Project manager at Hedson

Mikael Hansson

Hedson Technologies is an innovative company. The latest proof of that is the new TCR machine from IRT Curing – every paint shop’s new best friend. 

Project manager Mikael Hansson is clearly proud as he demonstrates and talks about what he jokingly calls his baby. And there is no doubt about what feature he is most pleased with:

– The thermal camera. It really makes things easier for the user and makes it almost impossible to make a mistake. In total, there are 768 measuring points across the entire surface, he says.

The need to develop the TCR grew out of requests and feedback from customers, distributors and the market as a whole.

– Previously, the positioning of the cassettes over the repair area was very sensitive. Temperature was measured with a pyrometer, where the entire circular measuring area had to be placed directly in the wet paint. If the cassettes were positioned incorrectly – for example if masking tape was within the measuring area – there was a risk of burning the paint, Mikael explains.

With Hedson’s TCR, however, things work differently. Now it doesn’t matter exactly where the cassettes are positioned. The thermal camera automatically detects the hottest point on the surface and regulates the heat accordingly, making it virtually impossible to burn the paint.

– You place the cassettes over the damaged area, press start, and the system takes care of the rest. Even if the center of the cassette is positioned outside the repair area, the TCR automatically adjusts the output and ensures the entire surface receives the correct amount of heat.

Before the product is released to customers, it undergoes extensive testing – both to verify durability and to ensure it neither causes nor receives interference from other equipment.

– The tests are carried out both here at Hedson and at external laboratories for third-party approval. Testing for EMC (electromagnetic compatibility and immunity) at independent labs to ensure compliance with standards worldwide is quite unique, says Mikael.

The project took about two years from start to finish, and the entire company has been involved. Not least the purchasing department, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the highest quality of the final product.

– We are very selective when it comes to suppliers. The quality has to be top-class while still allowing us to offer a cost-effective product. If suppliers do not meet our standards, we replace them. We spend a lot of time finding the right partners.

On the TCR you will find the sticker “Made in Sweden”, something Mikael considers an additional mark of quality.

– The manufacturing takes place here in Vänersborg, and the parts are produced in Sweden or by Swedish companies. It feels good to keep it local.