Colourant dispensing can be costly

Citation

Bean, J. (1998), "Colourant dispensing can be costly", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 27 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.1998.12927caa.005

Colourant dispensing can be costly

Colourant dispensing can be costly

Keywords Colour, Dispensing

ABC Dispensing Technologies Inc. of Akron Ohio, recently completed a year-long study of the hidden costs associated with the operation and maintenance of automatic colourant dispensing systems, and the results highlight some startling facts about this technology ­ even allowing for the fact that ABC Dispensing Technologies is doing its best to put its own equipment in a good light!

The company contends that retailers need to compare more than just the various features and functions of the different types of automatic colourant dispensing systems available. They need to take a hard look at the costs over and above regular maintenance charges.

A major cost is that most automatic colourant dispensing systems are designed with positive displacement gear pumps. With these mechanical parts as the driving force in the system, there are additional costs for replacement due to wear. The industry assumes this liability and takes it for granted that it must pay. With positive displacement gear pumps life expectancy at around two to three years, and a cost of about $300 per pump, times 12 pumps per machine, this results in a cost for replacement pumps of $3,600. With pump replacement every three years, the total jumps to $10,800 over a ten-year period.

ABC Dispensing Technologies Inc's automatic colourant dispensing system uses a breakthrough technology that eliminates the cost of pump replacement. The system uses a pressure vessel rather than a displacement pump, and with no mechanical parts there are no replacement costs.

Purging costs associated with automatic colourant dispensing systems are another factor. While nobody disputes that they have to purge these systems once, twice, or even three times a day, the cost of this routine needs to be evaluated. Based on a national average of $40 per gallon of colourant, purging a 0.25 ounce of colourant times 12 colourants twice a day costs $954. Over ten years, this is $9,540. ABCs patented RoyalMatch system allows a propylene glycol clear flush of three grams to follow each colourant into the can of paint, thus eliminating the need for purging. Using just one gallon of clear at about $10 per gallon, per week, or $520 per year, provides considerable cost savings.

Calibration maintenance costs are another charge that can add up over the years. With a calibration cost of $85 per month, or $1,020 per year, in ten years the grand total for calibration is $10,200. ABCs new, patented technology universally accommodates all colourant formulations for all paint manufacturers, enabling the RoyalMatch system to meet the needs of the paint retailing industry worldwide.The modular 9-18 canister system performs real-time analysis of colourant characteristics and adjusts accordingly. The system's proprietary CheckMate software self-calibrates, automatically adjusting for changes in density, viscosity, and temperature.

For more information contact Randolph Letsch. Tel: 1 800 321 0969 (USA).

John Bean