R/S-Godwin Truck Body Company, an Ivel KY-based affiliate of the Godwin Group, plans to build a fully automated powder coat paint facility offering an “industry-leading” product coating at no additional cost as part of a $4.5 million expansion.
The company said the value-added offering is possible through the use of thermoset powder Zinc primer as standard equipment.
A black powder coat topcoat will be offered as an option that Godwin says leads the dump body industry in chip resistance, chemical resistance and, most importantly, corrosion resistance. The primer and topcoat combination tests to a minimum of 4,000 hours of salt spray resistance using 5% salt solution under ASE 117-B certified testing. The process has been used by R/S-Godwin’s sister companies Godwin Mfg, Galion-Godwin Truck Body Company, Champion Hoist & Equipment, and Williamsen-Godwin Truck Body Company.
Construction of the new 30,000-square-foot facility started in August, with completion expected in December, according to Godwin. The building will house an automated overhead monorail system that will carry dump bodies through a wash, shot blast cabinet, zinc primer booth, cure oven, and if desired a powder paint booth and again through the cure oven.
In addition to the new paint facility, R/S also is upgrading weld lines with new welding systems and purchasing new forklifts, the company maintained. Fabrication will take delivery of a new 1,200-ton press brake in the coming weeks. Initially, these improvements are expected to reduce customer lead times by 50% and increase overall paint productivity by 400%.
“Customers can expect faster product turnaround and increased quality and longevity,” Godwin claimed.
Improvements also are expected to allow R/S-Godwin to further improve upon recent Class 7-8 dump body market share gains.
