E-Coat and Powder for Truck Trailers at HB Brantner
HB Brantner is one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural trailers in Europe and has been producing equipment for more than 75 years that is exposed to high mechanical stress in daily operation. To ensure the longevity of these machines, surface protection plays a central role. Against this background, HB Brantner became the first company in the industry to fully transition to a combined cathodic dip coating (e-coat) and powder coating technology.
The new system was commissioned in 2020 and technically developed in collaboration with KANSAI HELIOS. The goal was to create a coating process that improves both product quality and manufacturing efficiency. The entire process chain – from pretreatment and cathodic dip coating to powder coating – was precisely coordinated for this purpose. This includes steps such as degreasing, optional acid treatment, zinc phosphating, CDC/KTL coating, permeate rinsing, and double curing.
A key advantage of the system lies in the significant reduction of solvents: more than 70 percent of previous emissions from wet painting are eliminated, as powder coatings are solvent-free and the e-coat technology used contains only very small amounts of solvents. The required energy is additionally supported by an in-house photovoltaic power plant. As a result, the system not only enhances quality but also improves the company’s environmental footprint.
The coating line is designed for large and heavy components – including trailer parts up to 16 meters in length and four tons in weight. The combination of KTL and powder coating ensures uniform layer build-up, high corrosion resistance, and stable weather and UV resistance. These properties are essential for equipment that is used outdoors for many years.
