Paint can be traced back to the first recorded paint mill in the 1700s. Thereafter, the first patented ready mix paint was revealed in 1867 by Dr. Averil. Everyone has been using paint for as long as we can remember, and we will be using it for the foreseeable future. Every can of paint distributed worldwide goes through a conscientious process and is tested multiple times as a batch of paint progresses. Although paint plays such an aesthetic role in our lives, few of us know what goes into every can of paint. Let’s look at how paint is manufactured.
#1 Get a base Paint
All colors of paint start with a base liquid that is usually made of titanium dioxide, this is also used for the manufacturing of white paints. If any other color paint is being made a pigment would be added to the mixture to obtain the perfect color for every batch of paint that is produced.
#2 Test the thickness
After the paint has been mixed and set aside to rest for a while, the thickness of the paint has to be measured. The testing of the paint is done with a gadget called a viscometer. Once the paint thickness is ready, it will be set aside for another rest until the next testing phase.
#3 Scrub test
After the paint has rested long enough, it is evenly coated onto a smooth panel and set aside for the coating to dry. After this, it is scrubbed with a mixture of chemicals to test the quality and durability of the paint. In many cases, the paint is scrubbed more than 1200 times in order to test the permanence. When the paint testing is completed at the R & D department, it can move on to production.
#4 Full-scale manufacturing
The paint has been tested vigorously leading up to this stage of its production – here the titanium dioxide (white paint) and the color pigment is mixed by a paint mixer supplied by Arrow mixing products. After this, it is transferred to another mixing process called the “let down” and is where the rest of the ingredients is mixed in with the paint mixture. When this process is completed, the paint should be the perfect consistency and color after this process is complete.
#5 Packaging
All the paint tins are lined up on a conveyor system and are prepped with hot glue to attach the appropriate label. When this is complete, the conveyor transfers the paint tins to a filling station where the tins are filled with the color paint matching the label. Single units from every batch are yet again extracted for another round of vigorous testing, and only after this is the batch of paint released for shipping.
This is a timeous and delicate process, including a load of testing and ensuring quality all around. It colors our world and will continue doing so for a mighty long time to come. So when you buy your next tin of premium paint, remember what goes into it and appreciate something still manufactured to last.
