Powder pumps up profits at shop serving Texas oil industry
Coating pipes and fittings with field-applied liquid paints bores a hole in a contract coater's income. Shifting to in-house powder coating restores earnings and improves the parts' finish.
Richard McCormick, president of North Basin Coating, Levelland, Tex., opened his contract coating shop in 1982 to powder coat the interior of oil and natural gas pipes and fittings. The pipes, made of carbon steel, also transport carbon dioxide and other products used to recover and process crude oil. Powder coatings protect the pipes from corrosion. They also provide a smooth, low-friction interior that reduces the energy required to move materials through the pipes.