Volvo Trucks Are Finished
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The years of painstaking research and development of anti-corrosion technology for cabs have finally finished for Volvo Trucks. NEW £12,000,000 cab finishg plant recently completed by 3iVO will produce the highest )gree of protective finishing ofred by any heavy truck manucturer, and has led to the an)uncement by Volvo Trucks 'ireat Britain) Limited that all its ucks sold in this country will Dw be covered by a three year arranty against cab corrosion. This warranty which is condipnal upon the cab being sublined to an approved Volvo 'orkshop for annual inspection id service, lasts for three years id reflects the confidence rhich Volvo has in this new pro;ctive coating. The complete rocess involves six separate
coatings and treatments, including under-coating, phosphating, electroplating, surfacing, sealing and top-coating.
The top coat is a high gloss white paint which gives a durable finish. This is not intended as a final finish as the majority of operators require the cab to have their own particular livery. However, if the vehicle is operated without further paint treatment, the warranty still applies.
From base metal assembly, the Volvo cabs are put through some 46 processes to receive full protection against corrosion. Many of the techniques used on the application of these processes are unique to the heavy truck industry in Europe.
The new paint shop at Umea, Sweden has the capacity for painting about 30,000 cabs per year on a two-shift basis. Production also includes the painting of all loose metal parts which are fitted to both the inside and outside of the cab.
The actual paint shop has a floor area of over 8,000 m2 while the cleaning complex, etc. is installed in a basement area of 3,000 m2. All of the ovens are equipped with heat re-cycling equipment to save energy.
The transportation of cabs within the paint shop is by programmed, electrically powered carriers and powered conveyors. Submersion into the treatment baths and elevation into the drying chambers is by means of special lifting rigs.
Possibly the most prominent feature of the new painting pro
cess is the unique combinatic of three different preparato cleaning methods which give excellent base for the cathod electro-dipping.
The properties of the cathod paint give better resistance corrosion than the anodic typ This technology is the very late advancement in modern induf. rial painting. It gives a primir action of the highest quali which ensures that the paint a hesion and resistance to corr sion is significantly improved.