CASE STUDY
2024

Large-scale painting facility for components in the oil and gas industry

Customer

LAZ – Sordio (Lodi)

Objective

  • Design an industrial coating system capable of protecting metal pipes and spools from extreme corrosion.
  • Implement a production cycle that complies with the highest international regulatory standards in the energy sector.
  • Optimize the handling of large workpieces while ensuring impeccable surface quality.

Challenges

  • Ensure that coatings provide exceptional durability in marine environments and areas subject to extreme temperature fluctuations.
  • Efficiently manage the painting of components with complex geometries and varying weights.
Large-scale painting facility for components in the oil and gas industry

Eurotherm has built an impressive liquid painting system for Laz, a leading Italian company since 1976 that specializes in industrial plant engineering and the oil and gas sector. The system was designed to meet the need for rigorous surface treatments, which are essential for combating natural corrosion accelerated by chemical agents and adverse weather conditions. The solution combines mechanical preparation, metal protection, and aesthetic finishing, incorporating advanced logistics for handling diverse loads.

Impact

The new system ensures maximum structural longevity for components installed in critical operating environments. Its operational flexibility allows it to process lightweight parts on racks and heavy valves on rail-mounted sliding carts with equal efficiency. The solutions implemented ensure total control over the drying cycle, reducing bottlenecks and increasing overall production capacity. The integrated recovery systems promote sustainable management of raw materials and maintain a consistently clean work environment.

Sandblasting booth with full grit recovery

The process begins in two large sandblasting booths designed for the mechanical preparation of metal surfaces. The facilities include a total abrasive recovery system integrated into the floor, which automatically collects and regenerates the grit for subsequent work cycles. This technology ensures a perfectly uniform surface roughness, a necessary condition for the adhesion of subsequent protective layers in accordance with industry technical specifications.

Metallization Chamber for Corrosion Protection

For components exposed to particularly harsh environmental conditions, the design includes a dedicated metallization station. This process deposits a protective metal layer that acts as an active barrier against oxidation and the aggressive chemicals typical of offshore platforms. The protected environment of the booth allows the application to be performed in complete safety, ensuring uniform coverage on complex geometries such as flanges and fittings.

Liquid paint booths with integrated oven function

The finishing phase is carried out in three manual paint booths equipped with high-performance ventilation systems. One of the booths features an oven for high-temperature drying, allowing coatings to be quickly stabilized and shortening the delivery times for finished products. Airflow management and fine filtration prevent external contamination, ensuring superior aesthetic and functional quality.

Automated Material Handling System and Internal Logistics

The entire production area is served by an advanced overhead conveyor system equipped with 4 automatic transfer units and 2 lifting stations. This design allows for the smooth transfer of parts between the various workstations, adapting to the specific needs of each production batch. For lighter parts, 10-meter-long trolleys are used, while valves and heavier components are moved on ground-level rail-guided carts, ensuring optimal ergonomics for operators.