Graco FRP Gel Coat System

Why Choose Graco FRP Gel Coat System?

One of the common problems encountered by Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) spray users is a reduction in catalyst supply. If there is insufficient catalyst in the mixture, soft spots can develop, which can result in poor curing and costly rework. In this respect, the presence of catalyst in the polyester is crucial. Graco, with its own designed FRP gel coat system, ensures that catalyst is continuously available. Manufactured with proven Graco components in the industry, this system provides a technologically advanced, robust and long-lasting solution. Thanks to Graco FRP proportioners, you obtain the correct ratios for proper curing, thereby achieving higher quality parts and end products. In fact, the system is optimized for proportioning stability.

How to Achieve Consistent Catalyst Supply?

First, Graco reduces the air motor transition time to a minimum, ensuring continuous pressure on the catalyst. As a result, negligible pulse in spray pressure is achieved and thus a consistent spray pattern is obtained. Additionally, Graco's air motor is perfectly balanced, meaning the material pressure in the motor is equal on upstrokes and downstrokes. This in turn results in a consistent spray pattern. A consistent and high-quality spray pattern makes it easier for the user to control the spray pattern. It has higher transfer efficiency and consequently provides consistent quality end products with high material savings (up to 40%). Another important feature is the unique packing material that provides more consistent catalyst flow by minimizing friction and increasing transition speed. In addition, expandable hoses reduce pulses during transition and allow a smoother volume to pass through the catalyst pump. The overall result is smooth, consistent and pulse-free catalyst supply. Stable catalyst pressure provides continuous catalyst flow and minimizes the likelihood of wet spots or uncatalyzed areas in the application.

Long Service Life and Easy Maintenance

Graco has designed the FRP system to be easily maintained with limited tools and expertise. Its long service life and durability reduce production costs and increase efficiency on the production line. Graco achieves these benefits through longer-lasting seals and longer maintenance intervals. Easy maintenance of the FRP unit is accomplished by eliminating the need for an expansion tank, which reduces the need for spare parts, solvent and resin used for filling.

Redesigned Cutter

At just 1 kg in weight, the Graco RS Cutter is 40% lighter than other cutters on the market. The revolutionary air motor produces high torque and speeds, delivering high glass fiber processing capacity. The product is designed to allow blade change in less than 30 seconds. This is lightning fast compared to conventional cutters which require around 15 minutes for blade change. Additionally, with its magnetized holder, it allows easy replacement of individual blades, or even replacement of all blades with just one blade. Another important feature is that the cutter head anvil tension can be changed while running without removing the guard. The anvil and cutter head gear in the Graco RS Cutter rest on a spring-loaded sliding mechanism. The tension adjustment button determines how much force is applied between the anvil and cutter head. Performance can be improved by making small adjustments to the tension button on the cutter. The Graco RS Gun and Cutter optimize weight distribution to achieve a low center of gravity and balanced gun. The cutter angle proportional to the spray pattern ensures that the chopped fiberglass fibers are distributed evenly to the spray pattern.

Italian Fiberglass Manufacturers Choose Graco FRP Gel Coat System

L'Artigiana Vetroresina, which focuses on hand-made fiberglass products, started working with the Graco FRP gel coat system when it decided it was time to innovate and modernize. L'Artigiana Vetroresina, located in Cernusco sul Naviglio, a small Italian town east of Milan, was founded in 1972 by Dino and Camillo Manca brothers. Now managed by Dario Manca and continuing to operate as a family company as he works alongside his brothers, their wives, their children and numerous cousins. The company's name actually explains who they are: Fiberglass craftsmen. Its continuous pursuit of quality and innovation, as well as its meticulous attention to detail at every processing step, has transformed L'Artigiana Vetroresina from a local fiberglass product supplier into a company with strong international standing. Dario Manca explains: "Our work requires craftsmanship. Fiberglass products made of several layers must be perfect, so we can respond to a market characterized by intense competition with our ever-increasing quality and attention to detail."

Time for Modernization

However, the cliché is true: if you are not progressing, you are falling behind. Even for L'Artigiana Vetroresina, whose focus was heavily on hand-made products, the time for innovation and modernization had come. Strategic decisions were made for the company to purchase a Graco FRP resin/gel coat system from Graco dealer RPM Solutions S.r.l. Now equipped with the RS (resin spray) gun, this lightweight, easy-to-use gel coat system allows the company to achieve significant savings in resin while working on many parts simultaneously; this enables spray quality as operators focus extremely carefully on the impregnation area without wasting time. Dario explains: "Thanks to the Graco FRP gel coat system and ease of use, we no longer need to prepare materials repeatedly, because the machine mixes according to parameters that we can set before starting to run the component." The company also added the DataTrak™ electronic monitoring system, which provides real-time consumption reports to the machine for each individual element. In a company where craftsmanship and tradition are passed down from generation to generation, there was initially some resistance to the introduction of such an innovative machine. However, the FRP system was very easy to use and the work advantages were so significant that everyone quickly accepted it from a business perspective.

Catalyst for Further Innovation

L'Artigiana Vetroresina, which achieved this success, now introduces new updates aimed at replacing aging equipment and at the same time adds a new, more efficiently organized production area. The company continues to diversify as well, producing a wide range of products including motorcycle frames, canoes, helmets and boats (which have their own production lines). At the same time, by continuously focusing on high quality in all processes and products, it successfully overcomes competition from cheap Chinese products. Dario says: "I have seen many customers return to us to find Italian quality after their 'China experience.'" "That is why we have remained faithful to the decisions made by Dino and Camillo when they founded L'Artigiana Vetroresina in 1972: Quality, detail and precision," he says. Greg Van Gansen / Product Marketing Specialist / Graco