Merlo Builds Zero Impact Painting Plant

Enlarge Image Robots supervise the entire painting process.

June 25, 2007 • Merlo SPA, Cuneo, Italy, recently reported it has opened a zero environmental impact powder painting plant, in which the facility produces no polluting emissions, no health hazards, and 100 percent safety for its workers.

The plant, which is designed for painting machine chassis and large welded assemblies, was a $6.7 million investment (€5 million) for Merlo. The 787-foot facility features a completely robotized automatic treatment line • the only one in Italy and one of the first in Europe.

Robots supervise all phases of the painting cycle • from the surface preparation by cylinder blasting, through the anti-rust treatment, the final painting, and the mechanical parts handling through the process. Fabricated assemblies weighing as much as 11 tons enter the plant directly from welding and come out painted, ready for the assembly line without hurting the environment or workers.