For a scheduled maintenance and renovation of the ham curing and processing area at the Smithfield Foods plant in Landover, MD., Tnemec was challenged to provide a uniform, moisture-resistant coating system for a wide range of interior surfaces. “What they had was a hodgepodge of substrates,” reported Tnemec coating consultant Todd Guntner. “There was glaze block, painted and unpainted concrete masonry units, brick, fiber-reinforced plastic and metal surfaces to be coated. After we reviewed the overall project with company engineers, we determined that a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy wall coating system was the way to go.”
The project involved a 20,000-square-foot processing area and required a one-week turnaround. “The plant needed to resume work as soon as pieces of equipment on the assembly line were repaired and a new conveyor was installed,” Guntner recalled. “Weather was also an issue. This was winter time and the plant’s heating system was shut down for repairs. The applicator had to fully contain the area and bring in large heating units to blow in heated air. Crews worked 24/7 to finish the project on schedule.”
Series 270 Stranlok, a fiberglass-reinforced epoxy wall coating, was chosen for its unique blend of premixed reinforcing fibers, which allow the surface to withstand thermal shock from daily high-pressure steam cleaning as well as impact and abrasion. Stranlok’s 100 percent solids epoxy technology is virtually odorless, allowing it to be applied in occupied facilities, while its accelerated curing schedule and installation process means quick return-to-service times.
Surface preparation required the use of a diamond grinder to deglaze all of the ceramic tile and abrade the metal substrates. Series 201 Epoxoprime, a high-solids, polyamine epoxy primer, was roller-applied and followed by a coat of Stranlok that was spray-applied at 25 to 40 mils dry mil thickness (DFT). A topcoat of Series 280 Tneme-Glaze, a polyamine epoxy, was spray-applied for improved aesthetics and additional protection against abrasion, impact and thermal shock from power washing with detergents.
“We were able to complete the project and hand it back to the owner, who continues to be happy with the system based on follow-up conversations we have had with the plant engineer,” Guntner added.
Smithfield Foods Inc., founded in Smithfield, Virginia in 1936, is the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. Its Landover, Maryland packaging facility ships 450,000 pounds of ham products