Paint and coatings industry bulk handling complete guide
Bulk Handling in the Paint and Coatings Industry
Paint manufacturers process a complex mix of raw materials: pigments, extenders, binders and solvents. Efficient bulk handling of these materials determines production capacity and product quality.
Key points
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and other pigments have a fine particle size (0.2-0.3 µm) and pose a significant dust explosion risk during transfer
- Binders and solvents require separate, ATEX-compliant storage and transfer lines, kept apart from solid raw materials
- Colour changeovers on the same line require thorough cleaning to prevent contamination with the previous batch
- Precise dosing of fillers and additives (often <1% of the formulation) determines the consistency of the final quality
Pigment handling
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the most widely used white pigment in paint. Big bag discharge with dust extraction and closed transfer to weighing hoppers is standard. TiO2 is not toxic but can cause respiratory irritation at high concentrations.
Dispersion process
Pigments and fillers must be dispersed in the binder solution. High-shear mixers break up agglomerates and disperse pigment particles to the desired fineness of grind. Hecht Technology supplies big bag discharge systems for paint production: hecht-technology.nl.
Fillers and additives
In addition to pigments, a paint formulation contains fillers (calcium carbonate, talc, kaolin) for volume and coverage, and additives (thickeners, preservatives, anti-foam agents) that often need to be precisely dosed in small quantities. Gravimetric dosing screws provide repeatable accuracy, even at dosing amounts of a few grams per batch.
FAQ — Paint and coatings bulk handling
Why does titanium dioxide pose a dust explosion risk?
TiO2 has a very small particle size and large specific surface area, which means it can form an ignitable dust-air mixture when dispersed into the air. Closed big bag discharge with dust extraction and ATEX-certified equipment limit this risk.
How do you prevent colour contamination during product changeover?
Through thorough cleaning of mixing installations and transport lines between colour changes, preferably in a fixed sequence (light to dark) to minimise residual product effects. Some manufacturers reserve separate lines for critical colours such as white or black.
Read also
- Powder transport in closed systems 7-step guide
- Pneumatic transport system in powder processing complete guide 2026
- How a lump crusher works in powder processing systems
- Powder dosing weighing process control guide