Product Information

Each B&I flat dash part is individually covered with a time-tested GemFLEX™ urethane clear coat.
This premium coating features a brilliant high-gloss finish with incredible depth and a beautiful high-domed beveled edge.
Additional features include an ultra-thin profile for a true factory look, great flexibility for easier installation, and superior protection against UV damage, scratches, burns, stains, and extreme temperatures.
B&I flat dash parts only measure about 0.10" (2.54mm). That's just slightly thicker than a 25 cent U.S coin.

B&I advanced engineering team, the most experienced in the industry, takes great pride in making sure each B&I dash kit fits perfectly.

They start by carefully studying the interior, considering elements such as the shape and surface of a factory part to determine which dash parts should be made.

Just because a dash part can be made, doesn't mean that it should be. For example, flat dash parts will not stick to all surface materials or curved surfaces, nor do all factory parts look good covered with a dash part. Understanding these principle rules, rather than trying to persuade consumers to buy dash kits with 'more' pieces, is why premium B&I dash kits look great, fit right, and don't peel off!

Next, reverse engineering is completed, dash parts are produced, and then fit onto the vehicle. If required, revised parts are produced and refit. This process repeats until all dash parts fit perfect - free of sloppy edges and misaligned cutouts (common issues on low-quality dash kits).

Hydrographics

For nearly 20 years, B&I has been performing stunning part transformations with hydrographics (also known as water transfer printing, hydro dipping and immersion printing). B&I began by servicing its automotive customers, applying wood grain and carbon fiber finishes to parts such as floor consoles, dash bezels and engine covers. As B&I reputation for producing high-quality hydrographics grew, it expanded into different markets, refinishing parts such as ski masks, generators and ATV bodies. Today, the company routinely processes both low and high volume orders for customers in all industries, from automotive to marine to aerospace and more.

B&I provides order-specific solutions such as custom jig creation, safe parts storage, special parts preparation and parts disassembly/assembly. State-of-the-art equipment inside the 40,000 sq ft production facility of the company and 17,000 sq ft warehouse include multiple hydro dipping tanks, rinsing stations, spray booths, down-draft booths, prep rooms, UV curing ovens and more. After nearly 2 decades of refinements to B&I's water transfer printing process, the company is able to consistently produce parts with the highest quality!

The Process

Immersion printing can be applied to most objects made from plastics, metals, ceramics, fiberglass, wood and even glass. Parts must be properly prepped before they can be refinished with hydrographics. Most commonly, parts are thoroughly sanded, cleaned, primed and coated with a base paint. A water-soluble film, containing a high-definition printed pattern (i.e. wood grain), is then placed in a water tank where it begins to dissolve (after it is sprayed with a special activator), leaving only the ink on the surface.

Next, the prepped part is fully immersed into the water tank, where the ink transfers onto the part almost instantly. The part is then removed from the tank, washed, and dried. Finally, the part surface is sprayed with B&I's beautiful high-gloss or matt finish polyurethane top coat, providing ultimate protection against scratches, fading, discoloration and cracking. The transformation of the part after water transfer printing is truly remarkable, featuring new marketable appeal and added value.

Quality

To insure true premium quality, all parts that go through hydro dipping pass through multiple in-process inspection points as well as a thorough final inspection.

Patterns

In addition to B&I standard finish offering (which includes its most popular wood grains, carbon fiber and camouflage patterns), the company offers hundreds of different patterns that can be color-tweaked to your requirements. It also provides new pattern development.

Powder coating

B&I powder coating services add value and durability to almost any substrate, from metals to plastics to alloys to fiberglass and more. The company's state-of-the-art stainless steel powder coating booth has a mechanically line feed. Coatings are fed through a gun in the form of free-flowing, dry powder applied electrostatically to the part’s surface and then cured in the B&I oven at 400 degrees. The curing process allows the powder to flow and form a protective coating to the metal surface of which it is applied to.

Powder coating can produce a thicker coating than conventional liquid paints without running. The coating process emits very few VOCs (volatile organic compounds) when compared to traditional liquid paints. Contrary to popular belief, a powder coated surface does not last as long as industrial liquid paints in harsh conditions.

Liquid painting

Inside the B&I’s 40,000SF production facility, the liquid painting department features 3 spray booths, 5 down-draft booths, and 2 curing ovens. The company uses the highest quality base and top coats. The color match room contains high-quality liquid paints by Sikkens, a computer system for precise color matching and accurate weighing equipment. B&I has expertise in automotive liquid paints, cerakote coatings, primers, and polyurethanes in long and short run projects.

The 20' x 12' prepping and sanding room ensures that parts will be free of contamination. Contrary to popular belief, traditional automotive liquid painted surfaces last longer in harsh conditions than powder coated surfaces. In addition to painting, TACNA also offers powder coating for metal parts.