- 04 April 2008 -
SERFILCO Announces U.K. Trade Tour

SERFILCO, Ltd., manufacturer and marketer of a broad line of corrosion-resistant pumps, agitators, filtration systems, and instruments, has announced plans to conduct a trade tour in the United Kingdom this fall. The tour, which is slated for Oct. 7–10, 2008, will entail visits to aerospace facilities utilizing SERFILCO’s products and technologies.

Jack Berg, president of SERFILCO, stressed the need for further education in cleaning and filtration, particularly when it comes to the airline/aerospace industry. This need was made abundantly clear, he said, during the joint ASM/NASF Surface Engineering for Aerospace and Defense Conference in Orlando, Fla., this past February. During the meeting, alternative metals and surface treatments dominated discussions.

“Obviously, much is being done to find substitutes for hexavalent chrome, but those who will still use hex chrome might find our past experience in filtering chrome to be of interest,” Berg said.

The U.K. trade tour will walk attendees through several of the many installations using SERFILCO technology. A partial list provided by the company indicates more than 20 customers in various towns and cities from Birmingham to York utilize the company’s SER-DUCTOR brand of products and equipment. More recently, substantial contracts from Hawker Pacific Aerospace (Hayes, Middlesex), AEM (Ramsgate, Kent), and TRW Aerospace (Liverpool) have been awarded to SERFILCO. Other facilities experiencing similar successes using SERFILCO installations include: Messier Dowty and AT Poeton (both based in Gloucester), Trinity Aerospace (Basingstoke), Walton Plating (Walton on Thames), Abbey Metal Finishing (Nuneaton), South West Metal Finishing (Exeter), and Smiths Aerospace (Wolverhampton).

The equipment used at these innovative aerospace companies is employed on some of the most arduous processes used in the plating industry. Nickel sulfamate, cadmium cyanide, and hard-chrome processes have been improved in the following ways:

• Reduced roughness rejects (improved quality)
• Reduced burning in high CD areas
• Improved distribution (metal savings)
• Heat savings
• Greatly improved throwing power
• Increase in electrolyte efficiency (25% less volts required to achieve amps when compared with air-agitated tank)
• Reduction in noxious fumes above tanks resulting in a greatly improved working environment

“Today, the plating industry is more competitive than ever,” Berg said. “Under these circumstances, platers must look seriously at technology and equipment that improves processes, saves them money, and helps them comply with increasingly tough environmental legislation.”

To participate in the SERFILCO U.K. trade tour, please call (800) 323-5431 or (847) 509-2900, or e-mail sales@serfilco.com. Arrangements will be made to pick up guests at London Heathrow or Greater Manchester Airport. SERFILCO can also assist visitors with other plans. (The company is recommending that guests arrive on their own and stay at a hotel of their choice. SERFILCO will take care of all food, travel expenses, and entertainment.)