Case Study: Operator Cab Coating Line, Guangxi
Summary
A coating line for an operator cab manufacturer in Liuzhou, Guangxi, a joint venture of two Chinese vehicle groups, building cabs for loaders, graders, excavators, forklifts, reach stackers and, since 2023, tractors. Spray booths are arranged to reach into door and window openings and around brackets, with pretreatment before and curing after, sized to the cab dimensions, and booth safety includes gas fire suppression. The line is part of the client's regular cab production in 2026.
Project Background
The client, based in Liuzhou, Guangxi, is a joint venture of two Chinese vehicle groups. It builds operator cabs for loaders, graders, excavators, forklifts and reach stackers, and since 2023 for tractors.
The Challenge
A cab is the part of the machine the operator sees every day, so appearance matters as much as protection. Cabs are boxy welded sheet-metal structures with window openings, door frames and brackets that create shadow areas a single spray pass can miss.
MUSI's Solution
MUSI supplied a line with spray booths arranged to reach into door and window openings and around brackets, with pretreatment before and curing after, sized to the cab dimensions the client builds. Booth safety includes gas fire suppression.
Equipment Scope
- Pretreatment
- Spray booths for boxy sheet-metal structures
- Gas fire suppression
- Curing oven
- Exhaust treatment
Results
The line is part of the client’s regular cab production, with even coverage on the door, window and bracket areas that are hardest to coat by hand.
Selection logic: why this configuration
Booths arranged for access into openings were chosen because a cab is judged on appearance and its door frames and window returns are where a single spray pass misses. Gas fire suppression was specified for the glass-walled booths because solvent-borne cab finishes are sprayed in an enclosed space with electrical equipment nearby.
Scope of supply and key components
| Item | Specification | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pretreatment | For welded sheet-metal cabs | |
| Spray booths | For boxy sheet-metal structures, glass-walled | Gas fire suppression |
| Curing oven | Sized to cab dimensions | |
| Exhaust treatment |
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 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 |
| Booth ceiling and intake filter media | Freudenberg Viledon, AAF SureStop, Camfil, MANN+HUMMEL |
| 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 |
| Explosion isolation, venting and spark detection | Fike, REMBE Q-Rohr, Firefly, IEP Technologies, BS&B Safety Systems |
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 booth layout is specific to cab sizes for construction and material-handling machines; truck cabs or very large mining cabs change booth dimensions and handling. Appearance requirements are set by the vehicle maker and determine the coating system and number of coats.
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
How are door and window openings on a cab coated fully? Booths are laid out so spray stations reach into the openings and around brackets from more than one side, with pretreatment and cure sized for the whole cab.
Why gas fire suppression in a paint booth? Solvent-borne finishes are sprayed in an enclosed booth; a gas system suppresses a fire without water damage to electrical equipment and the parts inside.
What machines are the cabs for? Loaders, graders, excavators, forklifts, reach stackers and, since 2023, tractors.
Does cab coating need more than one coat? Usually primer and topcoat for appearance and corrosion; the exact system is set by the vehicle maker's specification.
Is the line in production? Yes, as part of the client's regular cab production.
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
Get a Similar Solution
If your industry and requirements match this case, contact MUSI to schedule a free consultation. We'll design an optimal solution based on your specific workpieces, capacity, and facility.
Provided by Lin Cong, Technical Director, MUSI Technology