Updated: Oct 11, 2019
Resurfacing and Refinishing External Plastic Covers Improves Part Availability And Boasts Profits for Original Equipment Manufactures and Service Providers.
Plastic cover resurfacing is an art and science that revitalizes parts and devices that would have been unmarketable. Since 2003 Metrofuser has worked with imaging device plastic covers and panels, developing processes to rework them to a like new condition.
Why is Cover Refinishing needed?
High demand parts and devices that suffer shortages and price increases that are proportional to the length of the supply chain. Original equipment manufactures (OEMs) and service providers are increasingly looking to the aftermarket to fill the gaps.
Top Causes of Printer / Copier Plastic Cover Damage
One of the biggest causes of plastic over damaged happens during the repair process. Cover removal can be complicated as since many times they are interconnected. Covers sometimes get broken by the very people trying to repair and maintain them, technicians during disassembly. Learn About HP Cover Removal
The second biggest cause of panel replacement is aging covers- Over time plastic MFP copier cover / panels change color. Some grow darker and some turn yellow.
Will Non-OEM Printer Parts Void My New Printer Warranty?
We have sold thousands of parts to OEMs directly and thru intermediaries that ultimately flow into their warranty service programs as field replacement units (FRU). During that time we have analyzed and learned from the different types of damage that occurs and more importantly developed solutions.
Resurfacing and painting plastic panels requires a sophisticated level of detail. Complicating the process is panels age at different rates so color correction must target the current baseline color rather then the original color to avoid introducing a whole new variant.
Solving The HP Laser Printer Cover Panel Discoloring Phenomenon
Resurfacing plastic covers begins with the reverse engineering color schemes using color matching technology called a spectrophotometer.
From our experience working with with numerous OEM devices we created custom formulas and processes that include;
Reverse engineer the color corrected paint
Surface prepping multi step milling approach to removing scratch and blemishes
Powder coating
Drying
Finishing
Bulk or field replacement unit FRU Packaging
Products That Utilize Plastic Cover Resurfacing and Refinishing
Whole Unit Imaging devices like Printers MFP Multi Function Printers and Copiers.
Optional Accessories like paper feeders, finishers and duplexers.
Replacement covers for field replacement.