Last updated on
July 10, 2009

Background: Sandberg (SFC) is a successful producer of promotional bedroom and occasional furniture with two plants located in Los Angeles, CA. Their scope of production includes panel and lumber processing into fully-machined furniture components, assembly, and finishing of fully-assembled units.

Situation: In the late 1980’s regulatory pressure to limit or eliminate emissions of volatile organic finishing solvents increased in the Southern California region. Sandberg responded by (i) reformulating coatings to use complying solvents and (ii) developing products which use paper-laminated panels not requiring wet finishing.

While more traditional, low-sheen finishes can be duplicated with paper laminates, more contemporary, high gloss products require wet finishing. A trend toward higher-gloss, promotionally-priced furniture developed in the mid 90’s. To meet demand from their retailers SFC began development of more contemporary designs featuring high gloss components. Parts in these designs required finishing on both flat surfaces and profiled edges.

SFC engaged A. G. Raymond & Company to assist in (i) identifying high gloss coatings which complied with current California environmental law plus (ii) designing and installing a new finishing line for these components.

The initial step in this design project was evaluating various coatings suppliers to determine the characteristics of their high gloss liquids. After assessing the production requirements of these liquids and in-service performance of the coating, the client selected a supplier.

The coatings supplier then completed final development and testing of the liquids. The selected coatings are 100% solids and are cured by exposure to UV light. A finishing sequence was perfected, and equipment specifications were prepared. A request for proposal was then distributed to equipment manufacturers qualified to build and install this line.

Concurrent with detailed equipment evaluation, an application was submitted to local air quality authorities for a permit to install and operate the new line. As the proposed coatings contain no regulated solvents, the permit was issued immediately vs. the normal 60-90 day waiting period.

Following an intensive evaluation of bids a vendor was selected. The line was installed and commissioned in mid 1995 and is producing high gloss components for the new product designs.  (Click here to view related photos)