KOMATSU OPENS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART RE-SPRAY FACILITY IN SYDNEY

Komatsu Australia has begun operating its newly upgraded re-spray facility at Fairfield in Sydney's west.

The company installed the specialist automotive-grade facility late in October 2010 at a cost of more than $300,000.

Komatsu, Australia's largest factory-run supplier of Earthmoving and Mining Equipment, has operated continuously from the Western Sydney site for more than 35 years.

The facility is purpose-designed for earthmoving equipment and can accommodate machines equivalent in size to a PC1250 excavator, GD655 grader or a WA900 loader.

The environmentally-friendly "Spray N Bake" booth can be used to apply Enamel, Oven-baked Enamel or 2 Pack paint systems in a fully controlled environment.

The new painting facility provides a significantly improved finish and superior corrosion prevention compared to the older facility according to Komatsu's NSW Regional Manager, Tom Zube.

"The booth provides a significant upgrade to the Fairfield site, replacing paint facilities that have been in operation for 35 years," he said.

"The new facility has more than 500 per cent more lighting than our previous booth. It is environmentally sustainable, complementing the full range of services at the Fairfield Facility."

"The new booth also allows us to reduce the paint dry time and improve the quality of finish due to the Control Options available, minimising the time the equipment is out of service."

"Installing the booth at Fairfield was a challenge, with the aim of minimising the impact on production. Project co-ordinator Atham Bawa ensured the installation was seamless, with no customer jobs adversely delayed by this important upgrade."

"In addition to providing the wider Sydney area with a full respray facility, the Fairfield paint shop offers steam cleaning, machine detailing, paint touch-ups, minor panel repairs, and a heavy equipment wash bay," Mr Zube said.

Komatsu's Fairfield paint shop services are not restricted to Komatsu-branded machines, with the facility set up for all makes and models of earthmoving equipment.

"The flexibility of the new booth means we can cater for practically any Construction machine, no matter the size, shape or colour," Mr Zube said.

Komatsu Australia is investing heavily in its re-spray facilities Australia-wide. It will install an all-new booth at its Mackay (Queensland) facility in 2011.

FAIRFIELD SPRAY FACILITY FAST FACTS

Booth size: 16.0 m long x 7.2 m wide x 6.0m high

Project cost: $300,000

Booth features:

- Colourbond styrene sandwich panel construction on a reinforced steel structure

- Six panel front door to accommodate full width entry

- High and low booth lighting using triple tube fluorescent panels

- Dual EAS air filtration system, including direct fired gas heating (up to 80oC)

- Simple to operate fully electronic control panel

- Fully compliant to Aust Standards for Spray painting, OH&S, Environmental, Gas and

electrical safety.