TMI Coatings Blog

Is peeling or flaking paint an issue at your plant?  Do you have wet environments where areas have been painted and repainted and the paint will not adhere?  A Wisconsin food processing plant has been dealing with these issues and wanted a solution to their ever present peeling paint problems.

You may be familiar with applying FIBERLIFE coatings to concrete walls, but the TMI FIBERLIFE product is also a feasible solution for steel food plant equipment and steel columns. TMI FIBERLIFE, which is a fiberglass coating with an epoxy resin, can withstand constant wash downs in a wet and humid environment.

TMI Coatings pressure washed and prepared numerous columns and structural steel beams to remove loose and flaking paint. We then applied TMI FIBERLIFE to the columns, I-beams and structural steel. Now, the food processing facility will not have to deal with peeling and flaking paint and having to repaint this equipment on a yearly basis.

The TMI Coatings Team

A Minnesota college was encountering water problems with water leaking into their building and flooding an electrical control room located in the basement.  The water was penetrating through the concrete slab located next to the building and through the brick building wall.

The TMI Coatings team applied a traffic deck coating to the raised concrete platform, which gave the platform a waterproof seal.  Aggregate was incorporated into the coating to create a non-slip surface for safety.   Additionally, TMI caulked around the windows and window wells of the building and where the concrete platform and side of the building came together.

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While on site completing restoration and coating of silos and a head house at a grain facility in Iowa, TMI Coatings prepared and coated a conveyor over the Mississippi River, including the catwalk, structural walkway, staircase, bents, tower and barge load out spout.

The existing paint on the conveyor contained lead so TMI had to comply with Iowa & OSHA regulations. TMI installed ground containment on the land areas and arranged for a barge and man lift for in order to safely access the structure and contain paint chips to prevent them from entering the water.

For this structure, TMI applied an epoxy rust-inhibitive metal primer followed by a quality aliphatic polyurethane paint coating material suitable for industrial environments.  TMI uses this process repeatedly with excellent success on conveyors, legs, distributors and various other steel substrates.

March is Minnesota FoodShare month. In March 2010, Mary Kay, a TMI Coatings accounting department employee organized a food drive to assist the Eagan Resource Center.

The center helps over 450 families each month. The TMI employees got into the spirit of the program. The result was a generous contribution of both food and money to assist the Eagan Resource Center.

Recently, we received a thank you from the Eagan Resource Center and want to share it with our friends, not because of the thank you to us but so others are aware of how much assistance they provide and what a wonderful job they do.

The TMI Coatings Team

TMI Coating’s crews are experienced with repairing and restoring fiberglass domes to return them to their original luster.

UV ray weathering can cause fiberglass to deteriorate over time.  We clean the structure with high pressure washers to thoroughly remove mold, dirt and mildew.  TMI’s crews can repair holes with fiberglass patching and gel coating to restore voids.  After repairs are complete, we apply a gel coat to all exposed surfaces (in any color) for a refreshed appearance.

If you’re looking for an experienced contractor to efficiently handle your fiberglass needs, give us a call.  TMI Coatings began doing coating work in 1985 and our own field crews perform the work in a safe and professional manner.

Work completed by the TMI Coatings Team:

After the prep work was complete, TMI Coatings applied a primer/sealer coat to concrete silos 64’ long x 54’ wide x 110’ tall and a head house 140’ in the air at a grain facility.  The primer/sealer coat soaks into the concrete to promote adhesion of subsequent coats. TMI elected to apply an elastomeric coating to the silos and head house instead of regular paint.  Elastomeric coatings are waterproof and resist wind-driven rain due to their flexibility.  Large projects specified with an elastomeric coating come with a 5 year labor and material warranty guaranteeing the coating will not chip, peel or flake.

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Our last post discussed the Eureka, South Dakota project. We will be posting pictures and progress updates of this  TMI Coatings project to completion.

As of yesterday, TMI Coatings completed all interior and exterior surface preparation and priming. Approximately 75% of the finish coat is in place. The next few weeks will be the completion of the welding repairs and application of the final coat.

Take a look at the difference already!

Watch for pictures of the completed project!

TMI Coatings Team

The City of Eureka, SD awarded TMI Coatings a project to complete the interior and exterior surface preparation and coating of a 200,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, as well as the ladder, walkway, roof vent, and access hatch repairs.

Not all of the work that TMI Coatings does is completed in a week or two. This water tower repair and coating project is extensive. We are going to post on the progress of the project for the next several weeks.

Work began on April 7, 2010 and must be completed on or before October 15, 2010 and ready for inspection on or before November 15, 2010.

Here are two photographs from the Project Manager. The first is prep work and the second shows repairs in progress.

The TMI Coatings Mission Statement focuses on the importance of our customers. A solid customer base is part of the foundation of a great company and the TMI Coatings team members take pride in doing the best job possible for our customers.

It is also important for us to recognize a job well done. At the completion of each job, TMI Coatings sends out a customer evaluation card. On this card, we ask the customer to rate five areas of performance, and give them the option to note additional comments. The goal is always to achieve excellence and customer satisfaction and when this occurs the Job Leader receives a bonus.

TMI Customer Evaluation Card

Each satisfied customer provides the opportunity for a reference and what better reference than a happy customer. Call us and join the list of satisfied customers.

TMI Coatings Team

The SSPC Painting Contractor Certification Program is a nationally recognized independent contractor evaluation program. Achieving SSPC certifications indicates the contractor met or exceeded the requirements set forth in the SSPC program. The certification process reviews the industrial painting contractor’s ability to provide quality work as it relates to specific safety, health, and environmental compliance standards.

TMI Coatings was recently re-certified as a QP 1 and QP 2 contractor.

SSPC QP 1 Certification

SSPC QP2 Certification

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