When a painting contractor for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Company’s Cedar Rapids, Iowa, facility needed a dry-fall coating system for grain leg and conveyor steel, Tnemec coating consultant Keith Kennett stepped up to the challenge. “The Tnemec dry-fall system we specified met the owner’s requirements for a long-term, high-performance coating, while providing the contractor with a cost-effective, fully spray-applied system in a very congested operational plant environment,” commented Kennett. “It was a perfect system for the application.”
“A critical conveyor system for ADM, this was part of a processing area with bulk material handling equipment. The area was in a corrosive environment which is subject to frequent high humidity,” according to Kennett.
Following surface preparation in accordance with SSPC-SP6/NACE No. 3 Commercial Blast Cleaning, the contractor spray-applied the steel substrate with a coat of Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc, a two-component, zinc-rich primer that’s user-friendly and rapid curing. Next, Series 25 HydroLink, a one-coat hydrophobic acrylic for use over organic, zinc-rich coatings in high-humidity environments, was spray-applied followed by a topcoat of Series 35 HydroPlate, a one-component hydrophobic acrylic. HydroPlate’s dry-fall characteristics helped reduce the risk of overspray.
“This was an operational plant, so we had to be concerned with paint fall-out on train cars, trucks, equipment and personal vehicles,” Kennett noted. “The system we provided eliminated that concern, with its spray-applied, dry-fall coatings that provide outstanding performance. It worked very well for the contractor who was able to get in and out, and get the job done on time. That’s especially critical when you get into industrial projects in operation.”
ADM is a world leader in agricultural processing. The company is one of the world’s largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. ADM also is a leader in soy meal and oil, ethanol, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and flour.