Spray gun specialist SATA, is marking the 20th year since it first introduced the integrated, digital pressure measuring device in a spray gun back in 2001.

At the time, digital technology was in its infancy. The mobile phone market was dominated by the Nokia 3310, with no colour display, Internet access or camera, most laptops were anything but portable and the majority of TVs were big, bulky and basic.

This meant that the SATA digital introduction was a first, that pioneered the way in spray gun technology. Because it was new technology it was viewed sceptically by many. How could it work with solvent, what benefits would it bring and what difference did it make whether the inlet pressure was set half a bar higher or lower, where all common questions.

Today of course all refinishers appreciate that due to the variety of coating materials and the paint build-up in the case of multi-layer coating, even the slightest deviation in the process can have a major impact on the paint result. This means that precise pressure measurements are decisive for an optimal paint application.

But apart from precise pressure adjustment, the SATA digital technology has been seen to offer many other benefits. SATA experts point out that aside from the accuracy of the colour tone effect, reproducibility is an important aspect of the spray painting process.

Manual pressure measuring equipment is usually relatively inaccurate. This is important for vehicle refinishers, since an inaccurate pressure setting can lead to differences in effects for certain colour tones at +/- 0.2 bar. Due to their sensitivity to sudden impacts, for example as a result of being dropped, these devices may still give inaccurate readings after just a short period of use and thus represent a potential source of error.

With digital pressure measurement right inside the spray gun, the required inlet flow pressure can be set precisely and thus allows for reliable reproducibility and greater process reliability during the painting process.

SATA also points out that users who have already purchased a SATA spray gun without an integrated pressure measuring unit can upgrade it with a digital pressure measuring unit, the SATA adam 2 at any time. The advantages of this retrofit upgrade include:

Users can equip multiple spray guns with a special mount, the so-called “SATA docking station”, and use the digital display wherever it may be needed.

If the spray gun is ever replaced, the SATA adam 2 unit can continue to be used and doesn’t need to be purchased again.

Older spray gun models (dating back to 1981) can also be retrofitted with the SATA adam 2 unit.

Users of spray guns from other manufacturers can also upgrade them with the SATA adam 2 U (universal). Like a conventional micrometer with a pressure gauge, the SATA adam 2 U is mounted on the spray gun connection, but it is equipped with a digital SATA adam 2 display.

SATA expert stress, that for the processing of today's paint systems and especially for base coat application, digital pressure measuring devices are vital for accurate reproducibility of colour tones and effects and ensure a smooth, trouble-free workflow.