Train and Railway
If you're involved in manufacturing, maintaining, or servicing engines, buses, or railcars, Platinum Finishing Systems (PFS) offers a comprehensive range of paint booths and finishing equipment tailored to enhance quality and boost efficiency. Alongside our wide selection of pre-engineered and standard models and options for industrial paint booths and finishing equipment, PFS possesses the resources and expertise to custom engineer products and complete finishing solutions to match your specific needs and specifications. Our custom-engineered solutions deliver the same outstanding quality and performance you anticipate from PFS, ensuring a unique booth tailored for painting products and parts.
Railway and Transit paint booths include:
Transit and railway booths are equipped with the following:
Our booths meet the rigorous safety standards outlined in NFPA-33, the highest-level safety code in the USA for the spray application of flammable or combustible materials.
These models have undergone thorough testing and hold certification as ETL-Certified Booths by Intertek/ETL (Edison Testing Labs). They are also recognized by OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) as NRTLs (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories). This certification is often required by local authorities to ensure safe operation and regulatory compliance.
Rest assured, ETL certification is included with your purchase!
ETL Certification included with your purchase
- Assembly instructions
- UL-approved components
- Air Flow Type: Air enters the booth from the filtered front doors and is exhausted from the rear exhaust chamber.
- Construction: 18 Gauge Galvanized Steel pre punched holes for nut and bolt assembly.
- Filters: 20" x 20" FiberGlass Exhaust filters
- Lighting: LED Lighting or T8 Lighting four tube 4’ Light fixtures ETL listed.
- Doors: Double Wall doors (filtered ) & (1) Personnel Door.
- Fans: Tube Axial Fans with non-sparking blades motor sizes vary with booth size.
Train Indoor Booth
Train Outdoor Booth
Types of Train and Railway Paint Booths
Train and railway paint booths are designed to provide controlled environments for painting and finishing trains, railway cars, and related components. These booths enhance coating quality, protect the surrounding area from overspray, and ensure compliance with safety and durability standards. Below is an overview of the different types of paint booths used in the railway industry and their applications.
1. Crossflow Paint Booths
Overview:
Crossflow paint booths use horizontal airflow to provide effective ventilation for large-scale railway projects, including trains and rail cars.
Key Features:
- Airflow Direction: Air enters through filters on one side and exits through the opposite side, ensuring uniform airflow for railway painting.
- Filtration System: Multiple layers of filters capture overspray and particulates, maintaining a clean workspace.
- Spacious Design: Accommodates large trains and railway cars without obstructions.
Examples in Use:
- Locomotive Painting: Applies durable coatings to locomotives that withstand environmental exposure.
- Rail Car Restoration: Ideal for repainting and restoring vintage or damaged rail cars.
2. Downdraft Paint Booths
Overview:
Downdraft paint booths utilize vertical airflow, pulling air from the ceiling and exhausting it through floor-based filters. These booths are effective for precision railway applications.
Key Features:
- Airflow Direction: Creates a contaminant-free zone, essential for train and railway components.
- Integrated Filtration: Captures particulates efficiently to enhance safety during painting.
- Large Capacity: Handles large-scale railway projects, including entire train sets.
Examples in Use:
- Freight Car Coating: Provides consistent finishes for freight cars, protecting them from rust and wear.
- Train Component Finishing: Coats specialized parts like bogies and wheels with high-performance finishes.
3. Side Downdraft Paint Booths
Overview:
Side downdraft paint booths feature a top-to-side airflow system, creating a controlled and versatile environment for railway coatings.
Key Features:
- Balanced Airflow: Removes airborne particles, essential for maintaining high-quality finishes.
- Enhanced Visibility: Clear sightlines improve precision during painting tasks.
- Versatile Application: Adapts to various sizes and shapes of railway equipment.
Examples in Use:
- Passenger Car Finishing: Applies finishes to passenger cars, balancing aesthetics and durability.
- Railway Infrastructure Components: Coats elements like signals and switches to protect them from environmental damage.
4. Automated Paint Booths
Overview:
Automated paint booths utilize robotic systems for consistent and efficient coating applications, making them ideal for large-scale railway operations.
Key Features:
- High Throughput: Processes multiple components or cars quickly, ideal for mass production.
- Consistent Quality: Robotic systems ensure even coating coverage across parts.
- Advanced Filtration: Reduces waste by capturing overspray and recycling unused paint.
Examples in Use:
- Mass Transit Vehicles: Efficiently paints fleets of metro trains and other transit vehicles.
- Standardized Parts Coating: Coats standardized railway components with precision and uniformity.
5. Custom and Specialty Paint Booths
Overview:
Custom paint booths are tailored for unique railway projects or specialized coatings, offering flexibility and precision.
Key Features:
- Tailored Design: Configured to meet the specific needs of unique railway projects.
- Integrated Curing Solutions: Includes curing systems optimized for the coatings used.
- Flexible Layout: Accommodates varied workflows and specialized applications.
Examples in Use:
- Heritage Train Restoration: Restores and paints historic trains with authentic finishes.
- Military Rail Systems Coating: Applies specialized coatings that meet stringent military standards.
What is a train/ transit paint booth?
Trains and rail cars face rigorous environmental conditions that can deteriorate their paint and finish over time. To withstand these challenges, they necessitate durable and long-lasting paint jobs capable of enduring the elements. Factors like fluctuating weather and cargo can strip away protective coatings, leaving the equipment susceptible to damage. Accudraft specializes in designing train and rail paint booths tailored to create an optimal environment for applying heavy-duty industrial paint coatings. Our booths tightly regulate temperature, airflow, and exposure to compounds, ensuring compliance with safety codes and promoting efficient operating conditions
Designing the perfect train/transit paint booth
The dimensions of train cars, including height, width, and length, significantly influence the shape and layout of train paint booths. Depending on the specific work being performed, booths can be tailored to minimize the overall interior volume, optimizing airflow requirements, heat distribution, and contamination control. Custom designs that accommodate the train car’s body while considering the nature of the work enable efficient airflow management, reducing the size of required air handlers and overall energy consumption. This translates to long-term energy savings for rail paint or refinish booths throughout their operational lifespan.
Rail refinishing facilities may require different booth configurations based on their focus, such as refurbishment of parts or manufacturing of train cars. For instance, a large 150-foot-long paint booth can be subdivided into smaller sections using divider doors, offering versatility for painting entire rail cars or locomotives or smaller parts. This approach ensures that energy is only expended as needed, minimizing wastage.
Integration of curtains into the paint booth design allows for isolation of the painting spray area or creation of multiple zones for part preparation, substrate treatment, or paint coating application. Radiant heat technology, if utilized, ensures better heat distribution within the booth, benefiting both the paint application process and workers’ comfort.
Transporting trains, especially when off rails, can be challenging, necessitating special rails or alternative means for loading and unloading the booth. Additionally, raised platforms or manlifts may be required to safely access the full height of larger locomotives, trains, and rail cars. At Platinum Finishing Systems (PFS), we address these logistical challenges to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to the unique needs of rail paint booths.
Integrated man lifts/work lifts
Accudraft’s industrial paint booths feature integrated man lifts, offering users enhanced mobility and efficiency. With three dedicated joysticks providing precise control over movement, operators can easily travel in any direction while maintaining safety and stability. The lift systems are seamlessly integrated into the structure of the paint booth, minimizing their footprint and ensuring they are completely out of the way when fully retracted. Integrated man lifts eliminate the risk of collisions with paint booth walls or the piece being painted, as they operate on dedicated tracks with preset limits and end-stops to prevent damage to the booth itself. This innovative solution provides a safer and faster way for workers to access their tasks and move swiftly across the job site.
Air temp/ Humidity
When applying paint coatings to large rail cars inside a paint booth, engineers carefully consider the size as a critical factor. Achieving near-perfect air conditions requires precise control over energy usage for conditioning the air. Paint coating manufacturers typically impose exact standards to ensure proper performance of the coating. Train paint booths demand both heat addition and appropriate airflow to meet the rigorous conditions required for locomotive and train car finishing.
Airflow and Recirculation
Achieving optimal airflow in a train paint or refinishing booth can be challenging, particularly considering temperature and airflow requirements. The shape of the locomotive or rail car can also influence airflow patterns, potentially leading to unfavorable spraying conditions if not addressed. Maintaining free-flowing airflow minimizes overspray and enhances operational efficiency.
While correct airflow is crucial, so is recirculation to ensure proper curing of coatings at elevated temperatures. Paint booths must adhere to airflow and air speed specifications outlined by regulatory bodies such as OSHA, NFPA, and the Department of Environmental Protection. Utilizing recirculation in cure mode not only meets these specifications but also conserves energy for the facility.
Key Points of Our Train and Railway Booths
Tailored for Transportation:
PFS offers solutions specifically designed for the rail industry, enhancing quality and efficiency for engines, buses, and railcars.
Custom-Engineered Solutions:
With the ability to custom engineer products, PFS meets specific needs, ensuring a unique booth for every project.
Safety and Compliance:
Adheres to the highest safety standards, with ETL certification and NFPA-33 compliance, ensuring operational safety.
Versatile and Efficient Design:
Features like integrated man lifts and options for airflow and recirculation address the unique challenges of painting rail vehicles, optimizing space and energy use.
Choosing the Right Train and Railway Paint Booth
Each type of railway paint booth—Crossflow, Downdraft, Side Downdraft, Automated, and Custom—provides unique benefits for different applications. Whether for locomotive painting, rail car restoration, or specialized coatings, selecting the right booth ensures durable finishes, operational safety, and compliance with industry standards.
Need help deciding?
Contact us today to find the ideal paint booth for your train and railway projects!