Schreiner ProTech, a Germany-based global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative functional labels with value-added benefits for the automotive and engineering-based industries, will showcase a broad spectrum of robust, application-specific paint masking and component protection solutions at paint masking and component protection at Powder Coating Week, March 2-4 in Indianapolis, IN, USA. Featured at the booth #106 will be an array of label, paint mask and protective laminate selections engineered to withstand the extreme temperatures and harsh environments inherent in powder coating. 

Component manufacturers have long understood the value-added benefits of individually marking parts for identification purposes – including enhanced traceability, inventory monitoring and improved process control. This is why most facilities label parts well upstream in the manufacturing process. However, accomplishing this typically means labeling parts before painting, then masking their respective labels to safeguard important printed information. To reliably track and trace a part throughout these intricate steps, both labels and masking materials must endure exposure to chemicals and curing oven temperatures in excess of 400° F. 

To address these needs, among the solutions Schreiner ProTech will showcase at Powder Coating Week is its portfolio of labels compatible with industry standard thermal transfer (TTR) printers. Paired with appropriate paint masks, these assemblies incorporate proven durability and high temperature resistance suitable for powder coating. And because the TTR-printable labels can be applied manually or with an automated printer/mask application system offered by Schreiner ProTech, they can be employed for both low- and high-volume production.

Another selection on display at the show will be a version of Schreiner ProTech’s Color Laser Film (CLF) equipped with a pre-installed paint mask. Robust and rugged, the sophisticated marking solution allows for laser printing through the paint mask directly onto the label, rendering post-printing manual mask application unnecessary. This automation-centric approach makes the CLFs with pre-installed masks especially convenient for high-volume production. 

Also on display will be Schreiner ProTech’s flexible paint mask products, available with user-centric features such as dimensions, pull tabs, color and pre-printing. The solutions offer simplfied handling for production personnel and help ensure pristine label condition upon mask removal.

Finally, Schreiner ProTech will highlight its series of permanently-affixed protective laminates, which help provide unfailing legibility for the duration of a component’s lifespan. As industrial components become more complex, the need for evergreen label legibility protection has risen significantly. For the most rugged of these environments, Schreiner ProTech also can create bespoke solutions incorporating both a detachable paint mask and permanent protective laminate

“Implementing labeling solutions capable of withstanding the extreme heat and harshness of painting and curing processes has been a longstanding challenge for components manufacturers,” says Doug Stubbs, sales account manager for Schreiner ProTech. “Production necessities such as paint masking present significant late-stage challenges with no one-size-fits-all solution. Schreiner ProTech’s aim is to provide a broad portfolio that, together, address the needs of virtually any application requiring long-term label legibility and adherence.”