Two coating processes, one company, for machines that work in the worst conditions on the jobsite
Construction equipment works in mud, salt, sun, and impact. Great Dane protects it with powder coating, electrocoating, or both. We run two dedicated plants, so we match the process to the part. For the harshest service, an e-coat primer under a powder topcoat adds dual-layer corrosion protection.
What construction equipment parts does Great Dane coat?
Great Dane coats a wide range of construction equipment parts. Common jobs include machine frames, cab structures, and operator platforms. We also coat booms, buckets, attachments, outriggers, and counterweights. Fabricated steel assemblies and OEM components run through our lines regularly. On the jobsite side, we coat guardrails, bollards, fencing, posts, and railings. Smaller work includes brackets, hydraulic tank shells, ladders, steps, and grating. We coat steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and alloy steels. Part sizes run from small hardware to long structural sections. Volumes run from single custom projects to repeat production orders. Equipment manufacturers, component suppliers, and fabricators all use our plants. Some parts are seen by the operator and the buyer, so color matters most. Others are structural or hidden, so corrosion protection comes first. Many construction parts need both at once. Because we run powder coating and electrocoating in two dedicated plants, we can take the whole list. That means one vendor, one point of contact, and one accountable partner.
How do powder coating and e-coating protect construction equipment?
Construction equipment lives in some of the hardest conditions in industry. It meets rain, snow, mud, road salt, UV, stone chips, and constant vibration. A coating has to handle all of it. Powder coating applies a charged dry powder that heat cures into a hard film. That film resists chipping, scratching, UV fading, chemicals, and abrasion. It holds color and gloss on the parts your customer sees every day. Electrocoating works differently. Our e-coat system runs an eight-stage zinc phosphate pretreatment, then the electrocoat application. Racked parts enter a charged bath of Axalta AquaEC 6000 series coating. An automatic voltage control system delivers uniform film thickness regardless of the square footage being coated. The film reaches recessed edges, seams, weld joints, and interior cavities. Those are the exact places where rust starts and a spray gun cannot reach. Welded frames, boxed sections, and hydraulic assemblies benefit the most. For your customer, the result is equipment that keeps working and keeps looking right. For you, it means fewer warranty claims and less downtime.
When is a dual-layer finish the right choice for construction equipment?
Some construction parts need more protection than either process gives alone. For those parts, Great Dane applies a dual-layer finish. We start with an e-coat primer that covers the whole part evenly. Then we add a powder topcoat for hardness, color, and impact resistance. The e-coat guards the metal from the inside out. The powder guards the surface from the outside in. Together they outlast either coating by itself. Construction equipment is a natural fit for this pairing. Machines sit outdoors for years and work in salt, mud, and standing water. Welded frames and boxed sections trap moisture in places a topcoat never reaches. A dual-layer finish protects those areas and still gives you the color you specify. Most coating shops offer one process, so a dual-layer job means two vendors and two shipments. Great Dane runs both, so the part never leaves our control. That removes a handoff, a freight leg, and a finger-pointing risk. Learn more on our E-Coating and Dual-Layer Coating pages.
What color, texture, and masking options are available?
Safety colors are a routine request in construction work. We match high-visibility yellows, oranges, and safety reds, along with OEM brand colors. Bright, stable color helps crews and pedestrians see equipment in low light and bad weather. Powder coating holds that color against UV, so a machine still reads as visible years later. Beyond color, we offer a range of gloss levels and textured finishes. Textured coatings can add grip on steps, platforms, and handholds. We also handle the detail work that protects machined surfaces. Construction parts are full of threaded holes, hydraulic ports, bearing bores, and mating faces. Our masking program uses conductive silicone plugs that mask the hole and support the part on the rack. For ferrous parts, we use custom silicone masks with high-temperature magnets molded in. Those masks are reusable, rated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and leave no tape residue. Getting the masking right protects thread fit and assembly time on your end. Send us a print and we will tell you how we plan to mask it.
How does Great Dane keep fleet and production schedules on track?
Construction schedules do not wait. A late shipment of coated parts can hold up a build or a delivery. Great Dane runs a 5-day standard turnaround on most work. When a job needs to move faster, we can often accommodate it. Ask us early and we will tell you honestly what is possible. Capacity is part of the answer. Our 18,000 square foot powder coating plant and 6,000 square foot e-coating plant handle production volume. We take large fleet orders and repeat OEM runs without slowing down. Consistency is the other part. Our rework rate stays below 1%. Parts that meet spec the first time do not come back onto your schedule. We also handle the work around the coating. That includes sandblasting, pretreatment, masking, labeling, and line-ready packaging. Light assembly is available as well. Every step we handle is a step you do not have to schedule, ship, or manage. One point of contact stays with your project from quote through delivery.
Are these coatings environmentally responsible?
Both of our processes are cleaner than traditional liquid paint. Powder coating uses no solvents and emits negligible volatile organic compounds. Overspray is collected and reused, so material waste stays low. Electrocoating uses a water-based bath and recovers excess material in the rinse stages. The Axalta AquaEC 6000 series is formulated to meet current environmental standards. Neither process creates the solvent waste stream that spray painting does. There is a second, quieter benefit as well. Equipment that lasts longer gets replaced less often. Fewer replacements mean less raw material, less energy, and less scrap over the life of a machine. That life cycle math matters as contractors and OEMs report on sustainability targets. Getting the process right the first time is part of the same equation. A part that is coated correctly does not need to be stripped and redone. If your project requires documentation for a bid package or a supplier scorecard, tell us what you need.
Why choose Great Dane for construction equipment coating?
Great Dane has coated industrial parts for manufacturers since 1991. Owner and General Manager Gary Lamolinara has led the company from the very beginning. That continuity shows up in how we run jobs. We offer powder coating and electrocoating from one company, in two dedicated plants. Most competitors offer one process or the other. Offering both means we recommend the process that fits your part, not the process we happen to run. Quality is built in upfront rather than caught at final inspection. Plant Manager Colton Adams drove our rework rate from about 3% down below 1%. Quality Manager Kendrick Bolish oversees the systems that hold it there. Safety comes first, every time, in a plant and on a jobsite alike. We serve manufacturers throughout the eastern United States and across the eastern seaboard from Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our client list includes Caterpillar and Manitowoc Cranes, two names that know construction equipment. Tell us about your parts, volumes, and deadlines. We will recommend a process and return a clear quote. Learn more About Us.
Great Dane is also community minded. We restored the historic Ligonier welcome sign for the Town of Ligonier. The landmark sits along Route 30 eastbound and had taken years of Pennsylvania weather. Surface prep and a durable powder-coated finish brought it back. Municipal and public works parts run through the same plants as our OEM work. Read the full story.
Ready to coat your construction equipment?
Send us your part list, volumes, and target dates. We will recommend powder coating, e-coating, or a dual-layer finish, then quote it. Call 724-537-9709 or request a quote today. We deliver on time and on budget, with no hidden fees.
You can learn more about the markets we provide coating services for on our Industries Served page.