November 2012 ISSUE
Back from the Brink of Finishing Death
Alpha Metal Finishing is celebrating its 36th anniversary and, after battling the ups and downs of sales, coupled with tumultuous management practices and the untimely illness of company founder Bob Wood that almost forced the its extinction, the company is recording unprecedented growth.
#management
FEATURES
Liquid CoatingA Perfect Case For Removing Sludge From Pretreatment
Chemical change ends sludge buildup for CNH coating line in plant in Fargo, N.D. as the company re-engineered their paint line’s pretreatment system to improve its performance and reduce costs, a process that took nearly two years and numerous trials before they were able to find just the right fit.
Anodizing
Anodizing Q&A: Parts Burning During Hard Anodizing
What could cause parts to burn during hard anodizing? Our expert Larry Chesterfield answers that question.Electroplating
Back from the Brink of Finishing Death
Alpha Metal Finishing is celebrating its 36th anniversary and, after battling the ups and downs of sales, coupled with tumultuous management practices and the untimely illness of company founder Bob Wood that almost forced the its extinction, the company is recording unprecedented growth.Powder Coating
Calculating Oven Heat Load Capacity
Please explain how to calculate the heat load capacity of a paint baking oven, using aluminum alloy wheels as an example.Anodizing
Caterpillar Is Back on the Coatings Prowl
Caterpillar has been developing and applying advanced wear coatings to extend the service life and performance of its machine components, whether new or remanufactured, for decades. Now Caterpillar’s advanced wear coatings are available to others through Cat Remanufacturing, including turnkey coating and finishing.Electroplating
NASF and Southern California Metal Finishers Kick Off Bright Design Challenge
Students are challenged to create innovative works utilizing plating technologies; top three concepts as judged by the panel be awarded $5,000 scholarships.Electroplating
NASF Sues EPA Over Hex Chromium Rules
Sierra Club also sues the EPA over the same National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants rules for plating industry; NASF's two court actions include a petition for judicial review of the ruling in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and a request for reconsideration of the rule with EPA.Electroplating
Plating Q&A: Electroless Nickel on Tungsten
Can one apply electroless nickel over a tungsten metal matrix? Art Kushner answers the question.Powder Coating
Powder Coating Q&A: Discoloration of Powder
Q. What could be causing the part to come out of the oven with a pink appearance? Our powder coating expert Rodger Tallbert answers this question.Anodizing
Rand Baldwin Replaces Greg Rajsky As Aluminum Anodizing Council President
Rajsky has been president of AAC for the past 13 years. Rand serves a similar “chief of staff” function for the AAC’s sister association, the Aluminum Extruders Council.Electrocoating
Steamed Over Heating Costs? Try Gas For Your Finishing Shop
The cost of natural gas in the U.S. is at record lows—about where the rates were in the mid-1970s—causing many in the plating industry who need to heat tanks to search for alternative avenues to curtail their rising energy costs.
Powder Coating
The Call of Heavy Duty Coatings
PPG renews its commitment to heavy-duty equipment coatings with Caterpillar as it is selected the company’s industrial coatings business as the sole heavy-duty equipment coatings supplier for a new motor grader assembly plant in North Little Rock, Ark.
Mechanical Finishing
Transmet Corporation completes Cast Zinc Shot plant expansion
Improvements focused on the collection and classification of cast zinc shot for packagingAnodizing
DeFelsko Launches Cloud-Based Thickness Gages and Inspection Instruments
New wireless features enable users to synchronize readings with its cloud-based website, download updates with the latest features and functionality, and wirelessly communicate any wireless-connected device.
Matthew Kirchner: Quarterbacks, Power Forwards, Olympians and Benchmarking
Tim Pennington: A Conversation With ... Steve Smith
Tim Pennington: Acquisitions Abound in the Finishing Industry
Electroless Nickel on Tungsten
Parts Burning During Hard Anodizing
Anodizing: Current Density vs. Voltage
Phosphating Dust and Overspray
Rinsing Blind Holes Prior to Dying
Finding Paint Testing Laboratories