Top Shop’s Journey to Building a Unique Brand
Electroplating

Top Shop’s Journey to Building a Unique Brand

Since this new Ohio plater took over the space and assets of a former plating business, it is intentional about setting itself apart from prior ownership.
#aerospace #management #Top Shops

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Electro-Ceramic Desalination Wastewater Processing
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TTX Environmental Solves Customer Issue with Electro-Ceramic Desalination Wastewater Processing

Electroplating facility without access to a drainage system found a safe solution for wastewater treatment and reuse.

Non-Cyanide Silver Plating, AMS 2411J
field testing
| 12:00 AM EST

Eliminating No-Value-Added Services Adds Value for Customers

Answering questions about how to best meet customer needs led this Products Finishing Top Shop to stop using trucks to provide value-added services and instead, start offering in-house solutions.
#aerospace #Top Shops

Lori Beckman Senior Editor, Products Finishing

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Sustainability, Electrification and Mobility
Electrocoating

Sustainability, Electrification and Mobility

Industry events like ECOAT are good indicators of the trends that are top of mind for those in manufacturing. 
#editorial #sustainability

Alternative to Traditional Alkaline Cleaners Lowers Costs
Parts Cleaning

Alternative to Traditional Alkaline Cleaners Lowers Costs

To lower cleaning costs, consider switching from your current alkaline cleaner to a true neutral pH cleaner.

Products Finishing 40 Under 40 logo

Videos: 40 Under 40 Class of 2024

In these uncertain times, it is refreshing to hear from and learn about young talent in the surface finishing industry who are striving to make a difference within their organizations and the industry as a whole.
#workforce development #40-under-40

Cheers to Another National Surface Finishing Day
Powder Coating

Cheers to Another National Surface Finishing Day

Celebrating the contributions of finishing operations across the nation. 
#editorial #nsfd

Engineered Shaped Grain Abrasives Take Grinding Productivity to New Heights
Mechanical Finishing

Engineered Shaped Grain Abrasives Take Grinding Productivity to New Heights

Unique three-pointed curved grain approach offers advantages for tough grinding applications.

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CFS

FEATURED

A Chromium Plating Overview

A Chromium Plating Overview

An overview of decorative and hard chromium electroplating processes.
#basics

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Products Finishing Top Shops recipients

Products Finishing Reveals 2023 Qualifying Top Shops

Each year PF conducts its Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, offering shops a tool to better understand their overall performance in the industry. The program also recognizes shops that meet a set of criteria to qualify as Top Shops. 
#Top Shops

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Installing an Ecoat Line

Installing an Ecoat Line

Thinking of investing in electrocoating capabilities? George Lovell, coatings plant manager for Lippert, discusses considerations you should keep in mind as you add your ecoat line.
#ask the expert #basics

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Episode 36: An Interview with Peter Mirabello, Metal Finishing Technologies LLC

Episode 36: An Interview with Peter Mirabello, Metal Finishing Technologies LLC

Scott Francis |

Peter Mirabello of Metal Finishing Technologies discusses his passion for surface finishing and trends shaping the industry today.
#aerospace

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LATEST VIDEOS

Precise Paint Flow Reduces Material and Labor Costs
Liquid Coating

Precise Paint Flow Reduces Material and Labor Costs

Finding a more accurate paint proportioner for its application enabled this auto parts manufacturer to save significant costs and labor while increasing capacity.
#automotive

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Reduced Ion Electroless Nickel to Meet a Sustainable Future

Reduced Ion Electroless Nickel to Meet a Sustainable Future

Reduced ion electroless nickel technology operates at lower metal concentrations than conventional EN and has an important role in the future of sustainable EN processes.

Episode 43: Unpacking Paint Expo 2024
Powder Coating

Episode 43: Unpacking Paint Expo 2024

Products Finishing recaps observations from Paint Expo 2024 in Karlsruhe, Germany.

CFS
clean fasteners
Parts Cleaning | 2:32 AM EST

Vacuum Degreaser Cleans Up a Messy Situation

By replacing its immersion parts washer with a vacuum degreasing system, this machine shop is much more efficient, saving the company money, man hours and the health of the operators.
#vacuum-vapor

Lori Beckman Senior Editor, Products Finishing

ASK THE FINISHING EXPERT

Trends in Plating on Plastic Electroplating

Trends in Plating on Plastic

As plastics have become more ubiquitous, the demand for metal plating of plastics has increased. 

Powder Coating

Film Thickness Control

Have a powder coating job that requires precise film thickness control? Products Finishing columnist Rodger Talbert offers advice controlling the variables that can impact your success. 
#ask the expert #racking

Reducing VOCs

Coating materials (paint and solvent) are one of the most significant sources of VOC generation. John Owed of Carlisle Fluid Technologies offers advice for reducing VOC consumption.
#ask the expert #regulation #sustainability

Electroplating

Hexavalent to trivalent chromium — the environmental benefits

Regulatory pressures to switch from hexavalent chromium to trivalent alternatives are a growing concern for many finishing operations. In this Products Finishing Ask the Expert clinic, Brittany McKinney of Pavco discusses the environmental considerations driving these regulations. 
#ask the expert #regulation #sustainability

Electroplating

How to Choose Between Sulfate and Chloride-Based Trivalent Chromium

There are several factors to consider when choosing between sulfate and chloride-based baths for trivalent chromium plating. Mark Schario of Columbia Chemical discusses the differences and what platers should keep in mind when evaluating options.
#ask the expert #basics

Liquid Coating

Choosing Paint for Fast-Paced, Extra Slip, High Temp Applications

Many industrial applications require coatings that not only offer corrosion resistance and aesthetics, but provide additional attributes such as heat resistance and quick drying properties. This helpful clinic offers a few examples. 
#ask the expert

Liquid Coating

Advantages of UV-LED Spot Curing for Collision Repair

Carlisle Fluid Technologies’ Jacob Fortmeyer shares advantages, considerations and important equipment features for the UV-LED curing process.  
#ask the expert

Powder Coating

Rework and Recoating Powder

Powder coating rework requires more than just recoating the part. Products Finishing columnist and powder coating consultant Rodger Talbert discusses proper steps that should be taken to ensure a quality finish. 
#ask the expert

Finishing activity contracted again in January, Closing at 45.5

Finishing activity has shown encouraging signs the past two months, the longest ‘stretch’ since starting to contract in April 2023.
#ask the expert

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Bringing Powder Coating In-House, free download