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Green architectural aluminium extrusions moving through Swallow's powder coating line

Architectural finishing / Elland, West Yorkshire

Aluminium,
finished with intent.

Specialist pre-treatment and polyester powder coating for architectural aluminium façades, curtain walling, windows and bi-folding doors—delivered with controlled processes, rigorous testing and a finish made to last.

Discuss your project See how we work

Scroll through our capability

01—07
50+ Years’ industry experience
28,000 Sq ft purpose-built facility
7.0m Extrusion coating capacity
7 Immersion pre-treatment stages

01 / Capabilities

One controlled line.
Three critical disciplines.

From the first clean to the final test, every stage is connected. That continuity helps protect adhesion, colour consistency and the long-term performance of the finished surface.

Stacks of raw aluminium extrusions prepared for pre-treatment
Surface preparation / Stage 01
01

Pre-treatment

A seven-stage immersion system using Chemetall products, including chromium-free Gardobond X4707 technology, prepares aluminium for adhesion and corrosion protection.

View the seven stages
Automated powder spray guns coating blue aluminium extrusions
Gema OptiCenter / Stage 02
02

Powder coating

A fully automated horizontal Gema OptiCenter application line with powder recovery technology coats aluminium extrusions up to 7.0 metres, alongside sheet and flashings.

Explore finish options
Laboratory coating test equipment, colour swatches and an aluminium sample
In-house verification / Stage 03
03

Laboratory testing

Process controls and finished products are assessed in-house, with mechanical and chemical testing carried out to Qualicoat specification.

See the test programme

02 / The pre-treatment process

Seven stages.
Zero shortcuts.

Oil, silicone, residue and natural oxidation can compromise a finish before powder is ever applied. Our immersion sequence cleans, etches and converts the surface in a tightly controlled progression.

Core chemistry Chrome-free Gardobond X4707
  1. 01

    Caustic etch

    Initial surface etch

  2. 02

    Mains water

    Primary rinse

  3. 03

    Acid etch

    Surface conditioning

  4. 04

    DI water

    De-ionised rinse

  5. 05

    DI water

    Conductivity <200 µS

  6. 06

    Chrome-free

    Conversion treatment

  7. 07

    DI water

    Final rinse <30 µS

Blue coated aluminium profiles crossing the production line ELLAND / 53.686° N

03 / Built for the work

Purpose-built in
West Yorkshire.

Swallow operates from a 28,000 sq ft facility in Elland, combining modern pre-treatment, powder application and laboratory control under one roof.

Positioned just off Junction 24 of the M62, the site supports regular deliveries and collections across the North of England—with a team bringing more than five decades of aluminium and powder-coating experience.

Facility
28,000 sq ft
Motorway access
M62 / Junction 24
Base
Elland / HX5 0PA

04 / Finish spectrum

Colour is the brief.
Control is the craft.

Architectural polyester powder-coated finishes are available across RAL Classic, British Standard, metallic and textured systems. Project-specific coating systems suitable for C5 coastal environments are also available; suitability should be confirmed against the specification. Select a family to preview the character of the surface.

01Cobalt
02Moss
03Anthracite
04Light grey

ETC457 / 150 mm sill · RAL colour

Indicative screen colours · confirm against a physical swatch
Family
Architectural solids
Character
Clean / saturated
Application
ETC457 aluminium extrusion

05 / Approved partners

Chemistry to colour.
Specified with confidence.

We work with established coating and surface-treatment manufacturers, giving architectural projects access to recognised systems across pre-treatment chemistry, solid colours, metallics and textured finishes.

System scope
Pre-treatment · powder coating
Finish scope
Solid · metallic · textured
  • TIGER Coatings
  • AkzoNobel
  • Syntha Pulvin Architectural Powder Coatings
  • Axalta

06 / Laboratory control

Measured at every
meaningful point.

The in-house laboratory is equipped to control the process and assess finished work. All listed testing is carried out to Qualicoat specification.

1,000hr Supplier acetic-acid salt-spray resistance testing
Swallow's in-house laboratory equipment and coated aluminium sample QC / In-house laboratory

Test programme / 10 controls

  1. 01Appearance
  2. 02Gloss
  3. 03Coating thickness
  4. 04Adhesion
  5. 05Indentation
  6. 06Cupping
  7. 07Bend
  8. 08Impact
  9. 09Boiling-water resistance
  10. 10Polymerisation

07 / Start a conversation

What are you
looking to finish?

Tell us about the profile, length, quantity and finish. We’ll help you identify the right next step for your project.

Andrew Swallow Managing Director

01422 834 154 andrew@swallowcoatings.co.uk
Typical turnaround
One week
Collection / delivery
Free for eligible projects

Timings and transport are subject to job scope, current capacity and service area. Please confirm availability when enquiring.

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Visit the facility
Unit 27, Woodman Works
South Lane, Elland
West Yorkshire, HX5 0PA
Connection

Just off Junction 24 of the M62

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