7-Step Fire Truck Painting Process

For 30 years, our apparatus’ paint quality is something that people know us for. Our paint process is what shows our commitment and passion for building apparatus for departments across the United States.  BME has developed a painting process that focuses on exceptional quality and longevity to provide the best wildland apparatus. 

What Makes BME’s Painting Process So Unique?

When asking customers what stands out about our apparatus, we get the same answer time and time again, “our paint.” We pride ourselves on having truly perfected the process so that our customers know their trucks will stand the test of time! BME’s goal is to consistently deliver apparatus that last much longer than our 7-year non-prorated warranty.

At BME, our painting process is 7-steps:

1. Acid Wash
2. Hand Sanding
3. Primer Surface Coat
4. Paint
5. Clear-Coat Paint
6. Color Sanding
7. Buff It

7-step Paint Process

1. Acid Wash

The acid wash is imperative in the process as it opens up the surface pores and allows the subsequent coating to grab on and create a strong bond.  The step involves cleaning the surfaces to remove oil, grease, and other materials so that the painting process can begin on a clean surface promoting strong adhesion.

2. Hand Sanding

After acid washing, we prepare the surface for painting by hand-sanding it. This ensures a nice smooth surface that helps minimize imperfections. 

3. Primer Surface Coat

Priming your apparatus is crucial as it fills imperfections, enhances protection from corrosion, and creates an optimal surface for paint.

4. Paint

All our apparatus are custom and painted the color selected by your department. Paint is applied and triple-checked to make sure it matches the desired color. 

5. Clear-Coat Paint

Multiple coats of clear are applied to our trucks to help protect the paint, increase longevity, and ensure the durability that BME is known for. The immaculate glossy finish is just the icing on the cake!

6. Color Sanding

During the 6th step in the painting process, we color-sand your apparatus to smooth out the clear coat to create a mirror-like finish when buffed out.

7. Buff It

Our buffing process clean-ups the clear coat and adds even more shine. All 7 of the steps come together to create the beautiful apparatus that is delivered to your department. 

Conclusion

At BME, we use a seven-step paint process to create a lasting shine backed by our seven-year warranty. We continue to innovate and improve our processes to build the best wildland apparatus on the market.

For more information about our paint process and the purchase of a fire apparatus for your department, contact us at BME Fire Trucks.