Case Study: Automotive Parts Coating Line, Chuzhou
Summary
An automatic coating line for an automotive parts manufacturer in Chuzhou, Anhui, supplying metal parts to vehicle makers, built around repeatability from batch to batch. Pretreatment feeds automatic reciprocator spray stations so film build depends on equipment settings rather than on the operator, followed by controlled curing, a conveyor system and exhaust treatment. The line is in regular production in 2026.
Project Background
The client is an automotive parts manufacturer in Chuzhou, Anhui, one of the province’s vehicle-industry centres, supplying metal parts to vehicle makers.
The Challenge
Automotive customers expect every batch to look and perform the same. The coating process had to deliver consistent film and appearance across a changing mix of parts while keeping pace with vehicle-industry delivery schedules.
MUSI's Solution
MUSI supplied a line built around repeatability: pretreatment ahead of automatic spray stations, so film build depends on the equipment settings rather than on the operator, followed by controlled curing.
Equipment Scope
- Pretreatment line
- Spray booth with automatic reciprocators
- Curing oven
- Conveyor system
- Exhaust treatment
Results
The line is in regular production for the client’s automotive parts, with automatic spraying keeping film and appearance consistent from batch to batch.
Selection logic: why this configuration
Automatic reciprocators were chosen over manual spraying because the client's vehicle-maker customers audit batch-to-batch consistency, and reciprocators hold the same stroke, speed and gun distance on every part. Pretreatment was placed on the same conveyor as spraying so cleaned parts are coated without re-handling.
Scope of supply and key components
| Item | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pretreatment | Spray pretreatment line | |
| Spray booth | Automatic reciprocators | |
| Curing oven | Controlled cure | |
| Conveyor | Overhead conveyor | |
| Exhaust treatment | Booth and oven exhaust |
Key components
Key components are available from international brands, configurable per customer specification, so that spare parts can be sourced locally over the life of the line. Brand names below are the usual options for this type of equipment; the brands actually fitted are fixed in the contract specification.
| Component | Brands available on request |
|---|---|
| Automatic powder guns and powder feed | Gema OptiGun, Nordson Encore, WAGNER PEA-X1, Sames (formerly SAMES KREMLIN) |
| Automatic liquid guns, pumps and 2K proportioners | Graco ProMix 2KS, Sames Airmix, WAGNER AirCoat, Nordson, Binks (Carlisle Fluid Technologies) |
| Oven and dryer gas burners | Riello RS series, Weishaupt monarch WM-G, Baltur TBG, Honeywell Maxon OVENPAK, Eclipse |
| PLC and HMI | Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500, Mitsubishi Electric MELSEC iQ-R, Schneider Electric Modicon, OMRON NX, Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley |
| Variable-frequency drives | ABB ACS580, Siemens SINAMICS G120, Danfoss VLT, Schneider Electric Altivar, Yaskawa, Mitsubishi Electric |
| Conveyor gear motors | SEW-EURODRIVE, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, Bonfiglioli, Siemens, Sumitomo Drive Technologies |
| Pretreatment pumps and chemistry | Grundfos CR, KSB Etanorm, Xylem; Henkel BONDERITE, Chemetall Gardobond, PPG Zircobond, Nippon Paint |
| Sensors and temperature controllers | SICK, Pepperl+Fuchs, OMRON E5CC, Honeywell UDC, Yokogawa UT, ifm, KEYENCE |
Not included in the scope of supply
- Civil works, foundations and pits
- Building services up to the battery limit: power supply, gas, compressed air, water and drainage
- Local permits, emission approvals and third-party inspections
- Paint or powder supply, unless stated in the contract
Services included with every line: engineering design, manufacturing, shipping documentation, installation supervision, commissioning, operator training, warranty and spare parts.
Typical programme
The durations below are typical for equipment of this class and are given for planning; they are not the recorded schedule of this project. A complete line usually runs 90–180 days from contract to acceptance, a single unit 30–60 days.
| Stage | Typical duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Site survey and workpiece review | 5–10 days | Remote review of drawings and photos, or an engineer visit |
| Layout and detail design | 15–30 days | Layout drawing, utilities list and specification sign-off |
| Manufacturing | 45–90 days | Booths, ovens, conveyor, pretreatment and controls built and pre-assembled at the works |
| Shipping | 20–45 days | Sea freight; equipment shipped in sections for on-site assembly |
| Installation | 15–40 days | MUSI supervision with the client's installation crew or MUSI crew |
| Commissioning, training and acceptance | 7–15 days | Trial runs on the client's parts, operator training, acceptance record |
Applicability and limits
The configuration suits automotive metal parts with a changing but bounded part mix on one conveyor. Parts with deep recesses or very large sizes may need robots or a larger booth, and the exact process depends on the coating system the vehicle maker specifies.
Results shown in this case study reflect the stated operating conditions and should not be interpreted as guaranteed performance under different feed, production, environmental, or site conditions.
After-sales and spare parts
Warranty on a MUSI coating line runs from acceptance: 12 months on the complete line excluding consumables, 36 months on critical components such as motors, drives and the PLC, and 60 months on structural parts such as steel structure, ducting and oven bodies. Failures within warranty, excluding misuse, are repaired free of charge.
Support starts remotely: the service line is staffed around the clock, a preliminary diagnosis with recommendations is given within 2 hours, and where a site visit is needed an engineer reaches any major city within 72 hours. A spare-parts inventory is held at the Changzhou headquarters with same-day shipping, and customers can keep a dedicated parts stock at MUSI for emergencies. Details are on the after-sales service page.
FAQ
What makes film build repeatable from batch to batch? Reciprocators with fixed stroke, speed and gun distance, a stable conveyor speed and a controlled cure profile; the operator sets parameters rather than spraying by hand.
Can one line handle a changing mix of automotive parts? Yes, within the booth opening and hanger capacity; recipes for each part family are stored in the controls.
Why link pretreatment directly to spraying? So cleaned parts go to the booth on the same conveyor without handling, which keeps surfaces free of contamination between stages.
What exhaust treatment is included? Booth and oven exhaust are collected and treated to the site's permit requirements.
Is the line running? Yes, in regular production for the client's automotive parts.
Next step: a configuration proposal for a similar line
If your parts, volumes or plant conditions are close to this project, MUSI can return a line configuration and layout proposal. To prepare it we need four things:
- Photos and dimensions of the workpieces, with weight and material
- Required output (pieces per hour or per day, and shifts)
- Number of colours and how often colour changes are needed
- Available floor space and ceiling height, with the utilities on site
Message us on WhatsApp with these details, or use the quotation form.
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-09-30 · Last technical review: 2026-09-30
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Provided by Lin Cong, Technical Director, MUSI Technology