Kurikan Hykoteam tested the Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating

3/3/2022

Kurikan Hykoteam Oy manufactures work equipment and machinery for the needs of agriculture, property maintenance, landscaping and contracting. Usually their products are painted with solvent-based coatings. When Hykoteam was offered the opportunity to test the water-borne Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating, they were immediately ready for testing this more sustainable coating.

Kurikan Hykoteam Oy

Kurikan Hykoteam Oy, based in Kurikka Southern Ostrobothnia, manufactures work equipment and machinery for the needs of agriculture, property maintenance, landscaping and contracting. Hykoteam is a subsidiary of Kurikan Hyväkone Oy, which sells the products manufactured by Hykoteam. The brands of the Hyväkone Oy are e.g. Camion work equipment and Giant wheel loaders. Camion products received the Key Flag symbol in 2020.

Hyväkone and Hykoteam operated as their own companies until 2014. Today, Hykoteam Oy belongs to the Hyväkone Oy Group, which is owned by Vesa-Matti, Ismo and Tuomo Keskimäki. Hyväkone has five sales offices located in Kurikka, Pirkkala, Mustasaari, Laitila and Askola.

Kurikan Hykoteam tested the Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating

The surface treatment is performed in Hykoteam´s modern production facilities. Water soluble impurities are removed from the steel surface by mechanical cleansing or by a pressure cleansing. Blast cleaning removes other contaminants and provides the required surface roughness. After blasting, the objects; parts of machines and equipment and other metal structures; are wet painted. The maximum size of the part to be sprayed is 13 m (length) x 4.3 m (width) x 4.3 m (height). After the spraying, painted parts are inspected according to the requirements of the standards.

In the test, water-borne Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating

The work equipment and machines of Hyväkone are subjected to heavy environmental stress, so the paint surface of the products must be both mechanically durable and UV-resistant. Therefore, the work equipment and machines are painted with weather resistant aliphatic polyurethane coating.

Hykoteam usually uses solvent-based polyurethane coating, but when the opportunity arose, the company was willing to test the water-borne equivalent. They already knew in advance that painting water-borne polyurethane coatings differs slightly from their solvent-based counterparts, but results in an elegant and durable surface.

The test painting was performed on the platform part of the Camion earthmoving trailer. The painting system was 1 x 120 µm DFT with corrosion pigmented Normadur Aqua DTM, which reaches corrosion class C3 medium with this film thickness.

The test painting was performed on the platform part of the Camion earthmoving trailer.

The platform was easy object to spray as it does not have many corners or difficult angles. The painting was done with a small nozzle tip (0.011″). Small nozzle size ensured that the film thickness isn’t exceeded even the blister-free thickness of Normadur Aqua DTM is about double in comparison to many other water-borne polyurethane coatings.

Kurikan Hykoteam tested the Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating.

Long pot-life

After painting the platform, a bucket was also sprayed. Although it had been a while since the paint mixture was done, the three-hour pot life of the Normadur Aqua DTM still allowed the bucket to be sprayed with the remaining paint mixture. Long pot life of the product simplifies the work and reduces paint loss.

Kurikan Hykoteam testasi Normadur Aqua DTM polyuretaanimaalia

The three-hour pot life of the Normadur Aqua DTM still allowed the bucket to be sprayed with the remaining paint mixture.

During the painting, temperature of the paint shop was about 20 °C and the space was well ventilated. Under these conditions, Normadur Aqua DTM was dry to handle about five hours after the painting, with a film thickness varying from 100 to 200 µm DFT. Higher temperature and lower humidity help water-borne polyurethane coatings to form a smoother surface.

Stylish end result

The painted surface became smooth and elegant. The surface of the coating is really hard, but at the same time flexible, so it should last well on the surface of an earthmoving trailer. “We are pleased with the result of the test painting. During spraying, the coating worked well when the painting was done according to the instructions. After drying, the painted surface looked good”, says Juha Alanen from Hykoteam. “The paint film is very durable and the gloss of the coating is right to use”, he continues.

Although Hykoteam does not use water-borne polyurethane coatings on the surface of their equipment and machines, Juha Alanen feels that Normadur Aqua DTM could also be suitable for their use. “When you learn to spray the water-borne Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating and take care of good ventilation, this coating gives you a truly durable surface”, he concludes.

Kurikan Hykoteam tested the Normadur Aqua DTM polyurethane coating