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.

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Electro-Ceramic Desalination Wastewater Processing
SPONSORED

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 #topshops

Lori Beckman Senior Editor, Products Finishing

ALL STORIES

Trimac oven
Powder Coating

‘Warming Up’ to the Truth about Ovens for Surface Treatment

Understanding the different types of oven heat technology for surface finishing, including how they work, and their advantages and disadvantages, can help determine the best heating solution for an application.
#curing

Cheers to Another National Surface Finishing Day
Electroplating

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.

Finishing Activity Made a Repeat Performance in March, Closing at 46.1

Finishing Activity Made a Repeat Performance in March, Closing at 46.1

The slope is softening, but finishing activity has slowed contraction for three months straight. It will take several more months at the rate it is going, but the index is headed toward 50 (flat).  

Selecting the Right Outdoor-Durable Powder Coating
Powder Coating

Selecting the Right Outdoor-Durable Powder Coating

The powder coating industry offers an array of chemistries to provide an excellent match to the manufacturer’s expectations for outdoor durability. 

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CFS

FEATURED

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.
#asktheexpert #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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A Chromium Plating Overview

A Chromium Plating Overview

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

Read More
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. 
#topshops

Read More

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 42: An Interview with Robin Deal, Hubbard-Hall
Electroplating

Episode 42: An Interview with Robin Deal, Hubbard-Hall

Hubbard-Hall wastewater treatment specialist Robin Deal discusses the latest trends in wastewater management. 
#pollutioncontrol #regulation #sustainability

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

Reducing VOCs

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.

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. 
#asktheexpert #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.
#asktheexpert #basics

Anodizing

10 Anodizing Best Practices

Following this list of guidelines can help to increase the performance, cost effectiveness and quality for your anodizing operation. 
#asktheexpert

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. 
#asktheexpert

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.  
#asktheexpert

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. 
#asktheexpert

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.
#asktheexpert

Liquid Coating

Changing From Liquid to Powder Coating

Will the powder coating perform better than your liquid system? Products Finishing columnist Rodger Talbert discusses considerations you should consider when making the switch.
#asktheexpert

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Non-Cyanide Silver Plating, AMS 2411J