Articles

Top Shops 4 Aug 2022

An Opportunity for a Second Chance

Perfection Industrial Finishing has a remarkable way of cultivating its workforce: It hires people as they leave the prison system and reenter society.

editorial 1 Aug 2022

A Sea Change for Automotive?

Investments in new energy vehicles by major automotive OEMs have been signaling a larger share of the market for electrified vehicles in the not so distant future — but when should finishers invest in new capabilities?

Powder Coating 1 Aug 2022

On Thermoplastic Powder Coatings

Tim Brinner of IFS Coatings explains the difference between thermoplastic and thermosetting powder coatings, and discusses applications where thermoplastic powders can be used to greatest effect.

Industry 4.0 1 Aug 2022

Smart Automotive Paint Booths: Embracing Industry 4.0

Automation, digitization, connectivity, remote process management tools help automakers, suppliers paint parts, vehicles at lower cost, reduced carbon footprint.

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Pollution Control 25 Jul 2022

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #120: Electrochemical Destruction of Perfluorooctanesulfonate in Electroplating Wastewaters – 7th & 8th Quarter Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the seventh and eighth quarters of project work (October 2021-March 2022) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The major activities reported are: (1) to investigate 6:2 FTS oxidation, a common replacement compound for PFOS in the electroplating industry, and (2) PFAS oxidation in both a wastewater sample procured from an electroplating facility and in synthetic solutions.

Electroplating 25 Jul 2022

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 8th Quarterly Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the eighth quarter of project work (January-March 2022) at Wayne State University in Detroit. The major activities in this report period are: (1) the development of a sustainability assessment method for technology evaluation with case studies, and (2) a continuous development of a software tool for sustainability assessment.

Ask The Expert 25 Jul 2022

When Manufacturers Should Use 3D Measurement for Surface Finishing

Two-dimensional (2D) surface profiling systems are the standard for quality assurance in manufacturing, but some applications demand 3D measurement systems.

Powder Coating 21 Jul 2022

AI-Powered Fault Detection for Paint Shops

The latest software tool from Dürr’s DXQanalyze product family can detect whether a fault is a one-time or systematic issue. Data from recognized patterns can identify the process step responsible for the fault.

Electroplating 21 Jul 2022

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #123: Electrochemical Manufacturing for Energy Applications - 1st Quarterly Report

For 2022, NASF-AESF Foundation Research Board has selected a project on electrodeposition toward developing low-cost and scalable manufacturing processes for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysis cells for clean transportation and distributed power applications. This report introduces the project and outlines the work to be undertaken.

automotive 19 Jul 2022

Non-PFAS Wetting Agents for Decorative Chromium(VI) Plating

This article is based on a presentation given at NASF SUR/FIN 2022, in Rosemont, Illinois, in Session 6, Responses to PFAS / PFOA. It follows the case study of three facilities’ conversion from PFAS-containing wetting agents to non-PFAS equivalents, eliminating PFAS and moving forward with a smaller and more sustainable environmental footprint. The journey of conversion from PFAS-containing wetting agents in both chromic-sulfuric etch and hexavalent decorative plating tanks can be complicated and winding due to deep rooted standard industry practices, as well as state and federal regulations. Outlined here is a clear course of action that led to eliminating PFAS from the facilities’ wetting agent strategies.