Topics surface technology

Self-healing surfaces sound like science fiction, but they are real. Fraunhofer scientists from polymer research provide insights into so-called active substances and their mode of action.

Maximum flexibility is required, especially for the commercial vehicle sector. The new generation of the VarioShuttle rotational dip coating system enables model-specific rotation curves and guarantees a high coating quality for all body variants.

The automotive painting industry is undergoing a massive upheaval. In particular, the trend towards greater sustainability is prompting everyone involved to pursue new approaches. Wet-on-wet painting, bio-based paints and modern drying concepts are improving the CO2 balance. There is no need to compromise on special colours, wet looks or decorative elements.

An electrolyte is now available for electroplating with pure platinum that enables the deposition of exceptionally thick, homogeneous and crack-free platinum layers.

High-quality paint pre-treatment is crucial to protect agricultural machinery against all climatic conditions. The new plant of a major manufacturer of agricultural machinery uses a continuous overhead conveyor blasting system.

With about 230 participants, the Industrial Coating Practice Forum from November 16 to 17 was largely fully booked. 17 presentations on a wide range of topics awaited the participants.

High logistics costs, inflexibility and inconsistent quality in contract coating led the Reku Group to set up its own powder coating facility - since then, Reku Color has taken over powder coating for internal and external orders.

When a lorry needs to be able to do a little more, the Austrian company Dunst Kfz und Hydraulik comes into its own: the specialist for lorry superstructures equips the vehicles with additional units. To this end, the company has now built a new surface centre together with SLF Oberflächentechnik.

Corrosion damage is not always due to errors in pre-treatment or coating. Sometimes constructive peculiarities coincide with particularly unfavourable environmental conditions.

The residual stress in surfaces is a decisive factor for the fatigue strength of shot-peened components. A new measuring method and a fast and mobile X-ray diffractometer can significantly reduce the time required to develop and validate shot peening processes.