Winn, Michigan - Forestry equipment specialist Morbark is changing the exterior paint on its equipment to Morthane, a two-component urethane industrial topcoat with a two-component urethane primer, for a complete chemically-cured coating system.
Morthane was developed exclusively for Morbark, and has an excellent gloss finish with superior colour retention, more durability, chip resistance and corrosion protection, the company said. The paint is also resistant to chemicals, antifreeze, diesel fuel and hydraulic fluid.
According to Morbark, these factors "result in a machine that is more attractive looking and retains its value longer."
"Morthane isn't a generic, one-size-fits-all urethane product," said Jim Shoemaker Jr, Morbark vice president of operations. Custom development of this product means "our customers can be assured of a top quality coating that meets their expectations and leapfrogs the rest of the industry," he added.
NCP Coatings Inc., of Niles, Michigan, Morbark's paint supplier, worked closely with the Morbark team to formulate a coating to fit Morbark's customer needs exactly. This customisation includes taking into account the size and drying times of the different pieces of machinery. In addition, it includes a resin developed for use by the military for resistance to chemical agents.
Paint tests during Morthane's development included accelerated weathering, gravelometer, corrosion/salt spray, adhesion and hardness tests, among others.
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