Clean and cost-effective reclaim for powder coatings
Overspray of powder coatings, once seen as an unavoidable loss, is now recognized as a valuable resource that can be recovered and reused to reduce waste, lower costs, and improve overall process efficiency.
While powder coatings are generally more efficient than liquid alternatives, the reclaim process still carries a significant risk of contamination, which can result in further product loss and hidden expenses for reclaimed material.
How does contamination enter the overspray reclaim system?
The powder coating reclaim process involves collecting overspray in the booth, transferring it into a cyclone system, and then dropping it into a reclaim bin before returning it to be reused. At each stage, there is a risk of unwanted materials — such as shop dust, filter bag fibres, metal particles, and cured paint flakes — entering the reclaim stream. Additionally, lump formation caused by moisture and heat can clog spray guns or result in a sandpaper-like surface finish.
Contamination often starts in the booth (from dirty air or worn hanging hooks) and worsens in the duct pipes, where old buildup can become loose and spread. The cyclone then recovers usable powder from the overspray, concentrating everything into a free-flowing powder — including contamination that can go unnoticed in the storage bin. When contaminated reclaimed material is reintroduced into the feed without proper screening, the outcome can be costly.
What is the impact of contaminated reclaims?
Reclaimed powder coatings that include contaminants cause surface imperfections that lead to QC rejects, required touch-ups, late shipments, and customer complaints. The issue might appear to be with gun settings, whereas the real problem lies in reclaim quality. With new powder costing approximately $3–$7 USD per kilogram, one contaminated reclaim batch can result in significant unnecessary costs.
The solution
Our Russell Compact Sieve® is an ATEX-certified sieving solution for coating manufacturers. It serves as a crucial quality checkpoint after the recovery cyclone system, ensuring that only clean, specification-grade powder is returned to the feed.
This vibratory sieve handles large volumes of reclaimed powders, continuously removes oversized contamination and ensures the production line has no bottlenecks. It supports quick screen changes, easy maintenance and fits into production routines without slowing the line.
A simple quality checkpoint can save manufacturers significant costs from unnecessary waste, rejected parts, and reprocessing. We offer the opportunity to test our machines under real working conditions at one of our dedicated global testing centres or in your facility.
Speak with a specialist today to book a machine trial and learn how our machines can optimize your powder coating reclaim system, turning overspray into real savings.
Recommended pages
ATEX-certified sieving and filtration solutions for the coatings industry
Maximize product recovery and reuse with sieves and filters
