Frandent Case Study

COMPANY MISSION

Frandent Vision

Frandent designs and manufactures two types of agricultural machinery that can be attached to tractors for complementary farming operations: machines for haymaking, such as tedders that prepare mowed forage for windrowing, and fixed and folding power harrows to prepare the soil for sowing. The sector of agriculture requires constant updating and innovation to meet the ever-increasing demand for food. As a supplier of means for cultivation, Frandent had to keep up with the times thanks to a production system that is both appropriate and conscious in using energy sources.

The project for a new factory in 2004 was an opportunity to review its production structure and to identify new solutions for reducing energy costs and environmental impact of its operations. The Company opted for two strategic environmentally friendly solutions: the adoption of water-based coating systems and the installation of a biomass power plant to replace gas for heating. This was a brave choice almost unknown to Italian companies at that time but today it pays back for all investments done also to the advantage of the surrounding area. The agricultural landscape where the factory is located and the presence of an organic farm near to it call for sustainable choices, including the installation of photovoltaic panels to produce electricity in 2005 and their upgrading in 2010.

Concern for the environment is also crucial for the context in which Frandent operates. In the not-too-distant future, operators in the agricultural world will ask for a guarantee that the machines they use are manufactured through environmentally sustainable processes, as is already the case in other sectors, and Frandent is ready to provide it.

With the construction of the new factory in 2006, Frandent also implemented a new coating process. Initially, the coating was of perfect quality; however, the paint film flaked off after a few months due to inadequate substrate preparation prior to painting. The company decided to rely on a shot blasting contractor and, subsequently, to install a system to carry out this operation in-house. Their shot blasting machine currently treats 100% of parts, which then pass through a 4-stage pre-treatment tunnel (phosphodegreasing, cleaning, rinsing in demineralised water, and drying) and reach the coating plant.

The Solution

The Perfect Coating Partnership  

The Frandent automatic painting plant is another example of advanced technology that respects the environment: in fact, it uses water-based catalysed paints rather than the usual solvent-based coatings.

The paint system includes:

• Epoxy primer from the IDROXINVER/R/E series with excellent adhesion and corrosion protection properties.
• INVERPUR/X polyacrylic topcoat to achieve a thickness of 120 microns.

Both products have VOC percentages comliant with the requirements of Italian regulations which are among the most strict in Europe. The system has excellent resistance characteristics against corrosion (over 600 hours in salt spray tests), humidity, and UV. 

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