Editorial, News, and Products
40 Under 40: Class of 2023
Products Finishing's 40 under 40 program recognizes nominated individuals driving the surface industry forward. Meet the class of 2023.
Troubleshooting Alkaline Zinc
One of the most common problems that can arise when plating with alkaline zinc is an imbalance of brightener in the solution. In this helpful Ask the Expert article, Chad Murphy of Columbia Chemical discusses how different zinc metal concentrations and brightener concentrations can impact efficiency.
How to Choose the Right Coating for Fasteners
Choosing the proper coating for fasteners can help with performance by improving durability and lifespan. In this helpful Ask the Expert article, Mark Schario of Columbia Chemical offers advice for choosing the right fastener coatings.
Family-owned Zinc Plater Looks to the Future
Creative solutions and a willingness to take on challenges is at the heart of Grand Rapids-based finisher’s success.
Disruptive Change: EVs and Finishing Opportunities
As EVs continue to claim an increasingly larger share of the automotive market, what can finishers expect in terms of demand for finishes? Mark Schario of Columbia Chemical shares his insights into the kinds of opportunities EVs present for finishers.
Episode 21: Interviews From SUR/FIN 2022
Conversations from the trade show floor on the finishing community’s response to increased hexavalent chrome and PFAS fume suppressant regulations.
Coping With Staffing Shortages
Tom Mastalerz, business development manager at Columbia Chemical, discusses strategies for optimizing operational efficiencies to help combat staffing shortages.
Acid Zinc-Nickel Benefits Market Share
Stephen Roberts of Columbia Chemical discusses the advantages of adding acid zinc-nickel capabilities to your plating operation.
Episode 13: On the Line — The Year In Review
In this episode of On the Line, Products Finishing takes a look back at the most pertinent stories covered by the podcast in 2021.
Improving Leveling in Nickel Systems
Chad Murphy of Columbia Chemical offers insights for addressing issues with leveling in nickel systems.
Columbia Chemical Displays Decorative Trivalent Plating
Columbia Chemical’s exhibit at SUR/FIN features its TriCol Reclaim process for decorative trivalent plating, a process that cuts down on costs and counterions.
Achieving Desired Thickness with Black Passivate
Curt Sotera of Columbia Chemical offers insights for achieving the desired results when plating parts in zinc-nickel with a black passivate.
Episode 5: Transitioning Hexavalent Chromium to Trivalent, Part 1
In this episode of On the Line, Products Finishing editor-in-chief Scott Francis sits down with Mark Schario, executive vice president with Columbia Chemical to hear about the latest innovations in trivalent chromium plating technology.
Control of Trivalent Passivates
Stephen Roberts of Columbia Chemical discusses ways to better control passivate solutions to improve quality.
40 Under 40: Class of 2021
Each year, PF editors comb through a long list of nominees with a wide range of skill sets to select the 40 Under 40 class. This year's finalists include engineers, operations managers, chemists, general managers, sales professionals and entrepreneurs working in the finishing industry.
Columbia's Tricol Reclaim Reduces Trivalent Chrome Costs
Columbia Chemical has launched its Tricol Reclaim solution for trivalent chromium plating, which it says lowers process costs between 40 and 60 percent.
Plating with Zinc-Nickel: Benefits and Challenges
Chad Murphy of Columbia Chemical speaks about the benefits of various types of zinc-nickel alloy, and provides tips for manufacturers about the zinc-nickel plating process.
Columbia Chemical Celebrates 45th Anniversary
The company was founded in 1975 when two chemists, William Rosenberg Sr. and Herb Geduld, rented space in a former textile mill.
Columbia Chemical Brings on Technical Account Manager
Curt Sotera will focus on providing technical service to Columbia’s customers, OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in Ohio and the Northeast U.S.
Columbia Chemical Granted General Motors Decorative Plating Color Style Approvals
Columbia Chemical has received color approvals from General Motors for its TriCOL Trivalent Chromium Plating Process.
Columbia Chemical's TriCol Process Enhances Metal Distribution
TriCol Décor process for trivalent chromium plating is chloride based for faster plating, according to the company
Summary Report on USCAR Field Test for Trivalent Chromium
Mark Schario from Columbia Chemical explains USCAR’s multiyear project to determine how various trivalent chromium systems would perform in the real world.
Columbia Chemical Expands Pretreatment Chemistry Line with Purchase of Khemex Technical Sales
The company says the move will also allow it to provide additional service to an expanding customer base.
Lustrous Metal Coatings Opens New Decorative Line
Lustrous offers full-service metal finishing of chloride zinc offered in automatic, manual and barrel processing.
A Lustrous Example of Expanding a Plating Operation
Ohio’s Lustrous Metal Coatings Pins Growth on Acquiring Other Manufacturing Operations
Fixing Salt Spray Failures After Passivating, Baking
This is a common challenge faced by many acid zinc platers who Mark Adams from Columbia Chemical says perform hydrogen embrittlement relief on acid zinc plated fasteners.
Fixing Excessive Brightener Consumption From Dull Work In Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc
Although great strides have been made over the last 30 years in the development of alkaline non-cyanide zinc processes, Asterion’s Graham Torr says not all “modern” systems are created equal.
Colloy A-Z-N 300 Addresses Common Plating Problem
Columbia Chemical replaces ammonium chloride/high salt content in older zinc-nickel systems.
Webinar Looks at Trivalent Chromium Process Capability Study for OEMs
Mark Schario, executive vice president for Columbia Chemical, will present information on evaluating test matrix variables and performance results of exterior corrosion testing between trivalent and hexavalent.
Preventing Dark Streaks in Trivalent Chromium
Matt Schario from Columbia Chemical explains what is the likely cause of these streaks and patterns, and how to prevent this from happening.
Columbia Chemical TriCol Process Enables Fast Plating
Columbia Chemical’ s TriCol Décor process for trivalent chromium plating is chloride based for faster plating, according to the company
ColDip Midnight 1500 Black Zinc Passivate Offers Enhanced Color and Cost Control
Three-part system allows for maximum color control and provides a consistent black appearance
Fixing The Cause Of Yellowing In Blue Trivalent Passivate
When parts look great upon initial make-up, but begin to yellow in appearance after 2-4 weeks, Chad Murphy from Columbia Chemical says it can be a number of factors.
How Trivalent Chrome Compares to Hexavalent
Columbia Chemical’s Mark Schario explains how the performance of trivalent chromium compares to hexavalent chromium, and what is needed to make the change to tri-chrome plating.
Converting to Trivalent Chrome from Hexavalent
Although this requires an initial time and cost investment, Columbia Chemical’s Mark Schario says the benefits of trivalent over hexavalent quickly and increasingly overcome the drawbacks.
Webinar Discusses Switch from Hexavalent to Trivalent
Columbia Chemical and Products Finishing will host a free webinar on October 18 that will address regulations, process differences, conversion details, cost factors and benefits.
Fixing Adhesion Issues on High-Carbon Steel
Columbia Chemical’s Matt Schario says focus on the acid pickling stage of the plating process to solve adhesion issues on high-carbon steel.
Leveling the Field in Nickel Plating
Profilometry helps determine the leveling characteristics of Watts nickel baths.
Better Alloy Control of Alkaline Zinc Nickel Baths
The factors that influence nickel content in deposits from alkaline non-cyanide zinc nickel baths.
Top Surface Finishing Innovations of 2016
We look back at the industry’s top new products and services for the past year.
Columbia Chemical Names Schario And Boehmer To New Positions
Schario promoted to Vice President, Global Business Development, and Boehmer promoyed to Director, Domestic Business Development
Columbia Chemical Expands Into Decorative Plating Market
Company release of two new product lines: NiCOL bright and semi-bright decorative nickel plating processes and TriCOL trivalent chromium plating process.
Columbia Chemical Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Bill Rosenberg Sr., Herb Geduld founded company
A Conversation With…Bill Rosenberg Jr., Columbia Chemical
We caught up with Bill as he was tuning his numerous guitars that he plays in a band with friends.
Columbia Chemical Names Jeff Boehmer As Technical Support Manager
Boehmer is a member of the National Association of Metal Finishers, and has earned the designation of CEF/Certified Electroplater-Finisher.
Columbia Chemical Receives Employee-Ownership Award
The company began employee stock ownership in 2005 and has been 100 percent employee-owned since 2012.
Columbia Chemical Begins Selling Direct In Mexico
Columbia Chemical has launched its latest international joint venture, Columbia Chemical de Mexico.
Columbia Chemical Gains Approvals As Preferred Supplier For Zinc And Zinc-Alloy Plating Processes
Gains approvals from John Deere, GM, NCR and Alfagomma after processes were subjected to rigorous testing at each facility.
Columbia Chemical Receives Award From Business Group
Prestigious award was developed by The Entrepreneurs EDGE to recognize value-creating, mid-sized companies in the region.
Columbia Chemical Receives GMW 4700 Approval
Trivecta Ni-Z Black 70 with Trivecta Black Sealer 350 approved under the GMW 4700 Type B, BL specification
Columbia Chemical Participates In "Manufacturing Road Show"
200 students participated in the program and spent the day touring two of the five local manufacturing facilities in Brunswick and Valley City.
2020 Vision: Plating
With my company’s feet firmly planted in the zinc plating industry, my perspective mostly relates to the protection of steel parts.
Going Long in Zinc
It can be tough, in the midst of as bad a recession as many of us have experienced, to consider investing in new equipment and processes.
Getting Better All the Time
Trivalent black passivates currently in use reflect the great strides made in appearance, corrosion protection, and solution life. All these are improved and the processes are a little more like the old two-part hex black. However, they still employ multiple additives and controllers to maintain the solution.
Switch to Alkaline Non-Cyanide Zinc Pays Off
Premier reduced reject rates to less than one pct and doubled production...