High-voltage generators

In contrast to normal spray painting, electrostatic processes offer advantages especially in terms of economic benefits: Aligning the electrical field or the spray stream to the grounded workpiece results in less overspray, this means:

• Less consumption of paint
• Lower solvent emissions
• Less accumulation of paint sludge
• Low level of contamination in the cabine and coating system with overspray, i.e. lower post-processing and reject levels as well as fewer system failures.

Because of electrostatic wrap, paint material also reaches workpiece sides that are not turned directly to the spraying element. This is associated with:

• Improved possibility for automating the painting process. Furthermore, less flowthrough of compressed air is required, which saves energy.
• Savings on coating time, i.e. higher system capacity.

The undesirable effects and limits of electrostatic painting must also be considered, however. The main ones to mention are overcoating or danger of runs on the edges of workpieces because of the concentration of the electrical field there. Insufficient paint drop deposition in electrically shielded workpiece areas (Faraday cages).