Zhejiang Dongsheng Technology

Electrophoretic coating — e-coat, or EPD — deposits paint onto the part electrically out of a bath. Because the film is driven by current rather than sprayed, it reaches cut edges, weld seams and the inside of drawn shapes, and builds a more even film than spray painting on complex geometry.

Steel stamped and deep-drawn parts that need corrosion protection over the whole surface, including the cut edges, before assembly or before a topcoat. Threaded and sealing areas are masked so the coating does not change the fit.

No. E-coat is a wet electrophoretic process and normally thinner; powder coating is applied dry and cured. They are often used together, with e-coat as the corrosion layer and powder as the colour and durability layer. Powder coating of large sheet-metal parts runs in Balford's own manual booth; small parts go to a qualified partner.

The drawing should state coating type and colour, target film thickness, the surfaces to be masked, and any salt-spray or hardness requirement. Balford reviews these against the part geometry before the tooling is cut, because masking and racking marks are decided at that stage.

Yes, and it is declared as such — the same as heat treatment, plating, passivation, electropolishing, phosphating and liquid painting. E-coating for Balford parts is performed by Zhejiang Dongsheng Technology, an audited partner in Zhuji, Zhejiang.

Yes. Parts are stamped and, where needed, machined at Balford, sent out for coating, and returned for inspection and packing — so the customer deals with one supplier and one delivery schedule.