System 14

Coating Plant

This system controls a high vacuum coating plant.

PJC Systems designed, built, and commissioned the system, which comprised a Mitsubishi Q series plc, and a Beijers E1101 touch screen operator interface.

The plant is used for coating items with a thin film; typically putting the silver reflective surface on the inside of car indicators.

The items to be coated are placed within the vessel, and the vessel sealed. Air is extracted to make the vessel a complete vacuum. Once evacuated a heater element melts the coating medium which is then scattered across the chamber and any components within it.

Air is then re-introduced into the vessel before allowing the door to be opened and the coated products removed.