Our experts at Wheel Craft are often asked about our proprietary process for finishing customers’ original equipment (OE), factory wheels with stunning ICE custom-wheel finishes.
This is a good question because, as the title suggests, process is everything. It is not enough to have a durable and beautiful finish. The finish must be durable and look great in every setting over the lifetime of the vehicle.
The final result is only as good the substrate or material it bonds to. This is where the process comes in. Wheel Craft’s unique process is based on the most thorough substrate preparation in the industry. This is to ensure the highest quality substrate before applying the finish.
As we have said in earlier blogs, wheel customization is a result of how the substrate is prepared. This is the target where the material will be placed. The aluminum alloy wheel, which is used for luxury wheels, is the target. How that wheel is prepared before application makes a huge difference in how the material is bonded to it.
Both traditional PVD chrome companies and powder coat companies use thick coatings, sometimes as thick as a penny, which are then layered onto the wheels. To make adhesion possible, the wheels are roughened up a little. It takes quite a lot of coating material for a smooth surface. These types of coatings are more vulnerable to chipping because of the thickness of the coating and the fact that it sits on top of the wheel, but doesn’t bond with it.
Our ICE ultra-thin finish technology at Wheel Craft connects to the fiber of the underlying metal alloy. It ties directly to it instead of a coating that merely sits over it. Our ICE finishes are thinner than a piece paper and create an inseparable bond across all surfaces of the wheel. This protective glove offers ultimate protection against the harmful elements previously mentioned
Preparing the substrate is crucial to ensure the quality of custom wheel finishes. That’s why we spend the time and effort to make sure it happens right the first time.
This blog will help you to understand the importance of ensuring a high-quality custom wheel finish. Get in Style No matter where you go, visit wheelcraft.com to learn more about our custom wheel and wheel finishes for factory-installed luxury cars wheels. Dealers are welcome to talk with us about how Wheel Craft can increase customer loyalty, drive unit sales, productivity and revenue, and provide CSI.