Profoam offers SPF and coating equipment from the two largest and best SPF equipment manufacturers (PMC and Graco) to help ensure our customers get the best value for their money. We will never force-feed one specific product to our customers but rather act as a consultant to make sure our customers have all of the information needed to make an informed decision.
Both of these SPF equipment manufacturers make excellent products with great warranties. The choice comes down to application needs such as machine output, machine pressure, heating capability, and hose length.
Low-pressure proportioners are rated for spray pressures up to 2,000 psi, which is more than adequate for SPF insulation and roofing applications. Profoam materials are typically processed between 1,000 – 1,300 psi. High-pressure proportioners are rated for spray pressures up to 3,500 psi, which is sometimes required for plural component coatings such as polyurea. Contractors may choose to purchase a high-pressure machine that will give them the ability to spray both foam insulation and polyurea coatings.
Most spray guns for residential and light commercial applications are set up with mixing chambers that have material outputs in the 10-12 lbs/min range. It is difficult to control the installation of SPF in stud wall cavities once you exceed this volume.
Precision is important to achieve a consistent foam thickness, minimize waste and create a professional-looking finished product. Mid-size machines have an output of around 30 lbs/min and are capable of installing residential or commercial insulation applications as well as small roofing applications. This size machine allows for larger mixing chambers in the gun for faster application of the product in larger structures.
Our largest machines are capable of producing outputs between 40-55 lbs/min, which will enable you to spray any type of structure efficiently. These machines are ideal for large roofing applications, trench breaker applications, and other large volume projects. Keep in mind, even the largest machines we offer are capable of spraying small residential jobs as they can be governed by a smaller material mixing chamber and spray tip.
The actual output of the product is determined by the size of the mixing chamber in the gun at the time of application and not by the overall output of the machine itself.
SPF materials are generally processed between 120-140 degree temperatures at the gun. Drum storage temperatures between 60-80 degrees F are crucial to the proper processing of SPF materials. At the machine, the primary heaters will preheat the material to the desired set temperature.
From there, the hose heater will help maintain the desired temperature all of the ways to the spray gun. When choosing the type and size of heaters for your proportioning equipment, the product type, and local climate are the two most important factors. Wintertime applications in cold climates require greater heat capability to maintain a proper material temperature at the spray gun.
There are several heater sizes to choose from on our equipment and the equipment price generally increases along with the size of heaters chosen. The size of the heater will also directly impact the amount of electrical power required to run the equipment. The larger the heater, the more power is required.
Profoam mobile spray rigs are offered with hose lengths up to 410’. Our standard insulation rigs come with an average of 210’ of heated hose while our standard roofing rigs come with an average of 310’ of heated hose. Hoses come in 50’ sections and we always add a 10’ whip hose at the end of the hose length.
The whip hose is intentionally shorter because it takes the most abuse and will wear out the fastest. When it comes time to replace it, you’ll save hundreds of dollars over replacing a 50’ section of hose. The desired hose length will be a determining factor on the machine choice because each machine has a maximum hose length restriction. For example, a Graco E-20 is limited to a maximum hose length of 210’, a Graco E-30 is limited to a maximum hose length of 310’ and most PMC machines will run up to 410’ of spray hose with a 120 Volt hose heat transformer.
Plural component equipment is offered primarily in three different material pump drive options; pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic.
Pneumatic proportioners have two separate material pumps that are driven by one air motor simultaneously. They are capable of spraying any two-component material system we offer. An advantage to pneumatic machines is lower electrical requirements, which enables the use of a smaller, less expensive generator power source. Pneumatic proportioners are a good choice for turn-key, self-contained mobile spray rigs when lower budgets are required.
Electric-driven machines have two independent material pumps and are generally used in residential and light commercial applications. 20-30 lbs/min are typical output capabilities. Because these machines have electric heaters and pump motors, they require more power than other types of proportioners thus requiring larger generators.
Hydraulic-driven machines have independent horizontal hydraulic pumps that are electrically driven. These machines deliver consistent spray pressure and require little maintenance. The heaters and control panel are still electric but generally require less power than comparably sized total electric machines.
