A workshop that has moved from cars to large vehicles notices the effect in the schedule rather than in the finish. The work succeeds, but vehicles per day fall below what was planned for.
Cycle time large surfaces lengthens for two independent reasons: the sprayed area is larger so application takes longer, and the chamber is larger so reaching cure temperature takes longer.
Two causes, not one
Confusing the two is why the usual remedies fail to work. Raising air capacity addresses the second and does not touch the first; adding technicians addresses the first and does not touch the second.
So the time is broken into its components before anything is done about shortening any of them.
| Component | What lengthens it | What actually shortens it |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and cleaning | Surface area | Organisation and technician count |
| Spraying and application | Surface area and coat count | Method and preparation, not the equipment |
| Heating and cure | Chamber volume and heat output | Heat output calculated on the volume |
| Cooling and removal | Chamber volume and exit path | Manoeuvring path design |
Where speed is bought and where it is not
Heat output can be bought: the published range in this family runs from 200,000 to 600,000 kcal/h, calculated on your chamber volume. Air capacity likewise, from 18,000 to 190,000 m³/h per set.
Spray time cannot be bought with a figure in a specification. It is shortened by how the work is organised inside the chamber and by preparation done outside it — which is what makes a separate prep station a production decision rather than a luxury in larger workshops.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bigger chamber always slower?
Slower to temperature, yes, if heat output was not calculated on its volume. Calculated properly the difference in heating time is limited, and the larger difference stays in spray time itself.
How do I estimate vehicles per day?
From the full cycle rather than the cure step alone. Send your size, finishing material and usual coat count so the time is estimated on your vehicle.
Does automation shorten the cycle?
It shortens variation more than it shortens time. Automation buys the same result repeating cycle after cycle — a different gain from speed, measured on a different scale.
Related reading
What to do next
Send your largest vehicle size, finishing material and usual coat count, and we will return a cycle time estimate built on your chamber. talk to a specialist. Sector detail is on the Trucks & RV sector page.