The Finishing Touch

Common Finishing Problems Part 1 of 7: Striping Coating defects can slow production, increase rework, and affect the quality of your finished products. Whether you're coating cabinet doors, furniture components, millwork, flooring, or other wood products, understanding what causes common finishing defects is the first step toward preventing them. In this series, we'll explore seven of the most common defects found in automated finishing systems, explaining what they look like

Making the move from manual spraying to automation is a major milestone for any finishing department. It improves consistency, increases production, and helps manufacturers reduce their reliance on manual labor. But for many operations, that's only the beginning. As production continues to grow, new challenges start to appear. The spray booth needs to keep up with increasing demand. More coating types are introduced. Drying and material handling become bottlenecks. Suddenly,

An automated spray process improves consistency. A controlled drying environment keeps production moving. But even when both are working exactly as intended, finish quality issues can still appear. Parts absorb stain differently. Scratch patterns become visible after topcoat. Certain profiles look different from one batch to the next. At first, it seems like a finishing problem. But often, the mud cracks start to show much earlier in the process. Because even the best sprayin

Preventive maintenance is one of the most effective ways to reduce downtime, extend equipment life, and maintain consistent finishing quality on a Compact3 paper finishing machine. A structured machine maintenance schedule helps manufacturers maximize productivity while protecting their investment in finishing equipment. In any finishing operation, consistency is everything. Whether you're processing cabinet doors, furniture components, millwork, or other wood products; unexp

Woodworking manufacturers continue to face pressure to increase output while managing labor shortages, tighter delivery schedules, and rising expectations for finish quality. As production demands increase, many manufacturers are looking for ways to improve efficiency, maintain finish consistency, and reduce operating costs without compromising the final product. As a result, finishing automation technologies have become some of the fastest-growing areas of investments across

When it comes to automated finishing equipment, downtime is inevitable. That is why on-demand technical support for finishing equipment plays a critical role in keeping production running efficiently. At Superfici America, we provide fast, flexible support options designed to help customers troubleshoot issues, reduce downtime, and avoid costly service interruptions. Whether you need immediate assistance or long-term maintenance guidance, our goal is simple, deliver the best

Upgrading your spraying process is a big step forward. Parts move faster. Application becomes more consistent. Output increases. But then something unexpected happens. Parts start stacking up. What used to be a spraying problem becomes a drying problem. Racks fill up. Work sits longer than it should. For many shops, the mud cracks start to show in a different part of the process. This is where a controlled drying system for finishing becomes critical to maintaining flow and q

Automated spray finishing for sign manufacturers is becoming essential as shops look to increase production, improve consistency, and control coating costs across a wide range of substrates. Sign manufacturers operate in a unique production environment. Unlike high-volume manufacturing, most shops are running short batches, one-offs, and highly customized jobs across materials like wood, MDF, acrylic, plastics, and metal. Finishing these parts manually with a spray gun works,

Superfici America is more than a machinery provider. It is a strategic partner helping manufacturers transform how they finish products. Based in Concord, North Carolina, Superfici America specializes in advanced automated finishing solutions for a wide range of industries, including cabinetry, furniture, flooring, and composite materials. As part of the globally recognized Superfici division of SCM Group, the company brings decades of international expertise and innovatio

There’s a point where manual finishing stops making sense. At first, it works. A skilled sprayer, a controlled process, and manageable production volume. But as demand increases, the mud cracks start to show. Finishing slows everything down, quality becomes harder to control, and hiring doesn’t solve the problem as easily as it used to. What used to be a reliable part of your process becomes the bottleneck. That’s where the Mini Plus comes in. Not as a complete overhaul, but

At Superfici America, we understand that when finishing equipment stops running, production stops too. Downtime costs valuable time, materials, and revenue. That is why we created our On-Demand Support Knowledge Base , a self-service support portal designed to help customers quickly troubleshoot common issues and get their machines back up and running. 👉 Visit the support page . This new resource gives operators and maintenance teams access to step-by-step troubleshooting ar

In the finishing industry, the right equipment matters. But even more important is the relationship between manufacturers, distributors, and customers. On a recent episode of The Finishing Touch Podcast , Superfici America’s Bret Johnson and Matt Lowe visited IMECA Lumber and Hardware in Doral, Florida to speak with Jose Graibe , a leader helping customers navigate automation and finishing technology. Their conversation revealed why IMECA chose to partner with Superfici Amer

For more than two decades, Dean Cabinetry built its reputation on craftsmanship, quality, and strong customer relationships. But as demand increased, the Connecticut-based cabinet manufacturer faced a challenge familiar to many growing shops: how to scale production without sacrificing quality or overextending their workforce. The answer came through finishing automation. And the results were immediate. Within just three months of implementing an automated finishing line fro

Rework is one of the most common hidden costs in wood finishing operations. When a part has to be sanded, sprayed, or handled multiple times, it creates a chain reaction that slows production and eats into margins. Many finishing managers ask the same question: How do you break the rework chain? The answer starts with understanding where rework begins and how to control the most vulnerable parts of the finishing process. What Is the Rework Chain? The rework chain refers to t

In the automated finishing industry, downtime isn't just an inconvenience it's expensive. Machine downtime can cost thousands of dollars per day, and often, the difference between running and being down comes down to having the right parts available when you need them. In Episode 13 of The Finishing Touch Podcast, we sat down with Tommy Harris, Parts and Customer Service Manager at Superfici America, to discuss how finishing operations can maintain their equipment effectively

At Superfici America, partnerships drive progress. Recently, we had the opportunity to host Andrew Galgano of Manhattan Laminates and the team from ISP Millwork at our Concord, North Carolina lab for an in-depth UV finishing trial. What started as a product test quickly became something bigger: a collaborative effort between equipment manufacturer, coating supplier, and millwork manufacturer to develop a system that will expand ISP’s product capabilities and dramatically impr

In this special episode of the Finishing Touch Podcast , recorded live at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, host Bret Johnson sits down with Tony McAuley, Canadian Area Sales Manager for Superfici America, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities in Canada’s automated finishing industry. Click to view the full episode From his early days in hardwood flooring to managing entire finishing departments, Tony brings decades of hands-on experience to his role. His background as

Consistency and precision are the cornerstones of any high-quality finishing operation. In a recent episode of The Finishing Touch Podcast, host Bret Johnson discussed one of the most critical factors in achieving a perfect finish: film thickness. From understanding the basics of wet film measurement to balancing the key variables that influence coating application, this episode offers valuable insights for both new operators and seasoned professionals in automated finishing.

When it comes to woodworking, sanding is more than just a step in the process it’s the foundation of a high-quality finish. Whether you’re preparing raw wood for primer, smoothing a sealed surface, or ensuring topcoats adhere properly, sanding plays a direct role in both the performance and appearance of your final product.

When you run a business, investing in new equipment can be a big decision. The cost of advanced machines like automated finishing systems from Superfici America can add up quickly. But the U.S. tax code includes special rules designed to help business owners manage these costs. Two of the most helpful are Section 179 and Section 168 . These parts of the tax code may sound complicated, but they both deal with how you can deduct the cost of equipment used in your business. In