A key component of the factory is therefore a highly modern system of pigging lines: 13 pipes with a total length of two kilometres were installed in the hall. The "pigging" ensures that exactly the right amount of water, binding agent or finished paint is transferred from one tank to another and the pipe is cleaned at the same time. The procedure guarantees fast and flexible processes and minimises material losses. In addition to the 40 tanks to be weighed and the mixers containing up to 80 tonnes, which are mounted on three or four feet, Minebea Intec systems in particular also proved their weighing technology precision with ten rectangular additive container tanks on three floors.

With their integrated pendulum support function, they compensate for horizontal dynamics, while the integrated constrainers mechanically restrain the system and, at the same time, divert any transverse forces that could distort the measurement results past the load cell.

Just as important is the separation of the pipes, which was achieved using intermediate hose pieces. In this way, the 1,500 kg vessel scales can be read to the nearest 20 g. "With this production facility we are setting new standards for modern, modular paint production," explains Andreas Knapp (Project Manager for Water-Based Paint Production), whocoordinated the construction of the new factory.