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Jim Destefani
Senior Editor
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Go or No Go?
It’s trade show season for the finishing industry, and organizers are betting that strong conference programs and a dose of technology will be just the thing needed to reel in attendees.
Up first is SUR/FIN, covering the plating portion of the finishing business. The event is a week away as this is written, but organizers are optimistic that solid technical presentations, the chance to talk directly with technology suppliers and the location in Cleveland will put their show on a solid footing.
Next month it’s Fin-X, scheduled for September 17-20 in Indianapolis. (Full disclosure: Products Finishing is one of the show’s publication partners.) The show will combine focused technical presentations with booths from more than 120 technology suppliers.
But Fin-X also has another attraction organizers are betting will score big with attendees: a virtual spray training system right on the show floor. The VirtualPaint system simulates liquid finishing operations, enabling attendees to hone their spray skills without using a drop of real paint.
No doubt, it’s tough to get away from day-to-day work when so many of us are wearing so many hats. But a day or two spent attending events such as these can pay dividends both professionally and personally.
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ALSO In this issue..
- The Finisher's Perspective
- RE: The Finisher's Perspective
- Powder Coating
- Plating
- Mechanical Finishing
- New Products
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Share your views, win an Amazon gift certificate.
Do you plan to visit a finishing-related trade show or shows? Why or why not? Please share your views on this topic and you’ll have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Responses may be published in the next PF Digital Dispatch. Click here to respond.
Last month we asked for your thoughts on how to deal with the issue of illegal immigration in the U.S. In a nutshell, most respondents wanted existing laws enforced before any more were added to the books. Here’s a sampling of responses.
Phil Dunleavey said…
CLOSE THE BORDER! If it takes a fence the length of the border so be it. With the border under control we can then look at how to handle the 12 million+ illegals in the country. It seems to me this is a common sense approach and quite simple. That is: If the problem is too complex to gain the required support, break it into pieces and do it a piece at a time.
Michael Gaudiello said…
The U.S. has laws on the books that would address the issue very effectively if enforced uniformly. We do not need more laws that will be ignored down the road. Just enforce what we have now.
Eric R. Steele said…
The best approach is to attack the root causes of the problem.
1) Support anti-poverty programs in Mexico and other countries as applicable.
2) Penalize U.S. employers for hiring illegals (no demand, no supply).
We agree with the common sense approach, and we like Eric’s idea of attacking the root causes of the problem. He’s the winner of this month’s Amazon gift card. Thanks to everyone who responded.
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Feature Article--Sweeping Up Productivity Gains
Good planning and a switch from liquid paint to powder coating paid off for this manufacturer of industrial sweepers and other cleaning equipment. To read more, click here.
Powder Coating Clinic--Touching Up Powder Coating with Liquid Paint
This reader would like to touch up powder coated parts using liquid paint. To read the suggestions of our powder coating expert Nick Liberto, click here.
Powder Coating Forum—Powder Coating of Plastics?
A reader wants advice on how (or if it’s possible) to powder coat polycarbonate and ABS plastic wall plates. Think you can help? Click here.
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Feature Article--Barrel Plating Blues
Barrel plating has existed in one form or another since the close of the Civil War, but modern day barrel plating is not without its challenges. To read about solutions to some common barrel plating challenges, click here.
Plating Clinic—Little-Used EN Bath
This reader wants to know how to prevent build-up of scum on his shop’s infrequently used electroless nickel bath. To read the response of our plating expert Art Kushner, click here.
Plating Forum—Foaming Fluoborate Tin Bath
A reader experiencing electrode foaming in a fluoborate tin bath undergoing testing is looking for help. Any ideas? Click here
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Feature article—Buffing Compound Application Methods
In buffing and polishing, wheels and compounds are often the focus of process improvement efforts. One important aspect that is often overlooked is the application of compounds. To read more, click here.
Mechanical Finishing Clinic-- Mass Finishing for Beginners
A curious reader wants to know some applications of mass finishing that would be relevant to just about anyone. To read the response of our expert Steve Marcus, click here.
Mechanical Finishing Forum—Brushed Aluminum Finish
This reader wants to know how to obtain a brushed aluminum finish on parts for a vintage motorcycle. To respond, click here.
From the product repository of PF Online
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