Powder Coating Lead at Eastern Fence – Fort Mill, South Carolina

Description:

Title: Powder Coating Lead

Department: Manufacturing

Location: Fort Mill, SC

Since 1971, Eastern Wholesale Fence, LLC has been a trusted partner to fencing professionals, delivering high-quality products with unmatched service. We take pride in offering fully customizable fencing solutions to meet any customer specification, from unique sizes and designs to Mix-n-Match® colors and precision PVC bending.Our extensive product line includes PVC, wood, chain-link, aluminum, steel ornamental fencing, and more—supporting residential, commercial, and industrial projects nationwide and beyond. What sets us apart? Our dedication to craftsmanship, innovation, and a customer-first approach.
At Eastern Wholesale Fence, we don’t just sell fences—we build lasting partnerships.

Job Summary: The Powder Coating Lead oversees daily operations of both the automatic powder coating line and manual powder coating processes. This role ensures consistent quality, efficient throughput, proper equipment operation, and adherence to safety and production standards. The ideal candidate is a hands on technical expert who can coach team members, troubleshoot complex coating issues, and maintain a high performance finishing operation.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Production & Process Leadership

• Coordinate daily workflow for automatic and manual powder coating operations.
• Ensure production schedules are met while maintaining quality and efficiency.
• Train, mentor, and support coating technicians and line operators.
• Monitor process parameters and adjust equipment settings to optimize performance.
• Lead color changes, booth cleaning, and line resets with minimal downtime.

Automatic Booth & Line Operation

• Operate and adjust PLC/HMI controls, interpret alarms, and manage system restarts.
• Program and finetune automatic guns, including KV, microamps, powder flow, and air settings.
• Manage coating recipes for different part types and colors.
• Control conveyor speed, part spacing, and racking strategies to meet film build and cure requirements.
• Oversee reclaim system performance, including cyclone/separator efficiency.

Manual Powder Coating

• Perform high quality manual spraying on complex geometries and touchup areas.
• Apply proper gun techniques to achieve consistent film thickness and coverage.
• Troubleshoot Faraday cage issues, back ionization, and other manual coating challenges.

Pretreatment & Surface Preparation

• Oversee chemical pretreatment systems, including titration, pH checks, temperature control, and nozzle maintenance.
• Ensure proper surface preparation through washing, blasting, or other methods.
• Maintain documentation for chemical concentrations and washer performance.

Oven & Curing Control

• Verify cure schedules and ensures parts meet required time temperature.
• Conduct oven profiling and identify hot/cold zones.
• Recognize and troubleshoot issues with burners, airflow, or temperature uniformity.

Quality Assurance

• Perform and document film thickness checks, adhesion tests, and cure tests.
• Inspect coated parts for defects such as pinholes, fisheyes, orange peel, or contamination.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality issues.
• Maintain compliance with internal quality standards and customer specifications.

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Maintain powder guns, pumps, hoses, electrodes, and fluidizing equipment.
• Monitor booth airflow, filters, and overall system performance.
• Support conveyor maintenance, including lubrication, chain tension, and hanger optimization.
• Troubleshoot powder feed issues such as pulsing, poor fluidization, or inconsistent flow.
• Manage department cleanliness and organization, especially in powder rooms/booths

Material Handling & Inventory

• Manage powder inventory, including storage conditions and FIFO rotation.
• Ensure proper grounding of racks, hooks, and parts for optimal transfer efficiency.
• Optimize racking to maximize throughput and minimize touch points.

Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate logs of process parameters, oven temps, washer chemistry, and production data.
• Develop and update SOPs for coating processes and equipment operation.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements to reduce defects and increase efficiency.

Requirements:

Qualifications/Requirements:

• 3–5+ years of powder coating experience, including both automatic and manual processes.
• Strong understanding of electrostatic coating principles and curing science.
• Experience with PLC/HMI interfaces and automated coating systems.
• Ability to read technical data sheets, cure schedules, and quality specifications.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• Leadership experience in a manufacturing or finishing environment preferred
• Ability to lift, bend, stand, and work in a production environment.

Key Competencies

• Technical expertise in powder coating processes
• Strong problem solving and root cause analysis
• Leadership and team development
• Attention to detail and quality focus
• Ability to work in a fast paced, high mix production environment
• Clear communication and documentation skills

Eastern Wholesale Fence, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.