Articles

Electroplating 1 Feb 2004

Troubleshooting Zinc Electroplating Baths In the Laboratory

When things go wrong on a zinc electroplating line, quick solutions can save thousands of dollars. If the answer is not pre- or post-treatment, the laboratory is the place to troubleshoot the plating bath. A quick analysis and a few hull cells may be all it takes to put the operation back on its feet...

Liquid Coating 1 Feb 2004

Automation: To What Degree?

Webster has three definitions for automation, but the second one applies best to painting: “The techniques and equipment used to bring about automatic operation and control.” Within that statement, techniques and equipment become the operative words because there is such a broad range and degree of both.

Powder Coating 1 Feb 2004

Are Antimicrobial Powder Coatings a Silver Bullet?

Antimicrobial powder coatings that feature silver as a key antimicrobial ingredient are raising the powder coating industry to new heights.

1 Feb 2004

My Love Letter to Finishing

I’ll be the first to admit that I love to complain.

1 Feb 2004

Walking on Air

When increases in production require paint-system expansions, they usually also require more capacity from emissions-abatement systems...

1 Jan 2004

Eyeing Robotics?

Thinking about automating your buffing and polishing operations? Factors such as return on investment, health and safety issues and auxiliary costs should be considered before taking the plunge.

1 Jan 2004

The Ekon-omy of Pretreatment

Ekon Powder Coating-a quality-conscious powder coating production shop accustomed to excelling-finishes 18,000 different types of parts annually. Recently, in an effort to improve quality, the company made an investment in one of the mostcommonly overlooked, but very important, aspects of powder coating-its pretreatment operation...

1 Jan 2004

Composites Industry Paint Technology Advancements

The automotive composites industry has been working to improve the processability of Sheet Molding Composite (SMC) parts for a number of years.

1 Jan 2004

A Coatings Campus

Products Finishing magazine was recently invited to spend a day inside PPG's Application and Process Development Lab in Flint, Michigan. Anticipating little more than a showcase of PPG's products, we found that the facility serves as an educational tool for finishers and a risk-management resource...

1 Jan 2004