case study - JUNAIR SPRAYBOOTHS HALVE CYCLE TIMES AT
ROSS GORDON << back to case studies

Junair Spraybooths halve cycle times at Ross Gordon

“Anything from a bicycle to a juggernaut” is how Paul Nightingale of Ross Gordon Engineering Limited, described the capacity of the new spraybooths supplied by Junair for the company’s brand new facility in Bristol. Already established as one of the country’s foremost suppliers of commercial vehicle body repair and repainting services, the company has increased its capacity further by constructing an additional 30,000 sq ft workshop unit.

Junair assisted in the overall design and liaised with the builder throughout the £300,000 project, to ensure that each aspect of the spraybooth and associated equipment installations went smoothly. By working in partnership, the whole project was completed in less than fifteen weeks.

The purpose designed commercial vehicle spraybooths installed can cope with the longest of road-legal vehicles and comprise two units measuring 20 metres in length by 6 metres wide and high. The booths are fitted with roller shutters to divide them in equal halves so that shorter vehicles may be accommodated simultaneously in pairs. Fitted with Junair’s patented auxiliary air movement system, QADSTM, air is filtered and heated from each corner of the booth resulting in faster flash-off of base coats, clearcoats and solid colour finishes.

Energy efficiency and future-proof technology were the principal considerations when Ross Gordon was evaluating the equipment available in the marketplace. Junair came out tops in both advanced technology and cost-effective operation. Paul Nightingale reports a huge difference in cost-per-cycle terms, with overall running costs slashed by between 50 and 65% when compared with equipment from competitors.

Junair sales and marketing director, Grahame Kitchin, commented: “We have witnessed a substantial increase in demand for commercial vehicle spraybooths equipped with our energy-saving technology such as auxiliary air movement, variable speed drive and automatic air recirculation systems. That’s not surprising when you look at the high returns on initial investment. We have calculated that, at current energy prices, a CV refinisher typically completing 20 processes a week in a Junair direct gas fired Commercial Spraybooth, equipped with our energy-saving technology, can dramatically reduce its energy costs by as much as £75,000 over five years, compared with a conventional direct gas fired booth. With energy prices set to rise steadily for the foreseeable future and the improvement in paint finish, the benefits for bodyshops are impossible to ignore.”

However, there was a further bonus for Ross Gordon arising from the choice of this equipment. Junair was able to introduce the company to funding from the ‘The Carbon Trust’, a government-backed organisation dedicated to reducing the national carbon footprint through increased energy efficiency in both the private and public sectors. Under this scheme, interest free unsecured loans are available to assist the purchase of alternative equipment with proven higher energy efficiency. These are repayable over one to four years depending on the energy savings achieved. Junair made the representation to the Carbon Trust on behalf of Ross Gordon and obtained a substantial interest free loan.

Having been operational for a while now, has the new facility lived up to expectations? Paul Nightingale says; “We are very pleased with both the standard of project management from Junair and with the quality of the spraybooths. Cycle times per job have been more than halved and initial running costs appear to be in line with those predicted. Perhaps the most important advantage of all is that jobs now come out right first time!”