ProMix PD: a closer look at the flushing process

Flushing removes uncured coatings or contaminants from the internal surfaces and passages of equipment by flushing solvent through the hoses. Solvent flushing occurs at the end of a spraying process and before every colour change, so its efficiency can have a major impact on production times and material costs for your factory.

How does it work?

The most common way to get rid of contaminants and uncured coatings is to flush the hoses and equipment with solvent. As it can take a lot of solvent to clean the hoses thoroughly, engineers have come up with alternative systems using pressurised air or other elements to create turbulence and make the flushing process more efficient.

Why is the ProMix PD’s flushing process unique?

For the ProMix PD series, Graco has developed and patented a specific pump wash technology and air/solvent chop feature, which alternates short bursts of air with bursts of solvent to optimise the flushing process and reduce solvent use. The system allows for multiple flushing routines to be preset for specific materials. Material waste is further reduced by drastically decreased flush zones, as the mixing point is moved as close to the applicators as possible.

What are the main benefits of the ProMix PD’s flushing process?

The ProMix PD will boost your efficiency and help you stay on budget thanks to these unique benefits:

• Faster flushing
  By moving the mixing point closer to the gun, the ProMix PD decreases the flush zone, which means faster flushing and increased efficiency. Full flushing can be programmed in the Advanced Display Module (ADM), with the possibility to preset up to five different flushing recipes with individual solvents, time schedules and other factors.

• Less solvent waste
  The use of solvent is significantly reduced by decreasing the flush zones and alternating the solvent with bursts of air using the air/solvent chop feature. This way, the ProMix PD reduces solvent waste by up to 80% compared to traditional electronic proportioners.

• Less material waste
  Moving the mixing point closer to the applicators means a drastic reduction of mixed material waste. We have calculated that this change can reduce your daily paint usage by up to 70% compared to competitors’ setups. This also gives you the extra benefit of a reduced disposal cost for hazardous waste material.

• Increased productivity
  A decreased flush zone and efficient flushing means faster colour changes, which will lead to increased throughput and boost your productivity.

In short, the ProMix PD’s flushing process, with its decreased flush zones and its patented pump wash and air/solvent chop features, will make your paint mixing process much more efficient and reduce your solvent and material waste by up to 80% compared to traditional proportioners. A great way to stay on budget and boost your company’s productivity.