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.
Reliable Plating Works Launches Custom Chrome Division
Reliable Plating Works is opening Custom Chrome, a new department that will serve the chromium needs of independent creators and small businesses.
Technibrite HT 1000 Eases Bright Acid Tin Plating Production
Technibrite HT 1000 from Technic Inc. offers a number of improvements to the bright acid tin-plating process in efficacy, final appearance and usability.
Antimicrobial Properties, Electroless Nickel Durability
LeKem offers antimicrobial electroless nickel, designed for everyday production. Owner Paul Feagins talked to PF about the technology and its efficacy.
A Novel Pretreatment Process for Direct Electrodeposition onto Aluminum Alloys
This paper discusses a novel pretreatment process for direct electrodeposition nickel-phosphorus and nickel from commercial electrolytes onto aluminum alloy (T6061) surfaces without the need for zincate or stannate pretreatment processes. These coating properties are compared to conventional commercially applied electroless (NiP) using conventional pretreatment processes.
Upcoming NASF Course Sharpens Chromium Plating Skills
NASF is hosting a web-based course on chromium plating skills the first four Tuesdays and Wednesdays in November for operators, supervisors and sales personnel. Registration ends October 20th.
A Conversation With Will Wallace of SAT Plating
SAT Plating general manager Will Wallace talks to Products Finishing about his company’s surface activation technology, plating on composites, and what the changing manufacturing landscape might mean for platers.
Rochester ACS Names Berl Stein 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year
The Rochester Section of the American Chemical Society has named Berl Stein, founder of NiCoForm, as its 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Evan Doran
Assistant Editor
3 Tests to Ensure Parts are Clean Prior to Plating
Making sure that all of the pre-processing fluids are removed prior to plating is not as simple as it seems. Richard Held of Haviland Enterprises outlines three tests that can help verify that your parts are clean.
New Modular Cad Line Enables Landing Gear Overhaul Facilty
AerSale recently installed a modular cadmium electroplating line from Ronatec C2C. The new line boasts a complete water recycling system, closed-loop wastewater treatment and an efficient dual microboiler system.
Valence Surface Technologies Discusses Defense, Space Approvals
During the downturn of the commercial aerospace sector due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Valence has used the time to seek new approvals and put some additional focus on the defense and space markets.
Accessa Founds Equipment Solutions Brand
Accessa has founded Accessa Equipment Solutions, a sibling brand to Accessa Coatings Solutions that should allow them to provide more products and support to their customers.
Happy National Manufacturing Day
Friday October 2 is designated as a day to recognize and celebrate manufacturing industries in the U.S. Products Finishing editor Scott Francis takes moment to reflect on the hard work and resilience of coaters and finishers.
ColWear Wear Plates Offer Exceptional Abrasion Resistance
Wall Colmonoy’s ColWear wear plates offer exceptional abrasion, heat and corrosion resistance while maintaining a light weight.
SIFCO ASC Reduced Selective Plating Costs with Automation
SIFCO ASC’s automated selective plating workstation not only improved the surface quality of finished products, it reduced process times by 90% and saved Powell Electrical Systems around $100,000 annually.
Evan Doran
Assistant Editor
Products Finishing at IMTS Spark
Products Finishing announces Plating Insights track at IMTS Spark, a digital experience that connects exhibitors and visitors through educational programming, demonstrations and networking opportunities.
Geeking Out About Space Flight
As Products Finishing releases its October aerospace-themed issue, editor-in-chief Scott Francis takes the opportunity to reflect on the finishing industry’s role in aerospace and space markets.
Brush Plating with Metal Matrix Composites
Hard chrome has been used in the plating industry for decades, but due to the environmental and health risks associated with chromium compounds, there’s a call for change. Josh Thomas, electrochemist at SIFCO ASC discusses brush plating and metal matrix composites (MMC), a new generation of electroplating solutions.
Coventya Debuts Next-Gen Tristar 330 AF Process
Coventya says its new Trivalent 330 AF Process is swift and provides durability while achieving hexavalent-chromium color in a safer trivalent-chromium finish.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Nickel Show from Hex-Chrome Baths
Nickel show on parts from hexavalent chromium baths can have many causes. Adam Blakeley of MacDermid Enthone lays out potential causes and how to fix them.
An Introduction to Fundamental Research on the Mechanism of the Electrodeposition of Metals
From time to time, it has been our intent to present seminal papers from past issues of NASF/AESF journals that are of such significance that, decades later, they bear another look. As Einstein is associated with relativity, Drs. Conway and Bockris are synonymous with theoretical electrochemistry. This paper is in large measure, the result of Project #16, and, as the authors modestly describe it, is “an attempt to describe to the electroplater who understands the basic ideas of electrochemistry, what is being done in research on fundamental electrode processes.” This “attempt” did rather well.
NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing: 2nd Quarterly Report
This report covers the second quarter of project work (July-September 2020) on this project at Wayne State University in Detroit. The objective is to help metal finishing plants to conduct a self-managed sustainability assessment and identify technical solutions for sustainability performance improvement. The reader is invited to contact Dr. Huang in identifying plating shops willing to participate in this program.
Dillon Manufacturing Introduces Wear-Resistant Carbinite
Dillon Manufacturing claims its new Carbinite coating increases jaw gripping strength and tool longevity.
A Conversation with Josh Paisley of Lincoln Chrome
Lincoln Chrome manager talks to Products Finishing about what a good finish means for the trucking industry, the importance of listening to your customer base and the traits of a good company culture.
How to Design an Effective Racking System
Well-designed racking is an important part of any finishing operation. Richard Lang, who handles technical sales for EPSI’s racking and hanging division, offers insights for designing an effective racking system.
Applications Innovation Leads to Better Masking Solutions
When masking product failures are costing you money, it pays to work with an expert that can select or engineer the most efficient solution.
Vacuum Impregnation System Yields Production Flow Improvements
Godfrey & Wing customized a high value low volume vacuum impregnation system to solve production problems for surface finishing company Anoplate.
Coventya Tristar 300 Eases Hexavalent Chromium Replacement
Coventya’s Tristar 300 reportedly improves production efficiency while cutting hexavalent chromium from the industrial process.