Bus

Proven Custom Solutions

for manufacturing in the bus industry

CONTACT 3M EXPERT

Buses

City, school, tour, mini, articulated maxi and other buses – how can you lower production costs, lighten the structure, and accelerate the varnishing process? Every day we deliver kilometres of double-sided VHB tape for bonding vehicle body panels, thousands of grinding discs for grinding the varnished panel elements, while at the same time keeping employees safe. Discover 55,000 3M products that help to revolutionise production. Do you like designing? Combine low-energy plastics. Are you in charge of the production process? Speed up the grinding stage by as much as 30%. Are you in charge of procurement – do you know another company to deliver a wide variety of adhesives, abrasives, health and safety products and more? Our modern laboratories allow us to quickly select the products and properly test them with professional measuring equipment.


Other Transportation

  • Design, production, repair and maintenance - want to lower costs of grinding, reduce noise and protect the surface?

  • Learn how to reduce production costs, optimise manufacturing time and improve the quality of the paint booth.

  • An aluminuim boat or carbon fibre catamaran? We know how to work with resins and have perfectly smooth surfaces.

  • Discover the largest portfolio of 3M products for manufacturers and suppliers of the aviation industry.


Contact 3M’s dedicated bus expert!

We are here to help

Need help finding the right solution for your project? Contact a 3M Expert if you need product, technical or application advice or consultancy.
Tel:08705 360036

Need help finding the right solution for your project? Contact a 3M Expert if you need product, technical or application advice or consultancy.
Tel:08705 360036


Surface preparation

The surface of the material to be processed is machined. The goal is usually to prepare it for the next process, such as painting, bonding, etc. This process may involve chemical, mechanical (abrasive) treatment, anodisation, corona treatment, etc.

  • Grinding the steel frame and structural elements, weld improvement

    Preparation for welding, post-weld processing, grinding/cleaning to prepare for smoothing and bonding, cleaning and grading after plasma cutting.


    Why 3M?

    • Patented, triangular-shaped Cubitron™ II grains enable quicker and more efficient cutting and grinding.
    • Higher output with shorter grinding time and longer tool life. Cubitron™ II grains remain sharp and can easily cut metal for a long time.
    • Consistent finish and quality, great work comfort, lower employee fatigue. Thick metal cut by Cubitron™ II = less volatile dust. Overall reduction of process costs with 3M abrasive technology.
    • Lower consumption of abrasives and reduction of production costs.

  • Preparing for painting, cleaning welds, removing defects, smoothing, shaping – finishing stainless steel, preparing stainless steel for polishing.

    Why 3M?

    • Wide range of technologies and solutions
    • Innovative solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for touch-ups
    • High-quality products
    • Reduced consumption of abrasives and production costs

  • Grinding involves removing material and preparing surfaces to shape and finish components made of metals and other materials.


    Why 3M?

    3M PPE offers compatibility, comfort and protection as well as the possibility of boosting protection and comfort with forced air systems.

  • Welding of joints (of metallic parts or components) by heating the surfaces to melting temperatures and joining them by compression etc.


    Why 3M?

    3M™ Speedglas™ 9100XXi filter enables you to more readily recognise colours that may help the welder focus on the equipment, welding technique, precision grinding, inspection, etc. This translates to improved efficiency of the welder and limits the number of adjustments and waste. The Adflo PAPR system with Speedglas Welding Helmet provides the most effective and comfortable respiratory protection for welders.


Painting and coating

Materials are coated to provide protection against corrosion or other factors (abrasion, UV, etc.) or to achieve the desired surface appearance.

  • Masking during varnishing

    Masking during varnishing
    Protection during varnishing of panels and other surfaces
    Individual varnishing – patterns/colour changes, cut-offs.


    Why 3M?

    • Smaller number of adjustments – no adhesive left, straight cut-off line, no soaking or leakage of the tape. Excellent final effect.
    • Equal unwinding of the tape – easier and faster work, and consequently high quality.
    • Tapes selected for the process in such a way as to demonstrate perfect adhesion to different surfaces, also to other tapes, films and paper.

  • Why 3M?

    • Wide range of technologies and solutions
    • Innovative solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for touch-ups
    • High-quality products
    • Reduced consumption of abrasives and production costs

  • Non-organic surfaces: metallic surfaces that have been anodised but have not been painted or primed.
    Organic surfaces: paint or primer have been applied, but not the final coat.


    Why 3M?

    • Filters that reduce the number of particles that cause craters and other inclusions. Filters are adjusted to specific pigments.
    • Improved contaminant capture, higher filter capacity, compatibility with a wide range of chemicals.
    • Larger surface, longer filter life, less frequent filter replacement, less waste.
    • Higher efficiency, less corrective work caused by contamination, minimised downtime.

  • For all applications in the marine industry and the specialty vehicle segment where customers currently use a spray gun with a cup. If spraying the gelcoat, we recommend using the Accuspray™ HGP Pressurized Spray Gun.


    Why 3M?

    3M™ Accuspray™ system with replaceable 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0 heads, working with PPS™ cups. A single gun is compatible with all head sizes. Simply replace the head and use it for the next job. Documented cost savings: Accuspray™ reduces solvent and paint waste as well as the time needed for cleaning and servicing. Versatile applications: The system can be used for any coating application (don't wait, just paint!). Very thick coating can be applied using the Accuspray™ HG Pressure model with a pressurised hard cup with soft PPS™ liners in mini, standard and 850 ml sizes.

  • Protect your paint booth walls and floors while reducing the amount of airborne contaminants that could damage the paint coat. Apply the products on walls and floors using the dispensers to reduce paint booth maintenance time.


    Why 3M?

    3M™ Dirt Trap™ Protection Material is used to protect paint booths and surfaces which reduces the amount of dirt, dust and splatter, and limits the contamination of the painted surface, and the supplied dispensing tools in order to shorten the time required for booth maintenance and reduce maintenance costs. This protection material can be used as temporary surface protection both inside and outside the booth. The material is available in various widths. The protection material is also available in grey for use on the floor.

  • The protection material is perfect for protecting surfaces and keeping them clean. Used mainly for floors instead of paper or cardboard, which require masking tape (to fix it to the floor or substrate) and which can become a tripping hazard.


    Why 3M?

    Protective material for cabins and surface protection limits the amount of dirt, dust and spatter, while at the same time reducing and facilitating the replacement of protection by using self-adhesive material. This protection material can be used as temporary surface protection both inside and outside the booth. The material is available in various widths. The protection material is also available in grey for use on the floor.

  • Spray painting is a technique that involves device-assisted atomising of coating (paint, ink, coat, etc.) on a surface. The most popular types of equipment use compressed gas, usually air, to atomise and direct the paint particles.


    Why 3M?

    • Respiratory protection systems with compressed air units provide more effective respiratory protection and thermal comfort for workers, increasing their efficiency.
    • 3M paint coveralls include an air-permeable, breathable SMS layer.
    • 3M fall protection harnesses offer maximum comfort, free movement and ease of use with innovations such as the D-Ring connection or the Revolver to adjust strap length.


Assembly/bonding

Following one of the previous processes, substrates/elements are bonded. The joint may be mechanical (rivets, screws), but also welded, glued, bonded, heat-treated, etc.

  • Bonding of floor covering

    Bonding of floor covering
    Surface lamination
    Sealing and moisture protection
    Extension of product life cycle


    Why 3M?

    • We offer a complete portfolio to:
    • Accelerate the process
    • Extend the life cycle and facilitate floor covering replacement
    • 3M can deliver solutions for bonding floor covering and sealing the surface

  • Sealing of joints between the panels
    Preventing moisture contamination
    Enabling movement of the floor components
    Ensuring smooth connection of floor elements


    Why 3M?

    • Sealing of joints between the panels
    • Accelerate the process – faster assembly
    • Single stage process – no shrinkage or the need for subsequent application
    • 3M can deliver a complete bonding and sealing system

  • Assembly of floor elements
    Replacement of mechanical fasteners
    Reduction of assembly time
    Vehicle noise reduction


    Why 3M?

    • Accelerate the process – faster assembly single stage process – no shrinkage or the need for subsequent application
    • High resistance to moisture and impact/vibrations
    • The possibility of reducing noise and reducing the mass of the structure – the elimination of mechanical fasteners
    • 3M can deliver a complete bonding and sealing system

  • Assembly of windows/panes
    Ensuring tightness
    Fast installation
    Replacement option


    Why 3M?

    • Faster assembly
    • Improved customer satisfaction – few fillers in the adhesive and consistent quality
    • Cost reduction

  • Body panels/panel-frame/bracing-panel
    Elimination of mechanical fasteners
    Fast installation


    Why 3M?

    • Faster assembly
    • Strength confirmed by hundreds of applications on the market
    • One supplier delivering a complete solution for fastening, sealing and grouting

  • Masking during grouting of panels and other surfaces


    Why 3M?

    • Smaller number of adjustments – no adhesive left, straight cut-off line, no soaking or leakage of the tape. Excellent final effect.
    • Equal unwinding of the tape – easier and faster work, and consequently high quality.
    • Wide variety of tapes for the process in such a way as to demonstrate perfect adhesion to different surfaces, also to other tapes, films and paper.

  • Assembly of interior panels and small elements
    Elimination of mechanical fixings
    Faster assembly


    Why 3M?

    • Faster assembly
    • Strength for many years – confirmed by the biggest manufacturers
    • One supplier for the whole system – compatible solutions and the possibility of reducing the overall cost
    • Easy disassembly of elements for inspection


Finishing

In the next step, the nearly finished product is sealed, labelled, customised, polished, and, if there are any production defects, corrected.

  • Sealing of the vehicle

    Sealing of the vehicle
    Externally
    Internally


    Why 3M?

    • Complete portfolio – wide variety of tapes and adhesives
    • Possibility of accelerating the process using boosters (550FC)
    • Possibility of repair in case of defect (4411N, 4412N)
    • Possibility of sealing large, hard to access surfaces (320)

  • Why 3M?

    • Wide range of technologies and solutions
    • Innovative solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for touch-ups
    • High-quality products
    • Reduced consumption of abrasives and production costs

  • Removal of painting defects from the finished coating using fine-grained abrasive discs (P600–P3000) (removal of inclusions, scratches, dust, uneven paint lines and “orange peel”), followed by polishing for shine using polishes and pastes with foam pads or wool pads.


    Why 3M?

    • Innovative solutions that reduce or eliminate the need for touch-ups
    • High product quality ensures very good and consistent results in a short time or in fewer operations. User-friendly products which do not require much experience.
    • Reduced consumption of abrasives and production costs. Product lines dedicated for many types of paint (2K paints, 1K paints, clearcoats, PU paints, single-coat paints).

  • For the finishing of paint coats or composite materials, we recommend using the Perfect-It™ EX system to achieve perfect shine. Used along with Trizact™ abrasive discs (1500, 2000, 3000, 5000), Perfect-It™ and Trizact™, it offers customers the fastest surface finishing with the highest quality and easy cleaning.


    Why 3M?

    • 3M™ Trizact™ abrasives are used for removing paint defects and paint finishing, which shortens the polishing process. The abrasives consist of precisely shaped three-dimensional pyramids, distributed uniformly on the disc. As the pyramids wear out, new, sharp surfaces are exposed. 3M™ Perfect-It™ is designed to provide optimum performance in conjunction with the Perfect-It™ EX system.
    • Remove polishing marks from painted surfaces, even from dark paints. The 3M™ Quick Connect adaptor makes it easy to change pads.

  • General application: Removes scratches from 800 grit sanding paper. Gelcoat to mould application: Removal of defects and sanding paper scratches, surface smoothing. Finishing: Removes sanding paper scratches and leaves a shiny surface in one step, especially on white gelcoat.


    Why 3M?

    • Faster defect removal, greater efficiency during both lamination and finishing (white gelcoat)
    • Innovative formula for shiny gloss, many surfaces do not require any further polishing
    • Longer-lasting humidity, which translates into lower consumption (lower costs!), easier cleaning and less dust, operating at higher temperatures.
    • Complimenting Perfect-It™ EX Gelcoat Finishing system, addressed to the boat repair market (contains soap, wax and one-stage polishing + waxing)

  • Safe film application – inside and outside the vehicle


    Why 3M?

    • Easy application of the film on the window pane, easy removal after a long time, compliance with EN 45545 standard
    • UV radiation blocking (even up to 99%)
    • Thickness 150 um (unique on the market), S40 film – very fast application. Transparent, fully safe.

  • Application of the interior film – anti-burglary, UV and infrared radiation protection or the outside film – sun control (also with thermal and anti-burglary function)


    Why 3M?

    • Easy application of the film on the window pane, easy removal after a long time, compliance with EN 45545 standard
    • Easy application of the film on the pane, easy removal after a long time, possibility of securing the interior against burglary, lower heating of the inside, no visibility of the film from inside, "premium" effect from outside, no fading of interior elements, limitation of reflections.

  • Primary personal protective equipment used in the marine industry and the specialty vehicle segment.


    Why 3M?

    • 3M Safety Goggles offer the most effective anti-fog coating on the market.
    • 3M fall protection harnesses offer maximum comfort, free movement and ease of use with innovations such as the D-Ring connection or the Revolver to adjust strap length.
    • Our range of hearing protection products includes various noise-reducing earplugs, both disposable and reusable. 3M PPE ensures compatibility of all pieces.


Storage and transport

The final stage is to secure the surface, packaging and preparation for shipment or storage in a warehouse. Every manufacturer wants to ensure that their product reaches the customer in an unchanged condition.

  • General personal protective equipment

    Primary personal protective equipment used in the marine industry and the specialty vehicle segment.


    Why 3M?

    • 3M Safety Goggles offer the most effective anti-fog coating on the market.
    • 3M fall protection harnesses offer maximum comfort, free movement and ease of use with innovations such as the D-Ring connection or the Revolver to adjust strap length.
    • Our range of hearing protection products includes various noise-reducing earplugs, both disposable and reusable, and earmuffs. 3M safety helmets can be integrated with eye and hearing protection.