Michigan Prep Station Installation and Air Balancing
In a shop where two or three prep stations feed one paint booth, the booth is only as productive as the prep line in front of it. Collision centers, automotive suppliers and fleet operations around Detroit and across Michigan rely on prep decks that turn work quickly, hold dust down and hand off a clean part to the booth. Double D installs prep stations, ties them into the shop's exhaust and make-up air, and balances the system so every station pulls the way it should.
Discuss your installationPlanning a prep line that feeds one booth
The order of operations drives the layout. Sanding, masking and priming happen in prep, so the stations should sit where vehicles or parts can roll straight into the booth without crossing traffic. Curtain positions, lighting and air outlets should match how techs actually work the panels. A good layout cuts the walking and wheeling between steps.
Balancing several stations on shared ducts
When multiple stations share an exhaust fan or make-up air unit, one station with clogged filters can rob airflow from the others. We set dampers, measure face velocity at each station and leave the shop with a clear starting point. After that, filter pressure gauges at each station make it easy to see which one is falling behind.
- Measure airflow at each station after installation
- Set balancing dampers and mark their positions
- Install filter gauges where techs will see them
- Interlock fans so supply and exhaust start together
Heated prep for primer flash and cure
Some shops want heat in the prep station so primers flash faster and the station can handle light cure work. That adds a burner or heated make-up air, temperature controls and a cure cycle that switches airflow. It also adds gas piping and controls work, so it is worth deciding up front whether the station will be heated now or later.
What to measure before we visit
A few numbers make the first visit far more useful. Measure the bay where the station will go, note ceiling height and any obstructions overhead, find the nameplate on your existing make-up air unit and booth exhaust fan, and check the size of the main electrical panel serving that area. Photos of the roof above the bay help us plan the exhaust stack.
Planning a booth or oven project in Michigan
Crews mobilize from Houston; Michigan is roughly 1,100 miles away, so equipment, panels and tooling are staged and shipped ahead of the install crew.
Manufacturing in Michigan is concentrated around Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Flint. The sectors most likely to be specifying spray booths, blast rooms, powder systems and cure ovens there include automotive assembly and suppliers, office furniture, tool and die, and EV batteries.
Cold winters mean make-up air heaters are sized for sub-freezing intake, and booth or oven placement has to account for frost lines, snow loads on roof penetrations and winter slab work.
Frequently asked questions
How many prep stations can feed one paint booth?
It depends on your work mix and cycle times. Many shops run two or more stations per booth. We lay them out so parts flow directly into the booth without crossing traffic.
Why does one of our prep stations pull weaker than the others?
Common causes are loaded filters, a damper out of position, or shared duct that favors the station closest to the fan. Measuring airflow at each station and rebalancing usually sorts it out.
Can a heated prep station be added later?
It can, but planning for heat now makes it easier. Gas piping, burner location, controls and electrical capacity are simpler to install during the original setup.
Do you work on prep stations from different manufacturers?
We install, relocate and connect prep stations regardless of who built them. The mechanical, airflow and utility work is similar across most designs.
What causes dust on parts after they leave prep?
Usually poor capture during sanding, loaded filters, or a building that is pulling negative and dragging dust in. Balancing the prep station and make-up air together often fixes it.