July 2023 Issue

July

July 2023

Digital Edition
Top 5 Areas to Consider Automation of Plating Operations
Cover Story

Top 5 Areas to Consider Automation of Plating Operations

Automation for finishing operations can lead to improvements in process time, repeatability and consistency of quality. Yet, processes that make sense to explore for these operational efficiencies may not always be readily apparent.  

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Features

Featured articles from the July 2023 issue of Products Finishing

Finishing Systems Provider Celebrates 150 Years, Looks to Future
Electrocoating

Finishing Systems Provider Celebrates 150 Years, Looks to Future

From humble beginnings as an Indiana-based tin shop, Koch Finishing Systems has evolved into one of the most trusted finishing equipment providers in the industry.

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Products Finishing Reveals 2023 Qualifying Top Shops
Top Shops

Products Finishing Reveals 2023 Qualifying Top Shops

Each year PF conducts its Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, offering shops a tool to better understand their overall performance in the industry. The program also recognizes shops that meet a set of criteria to qualify as Top Shops. 

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NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 12th Quarterly Report
nasf

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 12th Quarterly Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the twelfth quarter of project work (January-March 2023) at Wayne State University in Detroit.  In this period, our main effort concentrated on documenting technical content that was yet to be reported, including analysis of costs for specific technologies for sustainability improvement.

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Plating Additively Manufactured Plastic Parts

Plating Additively Manufactured Plastic Parts

Using electroplating to enhance the structural properties of 3D printed parts.

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Highlights from SUR/FIN 2023
editorial

Highlights from SUR/FIN 2023

Products Finishing offers a recap of some of the topics that were top of mind at the SUR/FIN 2023 finishing industry trade show. 

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Corrosion Resistance Testing for Powder Coating
Powder Coating

Corrosion Resistance Testing for Powder Coating

Salt spray can be useful to help compare different pretreatment methods and coatings but it does not tell us much about the corrosion resistance of a part over time in the field. Powder coating expert Rodger Talbert offers insights into how to get a better idea of how to improve a part’s corrosion resistance in the real world.

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Robots, AI and Superb BMW Surfaces
Liquid Coating

Robots, AI and Superb BMW Surfaces

There isn’t an automotive paint shop in the world that doesn’t have post-paint inspection and defect processing. But BMW is doing this with levels of technology at a plant in Germany that exceed all other paint shops in the world.

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Justifying Investments in Automation and Smart Solutions
Liquid Coating

Justifying Investments in Automation and Smart Solutions

Corey Sorrento of Carlisle Fluid Technologies discusses the long-term benefits and payoffs for investing in AI-driven technologies for your paint line. 

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Replacing Open-Top Vapor Degreasing in Aerospace Manufacturing
Parts Cleaning

Replacing Open-Top Vapor Degreasing in Aerospace Manufacturing

Options and considerations for cleaning aerospace parts as regulations tighten on vapor degreasing solvents.

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Finishing Activity Ended May the Same as April

Finishing Activity Ended May the Same as April

Finishing Activity: The May Index reports continued contraction, closing at 48.9, about the same as April’s 49.   

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NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #120: Electrochemical Destruction of Perfluorooctanesulfonate in Electroplating Wastewaters - April 2022-March 2023

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #120: Electrochemical Destruction of Perfluorooctanesulfonate in Electroplating Wastewaters - April 2022-March 2023

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers project work from April 2022 to March 2023 at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  The overall objective of this work is to utilize a cost-effective reactive electrochemical membrane (REM) for the removal of PFAS from synthetic electroplating wastewater.  Initial results for the oxidation of PFOA with three different catalysts are discussed.    

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The Tragedy of Compounding Compensation

The Tragedy of Compounding Compensation

Employee compensation can be a complex matter. Here are a handful of best practices.

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Powder Coating Forms and Surfaces
photo finish

Powder Coating Forms and Surfaces

A peek at an automated powder coating line utilized by outdoor and architectural furniture and fixtures fabricator Forms + Surfaces (Pittsburgh, Pa.). 

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Parts Cleaning Conference
Filtration
More blasting. Less part handling.
CFS
CFS
New Acid-Free Bright Nickel Process
Mocap Masking Caps Plugs Tapes
FABTECH 2024
Fischer Technology, Inc.