Features

Reviving American Manufacturing

Long-term viability hinges on business-friendly tax policy combined with the ability of manufacturers to revitalize, rebuild, and reinvent.
18 January 2011

Finishing System Efficiency Upgrades for a Capital-Constrained Market Finishing System Efficiency Upgrades for a Capital-Constrained Market

Find out how cost-effective improvements in machinery and systems can help you achieve specific productivity goals in your plant.
10 December 2010

Regulations, Unfair Competition: A Double-Edged Sword

This column examines how regulatory agencies are hurting our country’s manufacturing prospects.
09 December 2010

Feature Focus: Effective Ultrasonic Parts Cleaning Requires the Right Soap Chemistry Feature Focus: Effective Ultrasonic Parts Cleaning Requires the Right Soap Chemistry

Today, ultrasonic cleaning of parts is utilized in a dizzying array of applications. To that end, ultrasonic cleaning works best when paired with the appropriate soap for each application.
16 November 2010

Factors Affecting Wet Scrubber Performance Factors Affecting Wet Scrubber Performance

Wet scrubbers are used for the abatement of chemical emissions from process equipment. Many wet scrubbers in operation are achieving less-than-expected emission results and require frequent shutdown due to problems that can be eliminated or reduced with proper design and operation.
04 November 2010

Burn-Off Ovens for Cleaning Paint Line Components Burn-Off Ovens for Cleaning Paint Line Components

While there are a number of ways to keep paint line components clean, the burn-off oven has become a standard in many facilities due to the ability to clean many parts at once with little or no pollution or hazardous waste
29 October 2010

Accurate Thickness Testing Via Phase-Sensitive Eddy Current Accurate Thickness Testing Via Phase-Sensitive Eddy Current

With the advancements in science and electronics in recent years, metal finishers currently have many choices for the measurement of plating and coating thickness. This article focuses on using the phase sensitive eddy current method.
06 October 2010

Reducing the Operating Costs and Environmental Impact of Electroplating Equipment Reducing the Operating Costs and Environmental Impact of Electroplating Equipment

In this article, I will suggest practical ways to reduce the operating costs and environmental impact of electroplating equipment without making a large additional investment. Topics will include waste, water and energy minimization and simple(yet effective) methods of evaluating different technologies and techniques to ensure that the correct choices are made.
29 September 2010

Exclusive Interview: Steve Houston, Powder Coating Institute

PCI executive director shares his thoughts on the upcoming NAI Coating show, as well as his outlook on the global powder coating industry.
16 September 2010

Has Conventional Compressed Air Spraying Method Met Its Match? Has Conventional Compressed Air Spraying Method Met Its Match?

Advanced Coating & Application Technologies promises to revolutionize the traditional coating process.
02 September 2010

Resistance of Adhesives, Sealants, and Coatings to Corrosive Environments Resistance of Adhesives, Sealants, and Coatings to Corrosive Environments

Understanding and planning for chemical resistance are difficult processes. This article explains the primary factors involved, including physical and chemical degradation.
17 August 2010

Finisher's Profile: Cleveland Black Oxide Finisher's Profile: Cleveland Black Oxide

Specialty finisher banks on proven proprietary processes, plus a little bit of luck.
05 August 2010

Automotive to Aerospace: Applying Automotive Paint Spray Booth Design Strategies to an Aircraft Paint Hangar Automotive to Aerospace: Applying Automotive Paint Spray Booth Design Strategies to an Aircraft Paint Hangar

The following case study provides examples of how proven automotive paint finishing strategies can be applied to the design of an aerospace paint finishing facility to improve quality and sustainability.
21 July 2010

Industry and Government Must Work Together to Reduce Waste

As decisions are made concerning the prudent and proper responses to government regulatory requirements of the surface finishing industry, analysis of the total effects of each proposed responsive action prior is necessary prior to implementation. However, for such analysis to be complete, the combined knowledge bases of industry and government must be available for use.
07 July 2010

Reducing Operational Costs, Environmental Impact Via Rigorous Plating/Finishing Analysis Reducing Operational Costs, Environmental Impact Via Rigorous Plating/Finishing Analysis

This article presents the methodology used by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology to determine the baseline costs of a typical plating/finishing operation and offers potential improvement methods and technologies.
23 June 2010

Preventing Leaks, Improving Looks, Increasing Profits Preventing Leaks, Improving Looks, Increasing Profits

Read how the Surface Matrix Sealing System (TM) from IMPCO can lower parts rejection rates via a technique known as "filling porosity."
07 June 2010

Case Study: Software Tool Boosts Productivity, Efficiency for Finishing Operation Case Study: Software Tool Boosts Productivity, Efficiency for Finishing Operation

Read how West Babylon, N.Y.-based Ripak, a metal finishing company, utilized information systems technology to improve customer relations.
27 May 2010

Innovative Spray Booth Technology for the ‘Green’ Paint Shop Innovative Spray Booth Technology for the ‘Green’ Paint Shop

Reducing energy usage and emissions via a regenerative, dry-filtration method that separates wet paint overspray from spray booth process air.
12 May 2010

Selecting Cartridge Filters for Powder Coating Operations Selecting Cartridge Filters for Powder Coating Operations

The article discusses the range of filters available and the effect that different conditions and circumstances have on filter performance.
04 May 2010

History and Development of TMC and New Technology Conversions: An Opinionated View History and Development of TMC and New Technology Conversions: An Opinionated View

Transition metal conversion coatings are here to stay. Those who approach it correctly and do the necessary testing to verify the results will be best served in the long run.
21 April 2010

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