No paint shop?

[cadblu]

Ok, we get it. A fully equipped and capable paint shop with proper environmental / temperature/ humidity/ filtration controls can run upwards of $500M. I admire Slate for their design decision up front to use molded composite body panels not requiring paint, and highly suitable for wraps.

But the problem lies with all the steel underpinnings, frame, and structural components that need durable protection, e.g. primer, paint, coatings, etc. Where is that getting done? I’m sure engineering has already figured this out, perhaps all subassemblies will be sourced with paint and coatings, or it will be done in-house under small paint hoods. Hopefully as more details are revealed we will get insight into their strategy. Your comments are appreciated.

 

[The Weatherman]

Ok, we get it. A fully equipped and capable paint shop with proper environmental / temperature/ humidity/ filtration controls can run upwards of $500M. I admire Slate for their design decision up front to use molded composite body panels not requiring paint, and highly suitable for wraps.

But the problem lies with all the steel underpinnings, frame, and structural components that need durable protection, e.g. prime, paint, coatings, etc. Where is that getting done? I’m sure engineering has already figured this out, perhaps all subassemblies will be sourced with paint and coatings, or it will be done in-house under small paint hoods. Hopefully as more details are revealed we will get insight into their strategy. Your comments are appreciated.

The underbody and other structural components are generally dipped to coat them. This would be a Simple one color process, thereby keeping the cost down.

 

[Dieter]

E-coat the whole assembly, bake and assemble.

 

[JeffVA]

Ok, we get it. A fully equipped and capable paint shop with proper environmental / temperature/ humidity/ filtration controls can run upwards of $500M. I admire Slate for their design decision up front to use molded composite body panels not requiring paint, and highly suitable for wraps.

But the problem lies with all the steel underpinnings, frame, and structural components that need durable protection, e.g. primer, paint, coatings, etc. Where is that getting done? I’m sure engineering has already figured this out, perhaps all subassemblies will be sourced with paint and coatings, or it will be done in-house under small paint hoods. Hopefully as more details are revealed we will get insight into their strategy. Your comments are appreciated.

I have a feeling that the frame may be sourced elsewhere and just assembled at the plant. As you can see with all this latest tariff mess a single vehicle currently can have parts and assemblies from 5 or more locations. Body frames I would assume can be made almost anywhere pre coated. I think Slate will concentrate on their glass filled Polypropylene injection for the body panels if anything.

 

[BahamaTodd]

The chassis is unibody so I have to assume it is being assembled in-house. Meaning they would have to have an in-house coating process of some kind.

 

[broadicustomworks]

The chassis is unibody so I have to assume it is being assembled in-house. Meaning they would have to have an in-house coating process of some kind.

It's probably still a purchased part from a vendor.

Subfloor part number A-12345 from Vendor X comes in with some sort of coating applied and everything gets bolted onto it.

I guess the answer would lie in whether they do any welding at that facility or is it an assembly-only situation with parts purchased from vendors?

This question may have an answer already on here somewhere, admittedly did not search out any details on factory layout or functions. Just saw this and replied, as a guy who manages a manufacturing plant it was my first thought on how they could achieve it W/O having the environmental and footprint costs of on-site paint.