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111AG
...well, the curtains at least! Chris Graham uncovers a revolutionary new product to bring them back to life.
f it was suggested to you that there was a quick and affordable way of bringing the tired old PVC trailer curtains in your fleet back to "as new" condition, would you be interested?
This is what's being offered by Sheerness-based Checkmate, the curtain and tarpaulin specialist. A new paint product, Tarpaul, is claimed to be the first which will effectively adhere to plastic curtains permanently.
Development
According to Checkmate's managing director, Paul Auston, Tarpaul, which has been some four years in development, is like nothing else on the market, and really works. He says: "We are frequently approached by operators worried about what to do with ageing or outdated curtains.
"Often they will have spent anything from goo to /r,000 per pair, only then for the contract arrangement to change or for a supplier to go bankrupt," he adds. "This results in a redundant or inappropriate set of curtains and the prospect of expensive replacement."
Unscheduled expenditure of this sort—and it can be considerable if a primary contract crashes—can be sufficient to cause real financial problems, particularly for smaller operators. Tarpaul offers a much more affordable alternative.
Auston explains: "The cost saving is quite phenomenal. A typical set of curtains, which might cost goo to replace, can be rejuvenated with this new paint product for about boo, all inclusive."
Tarpaul has been a long time in the making simply because Checkpoint was determined to get things right before marketing the product.
Auston says: "We began the development process with a Danish company called Hempel, which specialises in coating materials. The simple aim was to devise a finishing product that would spray through a conven tional paint gun to create a lasting finish on PVC curtains."
Trials have been underway for the past two-and-a-half years. Auston says: "We've had several sets of curtains placed with rental fleets (TransAmerica and CTR) running major national contracts and, to date, none has shown a single problem.
"I'm confident about the performance of Tarpaul and regard it as a completely new approach to the problem of ageing or outdated curtains," he adds. "I don't envisage that it will ever replace the ultimate need for curtain purchase, but it provides a very worthwhile extension to service life."
Tarpaul has its limitations—it can be difficult to apply to new curtains, because the silicone present on the surface of fresh PVC makes effective adhesion uncertain. While admitting the problem and advising against this type of application, Auston points out that good results are possible after diligent surface cleaning using suitable solvents.
Graphics
Once painted, a curtain cannot be sign-written with conventional inks. But self-adhesive lettering or graphics are suitable.
The other slight disadvantage is that if you are re-colouring a white curtain with a darker colour, there will always be the risk of "show through" if the painted layer is breached, for example, by scratching. However, this sort of localised damage can be retouched.
The big secret, as with any spraying operation, is to get the curtain clean, Auston says: "We recommend thorough treatment with a hot jet wash followed by another Hempel product called Navy Wash. This creates the necessary 'key' enabling the Tarpaul to take hold."
The product is classed as a paint and is supplied in a can. It can be applied using conventional HVLP spraying equipment and should be sprayed to a thickness of 75 microns (this is a crucial factor).
Auston says: "We are very keen to avoid the application of our product becoming an "under-thearches" operation, which is why we are controlling its availability tightly. For best results it must be applied by sprayers who have received the necessary training, and we provide that."
Tarpaul appears to have real potential for saving money The trials have returned impressive results and the relative simplicity of the painting process should ensure its appeal across the industry.