Degreasing and Coating of Metal Fabricating Machinery

in Carol Stream, IL

Services Performed

Industrial Interior Painting, Machinery Cleaning, Machinery Painting

Location

Carol Stream, Illinois

Client Background

The client is part of a global enterprise with a multinational network of production sites, including facilities in the greater Chicagoland area. The company processes metals and alloys into a number of products for a diverse range of markets, including architecture, construction, electronics, and medical equipment.

Facility Description

Located in the west Chicago suburb of Carol Stream, the facility was originally built as the headquarters for a 60-year-old metal processor and was updated in 1989 to serve as headquarters for the division that processes and distributes metal products in strip, sheet, coil and foil forms.

The facility normally runs two shifts, 6 days a week.

Requested Maintenance

The request was to degrease / clean and paint 16 used machines ranging in size from approximately 30 to 100 feet, including packaging units, wrapping units, and conveyors.

Decision Driver and Timing

Along with meeting routine maintenance needs, the project was prioritized to prepare for a site visit by the corporation’s European CEO. It was important to local management for their facility to look as good as possible and be completely on-brand for the visit.

The seasonal timing over the winter was also a consideration as prime time for interior work.

Scope of Work

Surface Cleaning and Degreasing: Cleaned and degreased all surfaces to remove dirt and oily residue with wet-wiping and a green degreasing product.
Sensitive Area Masking: Masked sensitive areas to protect them from paint overspray, checked and approved by a company representative in advance of proceeding.
Equipment Painting: Painted equipment surfaces with epoxy and urethane coatings according to specified colors, including company standards and brand matching.
Fence Grating and Stenciling: Painted tight fence grating and installed stencils for painting machine numbering requirements.
Masking Removal and Touch-Ups: Removed masking material and touched-up as needed.
Final Cleanup: Cleaned and removed waste and all project materials for full return to service.

Notable Details

Work was performed during the client’s normal first shift hours. Accommodations were made on both the client side and Painters USA side to minimize interference with each other’s workflow.

To save time and money, the client removed certain equipment components that were not part of the project scope prior to the start date, and the company’s scissor lift was used by Painters USA crews (with appropriate safety measures) for reaching the top of packaging units.

Project was planned to start with the most difficult machines first (based on size and condition) to gauge timelines and ensure completion of the most critical, time-consuming work.

Safety

Because of power going to the machinery and assembly line, client-specified Lockout / Tagout (LO/TO) procedures were followed, along with Painters USA’s standard safety checks and procedures.