“Higher pressure at the air cap for proper atomizing”: the latest trend in the spray gun world

Lately, spray gun manufacturer have started to produce spray gun operating at a higher pressure on the air cap.
They shifted from traditional HVLP (air pressure 0,7 bar 10 psi at the air cap) to a new technology, for example HALO by Walcom, RP by Sata or WS by Iwata or TE by De Vilbisss.
Pressure in this new technology is between 1,0 bar (14psi) up to 1,8 bar (26psi).

Why is this change happening?
Because of the development of paint products that require more pressure for atomizing properly, to apply paint at a proper speed, to have a better layout and homogenous result.

Will this affect transfer efficiency? NO, not with the high-quality spray guns who receive the compliant or transfer efficiency equivalent certified results. In the USA for example some states require proof and certificate of equivalent transfer efficiency for higher pressure spray guns. SCQAMD in South California is one of the most significant entity able to validate these types of product.

Transfer efficiency is the percentage residual amount of paint on the panel after spraying and drying: the higher the value, the lower waste of paint and lower the over spray (paint that fluctuates in the air).

Walcom HALO, high transfer efficiency, Base and Clear model achieved just recently the approval of SCQAMD for its transfer efficiency.
Even more importantly, feedback from independent research laboratories showed it to be the best spraygun performer for this parameter during the test. In addition, users from all over the world are claiming that these new carbon fiber spraygun by the Italian manufacturer Walcom are not only super light (340 g 12 oz) but above all super-efficient: excellent quality of spraying and huge saving in amount of time and paint used.