The
Spray Technique Analysis and Research for Defense (STAR4D®) training program meets the needs of military spray technicians and training instructors. The STAR4D painter training process is "hands on" training where spray technicians paint with new technologies and apply coatings that the painters use at their facilities.
The primary purpose of the STAR4D program is to identify the concerns of the military refinishing industry and practice strategies and techniques that will enable them to use less material and improve finish quality.
The IWRC is the only facility outside of the military to provide Hands-On painter training to military personnel,
and the STAR4D program is very customized to meet the needs of each individual training class. STAR4D training makes
every attempt to use the same coatings and equipment that are used for production on-site. It may not be possible to duplicate
each piece of equipment due to cost. However, trainers are able to show and demonstrate to trainees some of the new or existing technologies
which may prove more efficient for their process.
The STAR4D training program provides a valuable service, not only
in learning correct technique as a preventative measure, but also to reduce
the amount of waste in the form of paint solids and air emissions. A certificate
of completion is awarded to successful STAR4D trainees.
Painters Learn Efficient, Green Techniques
US Army Environmental Center - By Eleanore Hajian, Fall 2005
When painter Geno Usmari sets out to apply protective coating to a military vehicle, there’s a lot to consider.
The way he’ll mix the paint, what he’ll mix it with, the type of spray gun he’ll use, the thickness of the application, and even the angle at which he’ll hold the gun – all affect the result.
One glitch could make the difference between a good job and a job gone bad.
Many professionals like Usmari, the lead painter for the Aberdeen Test Support Services Program at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., learn the finer details of their trade the hard way: on the job.
But a program for military painters at the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC), University of Northern Iowa, recently offered Usmari and his team a better option.
Read the complete article on the USAEC Website
