How Does
How Does Ford Paint Its Cars?
Assembly Line Painting
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Ford paints cars on an assembly line toward the end of the first stages of assembly. The car frame is painted after all the minor assembly is complete and before any of the interior or exterior parts are installed. It takes less work to paint them this way because parts don't need to be shielded from paint.
Priming and Pre-coats
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As the car rolls off the assembly line, it rolls onto a conveyor system that carries it into the painting line. The car is surrounded by a plastic barrier to prevent fumes from spreading all over the plant. (In some plants, these fumes are recycled.) The car is positioned between two robotic arms that hold paint sprayers. The arms have spray paint nozzles that are hooked up to large vats of pre-coat mixtures that contain metal sealants and rust proofing. The arms are programmed to move around the car as the paint is sprayed through the nozzles onto the car frame.
Paint Type
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The first coat, or pre-coat, is a standard mixture that seals and protects the metal. The application of a top coat layer finishes the process. This application contains a gel coat that creates an even, hard and glossy shell. It also protects the paint from scratches.
eHow Article: How Does Ford Paint Its Cars?
