repellent Preservative Non-Pressure Treatment for Millwork," Section 3.3, the preservative must show a water-repellent effectiveness of at least 60.00%. The data shows that the treated wafers passed this requirement with an average water-repellent effectiveness of 74.00% and 72.26%."
-Aspen Research Report, October 11, 1995.

  • The system is a complete stainless steel design. This is a requirement for preservative application due to the corrosive nature of the preservatives.
  • The unique transport system ensures proper endgrain penetration of preservative.
  • The system ensures proper application of preservative to all surfaces no matter how intricate the endgrain profile.
  • The system’s application chamber is designed for maximum preservative penetration into the substrate.
  • Equal results are achieved at the system speed range (the speed range is 60 to 120 feet per minute).
  • The system operation is user friendly.
  • The operator does not require any special clothing or breathing apparatus to process the substrate.
  • The system provides an important safety factor: the operator does not come in contact with the preservative.
  • The control system ensures that the substrate passing through the application system is properly coated.
  • The system is designed for operation 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The only stoppage required is when the operator needs to change the in-feed and out-feed masks for different profiles. (This function can also be automated.)
  • The system is designed for the application of both solvent based and waterbased preservatives.
  • The system’s controls allow for changing the amount of preservative applied to the different types of wood species. For example, this advantage is seen when comparing Ponderosa pine and Radiata pine.
  • Sinker wood can be properly coated by the system . The system gives each piece coated a “dose” of preservative.
  • The system’s coated substrate can be processed in-line without any staging area to allow volatility.
  • Sealant notches and grooves are not left flooded with preservative. This eliminates deterioration of seals due to solvent trapped within these grooves.
  • The system is complete with an automated filling unit that ensures that fresh coating is always available in the application chamber.
  • In-line processing with the system allows for scheduled shipping of preservative, no bulk storage tanks are required.
  • The system only requires 10 gallons of preservative for operation. This greatly reduces the environmental effects of a spill or leakage situation.

The Schiele Vacumat® is a coating system designed to apply waterborne and 100% solids coatings with nearly 100% transfer efficiency. The system offers a method to finish linear substrates on all sides or edges of flat substrates using environmentally-friendly waterborne, EB, and UV coating materials with minimal waste or emissions, making it an attractive alternative to conventional spray systems or curtain coating.
Complete in-line systems are available: infra-red drying and UV-curing devices, pre-brushing units, sanding, profile sanding, etc. Everything needed for finishing substrate in preparation for assembly may be installed in-line and will provide consistent quality of application at minimal coating and labor costs at speeds up to 600 ft/min (200m/min).
Patented problem solutions are available for the moving and manipulation of furniture parts which have been coated on all four sides. In the European window industry, manufacturers with the Schiele system are priming, staining, sanding, lacquering and infrared drying 12,000 windows on a daily basis.

Environmental Considerations:
Since the coating process is a closed-loop circuit, no coating material escapes to the atmosphere. The technology also eliminates overspray. Damage to the environment caused by solvent release is consequently minimal due to the small percentage of solvent in the coating. Custom designed solutions have also proven that less water is wasted during cleaning.

National Wood Window and Door Association (NWWDA) Approval
The National Wood Window and Door Association (NWWDA) has approved the substrates finished by the Schiele Vacumat® Preservative Application System.

The Benefits of Vacumat® Coating:

Quality:

  • Uniform application.
  • Complete coverage. Four sides, 1-2-3 sides, or any combination.
  • Ability to apply a quality coating on a product requiring slower speeds.
  • Increase or decrease of coating thickness as needed.

Environmental:

  • 100% transfer efficiency, enclosed system, no over spray.
  • Ability to use high solids coating - waterbase and 100% solid UV (UltraViolet) coating, less V.O.C.
  • Housekeeping improvements - reduce drum spillage.
  • Safer operation - less operator contact, no fumes, no splashing.

Process:

  • Less floor space required.
  • Easily incorporated into existing production line.
  • Greatly reduced operating expenses.
  • Consistent application of coating where needed.

Productivity:

  • Reduced start-up/clean-up time.
  • Greater line speed 0 - 800 plus linear feet per minute.
  • Extremely operator friendly.