Project Overview
A commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer in Jiangsu needed a uniform brushed finish on 1.5 mm stainless steel panels for refrigerator doors and oven housings. Previously, workers used hand-held orbital sanders with Scotch-Brite pads. The finish varied from panel to panel, and swirl marks were visible under showroom lighting.
Challenges
- Cosmetic defects: hand sanding left uneven scratch patterns and directional inconsistencies.
- Low throughput: each 600 × 1200 mm panel required 3–4 minutes of manual work.
- Operator fatigue: repetitive motion caused wrist injuries and high staff turnover.
- Quality complaints: two major export orders were rejected by the buyer because of visible surface defects.
Recommended Machine
We supplied the BG-FM-1000 Metal Finishing Machine configured with a planetary brush head and non-woven abrasive rollers. The 1000 mm working width matches the customer’s largest panel, and variable speed control (5–20 m/min) allows fine-tuning of the scratch depth for #3, #4 or hairline finishes.
Workflow Integration
- Pre-cleaning – Panels are wiped to remove cutting fluid and fingerprints.
- Brushing – Panels pass through the planetary head where four counter-rotating brushes create a uniform longitudinal grain.
- Rinse & Dry – An integrated air knife blows away debris; optional wet rinse unit removes embedded abrasive particles.
- Protective Film – A self-adhesive PE film is applied immediately after drying to prevent scratches during assembly.
Results
- Finish uniformity improved from ±30 % variation to within ±5 %, measured by gloss meter.
- Throughput increased to 12 m/min; a full panel now takes 6 seconds.
- Zero buyer rejections in the 18 months since installation.
- Operator headcount in the finishing department reduced from six to two.
Customer Feedback
“Our export buyer in Germany commented that the brushed finish is now indistinguishable from panels finished on European equipment. The BG-FM-1000 has become the centerpiece of our quality promise.” — Quality Director, Jiangsu Commercial Kitchen Equipment Ltd.
Need a machine recommendation?
Send your workpiece drawings, material type, burr condition and target surface finish. We will suggest the right sanding machine and give you an FOB price range.
