A full production paint line delivered from order to shipment in just 12 weeks—without pre-validation and with full field integration.
There are projects that go smoothly… and then there are projects that test every part of your organization.
This was the second kind.
Precision Conveyor completed startup of a full production paint line for a major automotive OEM in North Carolina. This was not a typical startup phase—it was the culmination of an aggressively compressed project schedule that required tight coordination across engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and system integration with no margin for error.
A 12-Week Timeline from Order to Shipment
From order to shipment, the entire system was executed in just 12 weeks.
For a project of this size and complexity, that timeline required significant adjustments to standard process:
- Internal engineering and manufacturing schedules were compressed
- Suppliers were pushed to accelerate lead times
- Production required extended hours to maintain progress
- The system shipped without a full pre-validation build
Under normal conditions, systems are assembled and validated at Precision Conveyor’s facility prior to shipment. In this case, that step was eliminated due to schedule constraints—shifting full system validation to the field.
Full System Integration Without Pre-Validation
With no pre-validation phase, the project required full system integration under real production conditions.
Multiple disciplines had to come together simultaneously:
- Mechanical installation
- Electrical wiring and panel integration
- Fluid systems and paint delivery
- Robotic programming and coordination
- Controls integration and system sequencing
Each subsystem had to be brought online and synchronized as part of a complete production system—with no opportunity for staged validation.
Integrated System Design
The system includes:
- Precision Conveyor Chain-On-Edge spindle conveyor
FANUC spray robot
Sames Kremlin air-assisted airless coating system
Integrated ovens, controls, and part handling
Automated drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printing system
Every component was engineered to operate as part of a unified system, not as standalone equipment.
Performance at Startup
Despite the compressed timeline and field-based validation approach:
- The system was designed correctly
- It was manufactured correctly
- It functioned as intended at startup
The line is designed to support production volumes of approximately 900,000 brake drums per year, demonstrating both throughput capability and long-term reliability.
Initial production runs showed strong coating performance, controlled application boundaries, and stable system response—requiring only standard process tuning.
Final Commissioning
The final phase of the project includes:
- Spray process optimization
- Conveyor speed and timing refinement
- Completion of auxiliary automation systems
- Full production validation
What This Project Demonstrates
This project highlights Precision Conveyor’s ability to:
- Execute complex systems under aggressive timelines
- Adapt standard processes to meet customer-driven constraints
- Perform full field-based system integration and validation
- Coordinate multiple disciplines simultaneously
- Deliver systems that are production-ready at startup
Built for Real-World Production
Precision Conveyor designs and builds systems for real manufacturing environments—where schedules are tight, integration is complex, and performance is non-negotiable.
Engineered around your parts, your process, and your production goals. That means the path to a quote almost always starts with a conversation.