Described as the “crown jewel” of the Quad Cities Riverfront Project, the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, Illinois, features a “gem” of an exterior coating system from Tnemec. “Known for their quality farm and construction equipment, John Deere wanted nothing less than a high-quality coating system for the pavilion’s exterior window frames and ornamental accents,” recalled Tnemec coating consultant Keith Kennett. “Tnemec’s tough urethane coating system continues to provide protection and performance after several years of service.”
The popular visitor’s center which opened in 1997, features a 14,000-square-foot, glass- and steel enclosed structure with an additional 12,000-square-foot exterior patio. Specifications called for the steel window frames to be prepared in accordance with SSPC-SP6/NACE No. 3 Commercial Blast Cleaning to remove all loose mill scale, rust, paint, and other foreign matter prior to coating with Series 66 Hi-Build Epoxoline, a polyamide epoxy. A black finish coat of Series 73 Endura-Shield, a semi-gloss, aliphatic acrylic polyurethane, was then applied. Nearly 60 gallons of coatings were required for the project.
“The company places a high priority on quality with everything they manufacture, and they didn’t make any exceptions when it came to this pavilion,” noted Kennett. “Since the windows are so prominent, the owner was very particular about their appearance. The coating system has been in place for a number of years and is still performing impressively.”
John Deere Commons is the centerpiece of Moline’s Riverfront Civic Renewal Project funded through federal and state grants. “The site had been used for various Deere manufacturing facilities,” Kennett stated. “As the area transitioned over time, Moline was faced with the challenge of what to do with the unused industrial area and it became a major part of the redevelopment along the riverfront.”
The John Deere Pavilion serves as a showcase for past and present agricultural and construction equipment. The pavilion is the most popular tourist attraction in the Quad Cities and one of the top five attractions in the state of Illinois, according to the Illinois Bureau of Tourism. Exhibits include vintage and modern-day John Deere equipment, interactive displays covering company history, agriculturaltheme murals, and award-winning wrought-iron truss designs.