"Everything You Wanted to Know About Rectifiers but Were Afraid
to Ask"

Rectifiers are critical components in so many industrial operations, particularly metal finishing businesses. Shop owners depend on these workhorse electrical devices to keep their operations running smoothly, day in and day out. This special podcast presentation will explain the importance of making the right decision when purchasing a rectifier and partnering with a rectifier supplier.

On Demand: "Alternative Pretreatment Technologies for Steel and Aluminum Surfaces"

This informative webinar program will cover current environmentally acceptable alternative pretreatment processes for steel and aluminum surfaces. It will: identify and define conversion coatings; discuss the basics of a zinc phosphate process for ferrous and aluminum surfaces; outline the advantages and disadvantages of zinc phosphate; and delve into the pros and cons of alternative technologies, such as zirconium, titanium, and silane.

- 23 June 2009 -
U. S. Industrial Production Dips 1.1% in May
Industrial production in the United States fell 1.1% in May, the 16th time in the last 17 months, a newly released government report stated. The largest decreases were in motor vehicles/parts and machinery....more

- 23 June 2009 -
Metalformers Expect Steady Conditions Over the Short Term
The newly released June 2009 Precision Metalforming Association Business Conditions Report shows metalformers anticipate stable economic activity during the next three months....more

- 23 June 2009 -
Michigan Governor Announces
Job-Creation Initiatives
Michigan governor Jennifer M. Granholm has announced an aggressive strategy to diversify the economy and attract investment in the state. The plan entails more than a dozen job-creating projects estimated to generate more than 11,100 new positions while retaining another 846 jobs. The plan will reportedly bring more than $247 million in new investment to communities across the state....more

- 12 June 2009 -
Hard Coat Anodizing Course to Land on Jupiter
The Surface Finishing Academy (SFA), in cooperation with the Light Metals Institute, plans to hold its Hard Coat Anodizing Course July 8–9 at the Comfort Inn & Suites hotel in Jupiter, Fla. The course will cover bath analysis, handling, quality control and various wastewater treatment options, along with other hot topics for today's professional anodizers....more

- 12 June 2009 -
ITW Gema Offers Two-Day Manual Spray Gun Training Course
ITW Gema plans to hold its next two-day training course for manual spray gun users July 8–9 in Indianapolis, Ind. The class consists of a lecture conducted by an ITW Gema technical specialist and will include hands-on application work in the company’s lab....more

- 05 June 2009 -
GM Seeks to Reorganize Via Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing
After weeks of speculation, General Motors (GM) on June 1 announced plans to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The filing, which represents the largest Chapter 11 case in U.S. industry, will allow GM to sell various assets, restructure debt, cancel contracts, and close operations that normally would have to continue running. GM has amassed more than $172 billion in debt—nearly twice the value of its assets....more

- 05 June 2009 -
U.S. Auto Sales Rise in May
U.S. auto industry analysts are looking at a glass half full as newly released figures show sales of cars and light trucks rose 13% in May, despite the fact that two of the nation’s major automotive players (General Motors and Chrysler) file for bankruptcy protection....more

- 05 June 2009 -
Dow Coating Materials Vice President Lays Out Market Strategy
Luis Fernandez, the new vice president of Dow Coatings Materials, outlined the market strategy for the newly formed division of Dow Chemical Company. The unit was formed as a result of Dow’s acquisition of Rohm and Haas in April 2009....more

- 29 May 2009 -
Thousands Flock to Brazil for
EBRATS '09
Attendees hailing from all over Latin America, Europe and beyond descended on the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil, May 7–9, to attend the 30th anniversary of EBRATS, the country's premier surface finishing exposition and technical conference, organized by the Associação Brasileira de Tratamentos de Superfície (ABTS)....more

- 22 May 2009 -
Finishers, Facing Challenges, Make Adjustments—and Tough Decisions
The current economic state and overall business outlook has many metal finishing companies taking a long, hard look at their businesses. Many report revenues are off nearly 50% year over year....more

- 18 February 2009 -
Tucker's Take: What Industry Needs Right Now: Confidence
Various theories and strategies abound as to the most effective means of jump-starting the U.S. economy. Just don’t expect any quick fixes....more

- 19 December 2008 -
Tucker’s Take: Analysts Temper Outlook for ’09
Manufacturing production is forecast to fall by 4.2% in 2009—a marked turnaround from analysts’ predictions made earlier this year....more

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- 07 May 2009 -
Washington Forum '09—Part I: From Card Check to Climate Change, Policy Under the Microscope
Surface finishing industry members convened in Washington, D.C., April 28–30 for the 2009 Washington Forum, the annual event sponsored by the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) in conjunction with The Policy Group, NASF's government relations arm. Topics of discussion spanned the spectrum from the impact of existing and pending regulations on manufacturing and workplace safety, to the outlook on the overall economy under the new administration....more

- 07 May 2009 -
EPA Contemplating Revisions to Definition of Solid Waste Rule
The EPA has announced plans to review its revised Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rule, which went into effect Dec. 29, 2008. The EPA will take comments on the rule at the request of a Sierra Club petition seeking an immediate stay and repeal of the 2008 regulation....more

- 15 April 2009 -
DOD Forces the Hex-Chrome Alternative Issue
According to InsideEPA.com, the Pentagon's acquisition chief has signed off on a memo essentially forcing the military to use substitutes in place of hexavalent chromium, an anti-corrosive, in new weapon systems and processes as well as in operation and maintenance activities. The move goes a step further than the traditional process where substitutes are recommended but not required....more

- 23 June 2009 -
In brief...Dürr Systems, Inc., supplier of plants and equipment for the automotive, environmental technologies, aircraft, mechanical engineering, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, has completed a new state-of-the-art paint facility for Daimler Trucks, N.A. in Saltillo, Mexico. This facility has begun production of the new Daimler Class 8 Trucks and is the second paint facility to be built in this area by Dürr Systems for a major automotive company. The plant features the latest paint process and application technologies, including pretreatment and electrocoat system, washer lines, and two topcoat lines, dual pass ovens, electrical controls, and eight Dürr EcoRP E robots. Four of the robots will utilize the EcoBell2 atomizers in the paint mix and delivery system for reduced paint usage and recycling of the air supply. Benefits of the above technologies are quality improvements, uniformity of coatings, minimal use of chemicals, lower energy utilization, and optimal use of manufacturing floor space. Special to the Daimler facility is the PT-ED programmable hoist and paint skid conveyors.

Canada-based Ferrinov, Inc., which has achieved a major technological breakthrough in the production of anticorrosion pigments, has signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Wonder Technology Co., Ltd., for the distribution of approximately 6,000 metric tons of “green” pigments in the Chinese market. This agreement will enable Ferrinov to expand its plant in Sorel-Tracy and create 20 additional jobs. In order to increase its production capacity and fulfill the orders it has received, Ferrinov plans to invest $2 million in expanding its Sorel-Tracy plant. The plant will then produce 1,200 metric tons of pigments annually, compared with 200 metric tons at present. Work will likely be completed in August 2010, with the number of employees expected to rise from 10 to 30 people. Many of these include specialists in inorganic chemistry, hydrometallurgy, and organic chemistry.

PPG Refinish has renewed its U.K. warehousing and logistics contract with Norbert Dentressangle (ND) for another four years. Part of U.S.-based PPG Industries, PPG Refinish produces automotive coatings at the group’s factory in Stowmarket. ND was originally appointed by the former ICI Automotive Refinish division in 1997 and has since been retained by PPG following its acquisition of the ICI division in 1999.

- 05 June 2009 -
Chinese Manufacturing Firm Buys Hummer Brand
General Motors Corp., which earlier this week declared bankruptcy, has struck a deal to sell its Hummer truck unit to Sichuan, China-based Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd., a privately owned outfit based in China. Tengzhong said it plans to keep Hummer's management team in place....more




- 09 February 2009 -
Determination of Hexavalent Chromium in NAVAIR Trivalent Chromium Process (TCP) Coatings and Process Solutions
This cooperative study, undertaken between NAVAIR, the U.S. Army Research Lab, the University of Connecticut, and TCP licensees to investigate the stability of the TCP process, aims to analyze and determine the speciation of chromium in the TCP, and determine whether hexavalent chromium is present in the process solution or the coating—or if any is formed on standing and during corrosive environmental exposure....more

- 18 December 2008 -
No Order Is Too Tall for Paramount
Linden, N.J.-based Paramount Metal Finishing has an interesting formula for success: take on extremely demanding finishing jobs that others might not tackle. Read more...

- 07 October 2008 -
Analyze This: Corrision and Oxidation Resistance of Nano-particles
Peer-reviewed investigation focuses on sediment co-deposition technique to prepare nano-structured Ni–Al2O3 composite coatings from Watt’s type bath containing nano-Al2O3 particles....more