The paint shop at the Case IH and Steyr production plant in St Valentin, Austria, has recently benefited from a €1.1m investment. The investment was to improve the pre-treatment and paint shop facility at the factory.

According to the manufacturers, the initiative was driven by market research which showed particular customer interest in robust paint and corrosion resistance.

The result of the investment and improvement is said to give a higher gloss finish that is more resistant to scratching, cracking as well as rusting while making a better bond with the metals surface.

According to the company, significantly higher pre-washing and preheating temperatures are key to the improved finishes. Previously tractors had been dried at 60°C, this has now been increased to 110°C, while each tractor also spends three times longer in the oven. Pre-wash temperatures have increased from 30-40°C to 55-60°C, with nozzle pressure increased five-fold.

The project began in November 2019, with the first tractors having passed through the new facility in August 2020.