The wonders of technology surround us all the time from smart phones and tablets to PCs and TVs. But what's more intriguing is the high-tech that makes up all the items we take for granted - the grip on the stairs of the subway that you hold as you climb aboard, the small knobs on your vehicle's sound system that ensure you can change the channels and even the slick surface on our non-stick pans. Every one of those everyday objects were built and either sprayed or dipped with an industrial coating of some kind.
But, if you question the average person about town about PTFE coating or fluoropolymer coating, you'll receive blank stares. While many folks do not know about them, here are just some of the applications for industrial coatings in everyday situations:
Medical Instruments
Tools for surgery, syringes and diagnostic equipment are often coated with a protective agent to prevent them from being damaged when they touch blood and other bodily fluids.
Thousands of Little Parts The thousands of screws and wing nuts that make up your household appliances, your automobile or even the rolling chairs you use at the office have likely all been coated with a version of industrial powder coating to stop damage from moisture, corrosion or heat and a variety of harsh conditions.
Specialized Equipment The armed forces, emergency services teams and automotive technicians all use equipment or tools that were probably dipped in plastisol coating to provide a softer grip and in addition offer impact, abrasion and corrosion resistance.
Trains, Planes, Automobiles Grab handles on subways offer a secure grip, due to industry sprays or coatings. Most items are fluid-dipped or sprayed, offering attractive coloring and exceptional resistance to wear and tear.
In the Kitchen Your everyday pans are probably dipped with a food grade Teflon coating to keep food from getting stuck on. But, don't forget the racks in your dishwashing appliances or the soft grips on your cookware, paring knife or spatulas for additional instances of industry coating in action.
Most coating is added at manufacturing plants all over the country. But, yet you'll find more than a few plants that specialize in powder coating in NJ.
So the next time you use those pliers, your trusty screwdriver or the soft grip of that grab bar on the subway, be certain to thank technology for the industrial coating industry and the many ways they make life safer and more comfortable.