Topics surface technology

When the prospects for Community applications regarding the authorization of chromium(VI) became increasingly difficult, one hard chrome job coater decided to shape its own future - by means of individual authorization. The process was long, arduous and cost-intensive. The reward is now the legally compliant use of chromium(VI) for the next twelve years. In this interview, Hannah Betz explains how this challenge was overcome and what she thinks about the restriction of chromium(VI).

Is it possible to integrate an anodic dip coating system into an existing powder coating system? And integrate a robot where space is at a premium? And implement everything during ongoing operation? A project shows what is possible.

The powder symposium in Dresden opened the lecture season in the surface industry from February 8 to 9, 2024. According to the organizers, around 300 visitors and 180 users came to Dresden, and there were also many participants from Switzerland and Austria. The industry exhibition was also well booked with 50 exhibitors and was a popular point of contact for those interested in the individual topics, and not just during the breaks.

Numerous parameters determine the effectiveness and efficiency of an aqueous cleaning process. How do you choose the right filtration?

Recirculation reduces the use of chemicals, increases tool life and improves the quality of the mass finishing process

What does the future of technical cleaning look like? What developments can currently be observed and what new challenges are there for the industry? We asked LPW CEO Gerhard Koblenzer about these topics.

Thanks to a new system design, the construction of a flexible and scalable wet system for the pre-treatment of car bodies requires significantly less space and time than conventional dip tanks. The system saves energy and materials and is particularly suitable for small to medium production capacities.

Noise caused by oscillations and vibrations when driving has long been an absolute no-go in all vehicle classes. Reason enough for car manufacturers to invest in the improvement of anti-squeak coatings and coating thickness measurement.

A new water-cooled direct current source delivers up to 10,000 A at a voltage of 20 V and achieves an efficiency of over 90 per cent. With this model, the manufacturer has expanded its range for various applications in electroplating, for example chrome plating, anodising or aluminium colouring processes.

The coating thickness of an anti-corrosion solution plays an important role in the functional properties and fit dimensions of components. In order to be able to measure this directly during series production, measuring systems based on advanced thermal optics are used.