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Applying Polish To The Inside Of Your Booth Facilitates Faster Color
Changes
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Kentucky Correctional Industries
Saved $17,000 Last Year With The New OptiFlex™ Unit
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Product Spotlight:
ITW Gema OptiFlex Box Unit
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Free Optimization Assessment

Find out how your
company can
SAVE A LOT
OF MONEY
AND IMPROVE
YOUR FINISH
QUALITY...
While Spraying
Less Powder
KENTUCKY
CORRECTIONAL
INDUSTRIES DID!
Click Here.
______________________________



ITW Gema's OptiFlex™
Technology Helps
Inmates Gain New Skills

Polish up your act for better
booth performance!

Did you know that applying polish to the inside of your PVC plastic walled powder coating booth facilitates faster color changes? This is because the protective coating left behind makes it easier to remove powder with compressed air, speeding up color changeovers.

Before applying polish, the booth must be thoroughly cleaned using a cellulose sponge and fresh, warm, soapy water. Follow with a clean water rinse. (See the January 2007 GemaGram for detailed information).

Stubborn areas may be carefully cleaned using acetone; however, use acetone only sparingly. In order to avoid high concentrations of acetone, do not clean large areas at one time. Carefully follow all safety precautions concerning the use of solvents. Great care must be taken when using acetone because it can dissolve the plastic. It is highly recommended that a test spot be treated in an inconspicuous location prior to application to a larger area. If acetone is used, rinse the spot thoroughly with clean water immediately after application.

Once the booth is sparkling clean, the polish may now be applied according to the following instructions:

1. Polish may be applied by hand; however, if you wish to use a polishing machine, make sure it is fitted with a silicon-free disk.

2. For all of ITW Gema’s XTreme powder coating booths, Magic Plus™, Magic Cylinder™, Vortech Plus™, and Magic Compact™, we recommend our specially formulated polish, Part No. 262641. Before application, make sure to shake the bottle well.

3. Apply to a small surface using circular motions while polish is still damp (ITW Gema polish contains Teflon and dries quickly to form a white film).

4. Remove film with a clean, dry cloth.

5. After polish has been removed, wipe the booth down twice with a clean, damp cloth to prevent polish from reacting with powder coating materials. 

6. Before restarting powder coating, make sure the booth is completely dry.

Repeating the entire process about a month later will increase the effectiveness. A bottle of ITW Gema’s polish is enough for two applications, and we recommend that it be applied once or twice a year.

Want more information?  Visit our website at www.itwgema.us, or call us toll free at 800-628-0601, to locate an authorized ITW Gema Distributor near you.

“ITW Gema’s new OptiFlex™ Unit saved us over $17,000.00 last year!”

THE COMPANY
The Kentucky State Reformatory, located in LaGrange, Kentucky, is a medium security facility, and is the state's second largest institution in terms of inmate population. An important goal of the Reformatory is providing opportunities for offenders to acquire skills which facilitate non-criminal behavior. To assist in achieving that goal, the Kentucky Correctional Industries (KCI) program was created. KCI helps inmates obtain real-world skills and work experience to improve their chances of securing gainful employment upon release. At the LaGrange facility, inmates fabricate metal file cabinets, office furniture, shelving, and other products, which are sold throughout Kentucky. The finishing department at KCI had always been a liquid operation; however, management became convinced they could save money by switching to powder.

THE RESULTS
In 2005, KCI purchased a used powder coating system and was disappointed to discover the system contained extremely damaged guns. After receiving a consultation from ITW Gema’s local distributor, American Industrial Corporation, KCI opted to purchase a brand new powder coating unit. For maximum efficiency, KCI chose a two-gun OptiFlex Box Unit, part of the new OptiFlex Manual Powder Coating Series from ITW Gema.  “The guys are very proud of the work they do here,” related Rick Lacefield, Production Coordinator, “and they could see right away that the OptiFlex was providing a much better finish than the old liquid system.” Inmates working in the KCI shops come from all walks of life and all educational backgrounds, yet all of them have been able to easily adapt to the OptiFlex unit and achieve optimum results. “Our time from cure to assembly is so much faster and color changes are quick and easy,” Rick commented, “The guys love the new technology, our customers love the improved quality, and KCI loves the money we’re saving!”

Power Up Your Productivity
...like Kentucky Correctional Industries

Coat it right the first time – every time, and...
• Minimize Downtime
• Spray Less Powder
• Reduce Labor Costs
• Experience Fewer Rejects

Product Spotlight
ITW Gema's OptiFlex™ Box Unit

If you need quick color change flexibility, the OptiFlex Box Unit is the right choice for your operation. The OptiFlex B enables you to save time by coating directly from the powder manufacturer’s carton. With no hopper to clean, color changeovers are a snap! 

ITW Gema’s OptiFlex B Unit comes complete with the OptiSelect™ FirstPass Power™ Gun. Featuring 100,000 volts of FirstPass Power, OptiSelect gives you the muscle to coat it right the first time – every time!  Weighing in at less than 19 ounces, OptiSelect’s lightweight and ergonomic design will feel great in your hand and reduce operator fatigue.

You will also receive the OptiStar™ Advanced Control Unit. With OptiStar, in addition to 3 preset programs for flat parts, complicated parts, and recoat parts, you also have the convenience of being able to create and store 20 custom programs of your own. 

OptiFlex your powder coating muscles by upgrading your operation to one of the powerful new OptiFlex Series Manual Powder Coating Units from ITW Gema.  With OptiFlex, you’ve got all you need to Power Up Your Productivity…right in the palm of your hand!

Does your company
need to optimize?
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• Are you wasting powder?
• Are you experiencing too
many rejects?
• Is your equipment older
than 5 years?
• Are your labor processes
inefficient?
• Is your film thickness inconsistant?
• Is your business growing?
• Has your equipment been
rendered obsolete by the
original manufacturer?

Call 800-628-0601
and ask for a
FREE
Optimization Assessment
of your powder coating operation,
or visit
www.itwgema.us/upgrade

ITW Gema An Illinois Tool Works Company
P.O. Box 88220, Indianapolis, IN 46208-0220
Phone: 800-628-0601 • Fax 317-298-5010

www.itwgema.us
gemagram@itwgema.com

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800-628-0648