If your company is facing new economic and environmental pressures, it may be time to consider converting to prepainted coils for your manufacturing process. The National Coil Coating Association can help you save cost, time, and hassles. Use our resources to assess, plan, and possibly implement a successful conversion to prepainted coils.

There are many reasons to switch to prepaint, including changing environmental standards, stringent health regulations, and skyrocketing material costs. Plus the crushing demands of today’s competitive global marketplace magnify the need to lower costs instead of always raising prices.

So what is the first step to converting? Reading the rest of this article. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn how to decide if prepaint is right for your company, and have all the information you need to get on a roll - with prepainted metal.

Indications You’re Ready
The National Coil Coating Association has identified 10 indicators that a manufacturer should consider using prepainted metal. The best time to convert to prepaint often is in conjunction or coordination with other milestone events in your business, including:

• In-house paint shop expenses are growing. Prepainted metal is often a cost-effective alternative to in-house paint lines.
• Internal operating costs need to be lower. Prepaint lets factories eliminate costly in-house paint operations.
• Plant capacity must be increased. Purchasing prepainted metal greatly reduces or eliminates space used for in-house paint shops, freeing up floor space for other uses.
• Coating quality needs to be improved. In most cases, a prepainted part has paint on both sides with consistent coverage from side-to-side and edge-to-edge of the coated coil.
• Downsizing and/or combining of plants is taking place. Prepaint works in lockstep with these changes, reducing expenses and increasing paint quality.
• New product models or design changes are being considered. Many times a prepainted metal can be specified and the new product and design can be more cost effective to produce.
• Manufacturing bottlenecks are reducing productivity. Prepaint reduces production delays and/or stoppage.
• It’s time to update or replace the paint line. Capital expenditures can be avoided and long-term cost savings enjoyed by choosing prepainted metal, rather than refurbishing or replacing a paint line.
• A strategy of outsourcing is being implemented. Purchasing prepainted metal is a cost-effective option to outsource partial production and get a greener, more durable finished product.
• New fabricating or material handling equipment is being evaluated. Here’s an opportunity to improve many aspects of the manufacturing process, including the use of prepainted metal.

Do the Math
Now you need to sharpen your pencil and analyze the costs around your proposed conversion to prepainted metal. A project of this size won’t be quick and easy, but analyzing the cost benefits can be as simple as 1-2-3:

1. Measure the actual costs (hidden and otherwise) associated with post-painting and its support functions.
2. Total the money saved (hard costs plus compliance) by eliminating post-painting process.
3. Subtract the increased raw material costs of using prepainted metal and chances are you’ll find yourself on the winning side of this equation.

Remember to look past where your paint line begins and ends, and consider the entire manufacturing process. To help you analyze all of the processes and costs, and better understand the value of using prepainted metal, NCCA also has a free, downloadable Cost Comparison Analysis Form.

Pick Your Players
If the numbers prove out that a conversion to prepaint is financially beneficial, form a conversion team. A team typically consists of internal and external managers and suppliers that analyzes your products and processes in more detail, to determine if prepaint will enhance the performance of your product. This team can also act as a steering committee once implementation begins.

A Little Help From Your Friends
Once your conversion team gives the green light to prepaint, the NCCA is ready to help with your conversion strategy. Visit www.coilcoatinginstitute.org for helpful Tool Kits, Case Studies, Videos, Online Tutorials, and a Supplier Database to help you find the perfect prepainted metal supplier to meet your needs. NCCA and its members, including coil coaters, metal service centers, paint and metal treatment companies, related support companies, and more, are all on board to help get you rolling toward the beautiful, cost-efficient and environmental benefits of prepainted metal.

If you’re ready to look further into converting to coated coil, search for a supplier that will meet your needs.

Need more advice before speaking with a supplier? Contact the National Coil Coating Association at ncca@coilcoating.org or call (216) 241-7333.