Silhouette Group & Merlin^®

Precise climate control for perfect eyewear: Merlin Technology stabilizes Silhouette's coating processes

At the Silhouette Group, surface perfection is a key feature in the manufacture of high-quality eyewear. However, when coating sensitive plastic, stainless steel, and titanium components, one environmental factor has proven to be crucial: humidity. If the air is too dry, electrostatic charge increases, dust particles adhere more easily to surfaces, and the uniformity of the coatings often visibly decreases. To eliminate these fluctuations and ensure consistent quality, the company has introduced Merlin Technology's ORBIT WING® high-pressure humidification system in its air-conditioned coating areas.

Humidity as a decisive quality factor

Before introducing the new system, Silhouette repeatedly struggled with fluctuating humidity, especially during prolonged dry weather.

The relative humidity often fell well below the required 65 % at approx. 23 °C, and the previous honeycomb humidification system was unable to stabilize the climate, resulting in fluctuations of up to 15 %. These fluctuations led to increased error rates on dry days, making production results highly dependent on external conditions.

STABLE HUMIDITY OF 65 % – EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

“With merlin^® high-pressure humidification, we are now able to achieve a stable relative humidity of 65 % in the painting area all year round for the first time. This process reliability was a decisive step for us in reliably maintaining quality standards and sustainably reducing electrostatic effects.” — Thomas Eder, Head of Facility Management, Silhouette Int. Schmied AG

Reduced costs and increased efficiency and quality at the Silhouette group

By stabilizing humidity, Silhouette reduces waste by up to 20 %. Fewer dust inclusions, lower electrostatic charge, and more uniform coating results lead to less rework, less material waste, and overall higher process reliability.

A key factor in this is merlin^®'s patented ORBIT WING^® technology, which is installed directly in the ventilation ducts and generates an ultra-fine, aerosol-free mist that is quickly and evenly absorbed by the air flow. This precise and clean humidity control ensures consistently optimal wetting behavior and significantly improves coating performance, especially in particle-sensitive environments adjacent to clean rooms.

Fact Box: Key Process Data at Silhouette