March 2012 ISSUE

March 2012
March 2012 |
COVER STORY

Ask The Experts: Nitrites and Fragrances

Question: Recently, a potential new vendor pointed out that our vibratory finish compound contains sodium nitrite; and said we are violating the law in using it. Is that true?

FEATURES

Liquid Coating

Ask The Expert: Coating Textile Braids

Question: What is some of the newer technologies for coating hose braid?
Parts Cleaning

Ask The Expert: Corrosion Under Powder Coating

Q. We’re powder coating on sheets of cold-rolled closed annealed parts. We found that, after some days, the color is peeling off, and we have found corrosion beneath that. Is there a solution, or should we switch to another process?
Mechanical Finishing

Ask The Experts: Nitrites and Fragrances

Question: Recently, a potential new vendor pointed out that our vibratory finish compound contains sodium nitrite; and said we are violating the law in using it. Is that true?
Powder Coating

CCAI Twin Cities Expo Attracts 500 Attendees

Minnesota event was largest ever for Twin Cities chapter
Electroplating

Enthone Acquires Select Assets of A Brite Company

Enthone Inc., has acquired select intellectual property and other assets of A Brite Company headquartered in Garland, Texas. A Brite will continue to do business as A Brite, and as an Enthone distributor. Enthone says the asset acquisition and synergism strengthens Enthone’s and A Brite Company’s global technology portfolios, while substantially expanding both companies’ market presence throughout the southern United States and Mexico.
Anodizing

Flipping the Switch on Anodizing

The idea of using square pulse anodizing is to have a higher average current density for the total process and thereby reduce the process time. When pulsating between two values of current density, a high period and a low period give the aluminum surface time to recover during the low-current-density period.
Powder Coating

How Fabricators and Finishers Can Finish the Job—Fast

Fabricators and finishers can work together to reduce lead-time. Sheet metal fabricators and custom coaters—so alike in some ways, unlike in others—sometimes clash. Both juggle myriad orders of varying quantities and due dates, and both measure success on throughput: the more work they ship during a given period, the more revenue they can expect.
Liquid Coating

Is Lean and Green Possible in the Finishing World?

Is it possible to be both lean and green in the finishing world? Lean manufacturing says that money spent on resources for any goal other than the creation of value is wasteful and should be eliminated.


Mechanical Finishing

Minnesota Finishing Suppliers See Boom In Exports

Finishing equipment suppliers in Minnesota are seeing a surge in export sales, especially for Almco, which saw a 113 percent jump in export sales in the last two years. Television station KAAL in Minnesota aired a segment on Almco recently that highlighted the increase in sales. Read more to check out the video.
Liquid Coating

NASF Washington Forum Features Ex-EPA Chief Carol Browner As Speaker

As the longest-serving EPA Administrator, Browner worked closely with the surface finishing industry during the Clinton Administration on the Metal Finishing "Strategic Goals" Program. She most recently served as an assistant to President Obama and director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy.
Anodizing

PPG Chromate-Free Primer, Pretreatment on Boeing Next-Generation 737, and VIDEO

A chromate-free metal pretreatment and an exterior decorative primer are now standard on Boeing Next-Generation 737 production airplanes. Watch video of the 737 being built in 3 minutes!
Parts Cleaning

Product Quality Means Better Cleaning

Choosing an Aqueous Parts Washing System: As machining technology has advanced, expectations for product quality have increased as well. But better finishes and tighter tolerances are not the only goals. The need for meeting more stringent cleaning standards has gained the attention of many shops.


Electroplating

Ripple Effect: Researchers say leveling of electrodeposits can be achieved by applying a small forcing voltage

Seeking smoother plating deposits? It may be all in the waves. This story looks at studies that have shown that superimposition of a small sinusoidal potential wave (smooth, repetitive oscillation) onto a potentiostatic bias can lead to more level electrodeposits in finishing.
Liquid Coating

Wagner Receives Sherwin-Williams' Partner of the Year Award

Award given for outstanding performance in product sales, service levels and overall field sales support.
Electroplating

Positive Energy Growth

Chrome Deposit Corp. reduces its energy use, minimizes its environmental impact and improves its energy-management practices.
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