finishing talk newsletter - jan/feb 2008

8/14/2019 Finishing Talk Newsletter - Jan/Feb 2008

1/16

From the Forum:

Inside This Issue:

way, users and readers alike

can discuss, critique, and

share their opinions about

the informationand maybe

even end up printed in a

future issue of Finishing

Talk! The level of interactiv-

ity is very high; for this rea-

son, we refer to Finishing

Talk as a cycle of Communi-

cation, Collaboration, and

Content.

To see what we mean, visit

www.finishingtalk.com

today and start interacting

and collaborating with fellowmetal finishing professionals

around the world. We look

forward to seeing you all

online in the near future!

Welcome to the firstissue of the Finishing Talk

Newsletter. At the end of

2007, we announced our

acquisition of the previously

labeled Southern Metal Fin-

ishing Newsletter. The com-

pany hopes to maintain the

dedicated readership from

Southern Metal Finishing,

and expand the publication

to reach Finishers nationally

and internationally.

For those of you who have

not yet visited the Finishing

Talk Forums online, here is a

little background informa-

tion. The site was created as

an experiment that began in

April 2006 with the concept

of launching an interactive

Metal Finishing community

and forum. In July 2006, we

officially launched the

Finishing Talk bulletin

board. This bulletin board is

now an online forum that is

known throughout the

world as a place dedicated

to the dissemination of in-

formation, and all things

Metal Finishing. Anyone can

have free access to Finishing

Talk by navigating to:

www.finishingtalk.com;

once you register, you can

post and reply to threads

within the forum.

This newsletter is a new

extension of the forum; that

is, posts from the forum will

often be featured in this

publication, and articles

from here will in return be

posted in the forums. This

F i n i s h i n g

Spotlight:

Interview w ith AESF Past

Presiden t, Fred Mueller.

(page 4)

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

Finishing Talk Debuts New Publication

VOC Abatement Systems

(page 8)

I N D U S T R Y E V E N T S

2

N E W S & N O T E S

3

F I N I S H I N GS P O T L I G H T

4

F R O M T H EF O R U M

6

V O CA B A T E M E N TS Y S T E M S

8

T H E L A S TW O R D

1 5

C O N T E N T S

Hard Chrome

Anodes? St eel?

(page 6)


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Page 2F I N I S H I N G T A L K

February 19-20

Powder Coating School

Miami, Florida

surfacefinishingacademy.com

February 27-29

Smart Coatings 2008

Orlando, Florida

(734) 487-2203

March 2-6:

NASF Management Conference

Los Cabos, Mexico

www.nasf.orgMarch 11:

One day critical cleaning course

UCLA - Los Angeles, CA

[email protected]

www.bfksolutions.com

March 16-20:

Corrosion 2008

New Orleans, Louisiana

800.797.NACE

[email protected]

http://www.nace.org

March 18-20:

3-Day Spray Finishing

Technology Workshop

Mt. Wachusett Gardner, MA

Ken Hanson at 978-630-9179

[email protected] 31-Apri l 1:

Electroplating Know How Basics

Greenville, SC

[email protected]

www.platingschool.com

April 3-4 :

Electroplating Know How Basics

Cincinnati, OH

[email protected]

www.platingschool.com

April 9-10

Powder Coating School

Denver, CO

surfacefinishingacademy.com

April 21-23 :

Coatings for Plastic Symposium

Chicago, Illinois

(888) 530-6714

www.coatingsforplastics.com

Have an upcoming event? Tell

us about it at:

www.finishingtalk.com!

I N D U S T R Y E V E N T S 2 0 0 8


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Page 3V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1

N E W S & N O T E S

Pittsburgh, PA PPG Industries'protective and marine coatings(PMC) business recently won two ofthe four annual Structure Awards

for excellence in coatings projectsfrom The Society of ProtectiveCoatings (SSPC). The E. CroneKnoy Award recognized PPG's project, the Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, for out-standing achievement in coatingswork that demonstrates innovation,durability or utility on a commercial-use structure. The second award,the William Johnson Award, recog-nizes outstanding achievementdemonstrating aesthetic merit inindustrial coatings work. It was pre-sented to PPG for work on the SixFlags Scream Thrill Ride at SixFlags Over Fiesta, San Antonio, TX.For more information, visitwww.ppg.com.

Tempe, AZ The Department ofDefense (DOD) and the surfacefinishing industry will continue itscooperative technology informationexchange on metal finishing appli-cations at a conference to be heldFeb. 26-28, 2008, at the Fiesta Re-sort and Conference Center inTempe, Ariz. If you are interestedin attending the conference, youmay register for the workshop atw w w . e v e n t s . h a z m a t -alternatives.com or contact HillaryLegg a t ( 847 ) 680 -9420([email protected]). Formore information on this workshop,visit the NASF website atwww.nasf.org

Springfield, MO WSI Industrieshas announced the development anaffordable, turn key process to re-condition small parts and hooks.The drum stripping kit will be sup-plied complete with all the compo-nents direct from the manufacturewith all the modifications and speci-fications needed for easy assembly.

This kit will provide an inexpensivemethod to audit the use of an envi-ronmentally safe stripping chemicalin your facility. For more informa-

tion, visit their website atwww.solventreplacement.com .

Rutherfordton, NC The Interna-tional Surface Finishing Academy (ISFA)recently announced the dates and loca-tions of its Powder Coating Courses for2008. The courses, instructed by thepowder coating experts at TIGERDrylac USA, cover the fundamentalsof powder coating from both acommercial and industrial perspec-tive. Over the period of two days,

students will be instructed in a widevariety of relevant topics, includingpretreatment, shop and equipmentmaintenance, equipment selection,oven and cure issues, powder se-lection, troubleshooting, and tipsand tricks for the custom coater.Participants will be fully instructedin the formulation and manufactureof powder coating. For more infor-mation about the upcoming powdercourses, please visit the website,

www.surfacefinishingacademy.com,for a detailed itinerary and hotelinformation.

Indianapolis, IN ITW Gema,a worldwide powder coating equip-ment manufacturer, will be offeringclasses in Application and Mainte-nance Training for its powder coat-ing systems. The classes are de-signed for operators and personsresponsible for the maintenanceand upkeep of ITW Gema electro-static powder coating systems.They will include hands-on instruc-tion on the OptiFlex, OptiSys-tem and EasySystem. Compa-

nies that want their employees tolearn proper and efficient applica-tion techniques, as well as trouble-shooting and maintenance of thelatest equipment models, wouldalso benefit. The cost of this classis $350 for early registrants and$400 for those who register theweek before the class begins.Lunch will be provided on bothdays. Visit www.itwgema.com forfurther details and to register.


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Page 4

F I N I S H I N G S P O T L I G H T : F R E D M U E L L E R , C E F

classes.

We had great success last year

with our courses, so we are

planning on being a bit moreambitious in 2008. Some last

minute classes have been

planned to take place in Arizona

on behalf of the DOD this year,

for instance. One of our focal

points is trying to help the DOD

with better selections for chrome

replacements plasma sprays,

for instance. This can be quite

difficult, since very often you

cannot replace chrome with any-thing other than chrome. In ad-

dition, we will also be trying to

keep the DOD aware of all the

advances in the field, like triva-

lent baths that dont produce the

same pollution and carcinogens.

Our goal is to offer them safer

and cleaner alternatives and to

educate them as to what is avail-

able.

FTalk: Do you see a trend in the

concentration of students in any

particular region of the US?

FM : Our current management

group is undertaking an analysis

of where our students are lo-

cated throughout the country.

We are starting to look at a more

regional approach to our classes.

Not everyone can make it to Sur-

Fin, for instance. So we are go-ing to try to zone in on more re-

gional events in the future.

FTalk: What kind of effort is the

AESF making to get young peo-

ple interested in Metal Finishing?

was quite recent. The NASF ac-

tually consists of three individual

organizations: American Electro-

platers and Surface Finishers So-ciety (AESF), the Metal Finishing

Suppliers Association (MFSA) and

the National Association of Metal

Finishers (NAMF). The AESF be-

ing primarily individual members,

many from educational back-

grounds; the MFSA consists of

suppliers, and the NAMF is

mostly shop owners. The biggest

advantage has been the coop-

eration of all three groups. Be-cause of the extra support, we

have been able to save a consid-

erable amount of money. There

has been a dramatic impact on

our budget, and the arrange-

ment seems to be working well

for everyone so far.

FTalk: Now, with your first suc-

cessful year out of the way, what

plans does the AESF have for

2008?

FM : The very fact that were

able to balance a budget now

allows us to get back to AESF

roots. You are probably going to

see incredible things coming

from Frank Altmayer, the Techni-

cal Director and chairman of the

AESF Technical Education Board.

Were renewing and updating

the courses, making them a littlemore today to fit the needs of

our students. We are developing

new courses and making them

more relevant in the market-

place. We are also looking at col-

laborating with other finishing

news sources to market our

Last month, Finishing Talk in-terviewed quality manager of the

New Jersey based General Mag-naplate Corporation and AESF

Past President, Fred Mueller. He

now serves on the Board of

Trustees for the AESF. During

the interview he discussed issues

such as the proposed Surface

Engineering Database, last years

merger of the AESF (American

Electroplaters and Surface Fin-

ishers Society) with the NASF

(National Association for SurfaceFinishing), and the associations

plans for educational and out-

reach campaigns in 2008.

FTalk: To begin, Fred, why dont

we start by talking a little bit

about the AESF? When was the

association established and

which branch do you belong to?

FM : Well, the AESF has been

around since before WWII. It

was officially established in

1909. The organizations first

branch was in Philadelphia,

which is also the branch that I

belong to.

FTalk: I understand that it was

only recently that the AESF

merged with the NASF, after all

these years of being an inde-

pendent entity. What was themotivation behind the merger,

and what changes have you

seen within the organization

since the merger occurred?

FM : The merger became official

in January of 2007; so yes, it

F I N I S H I N G T A L K


5/16


T: (800) 438-6880

T: (828) 464-1376

F: (828) 464 -7094

www.jacksonlea.com

Your Total Finishing Resource.

1715 E. Conover Blvd. Conover, NC 28613

FM : The AESF is making several

efforts to get youth involved in

the finishing industry. The Bright

Design challenge is one good

example. We work with the

school of design for automotive

to promote the use of chromeand metals in vehicle design.

Weve exposed these future de-

signers to the industry, as well

as given them the resources to

include the metal finishing indus-

try in their future design plans.

FTalk: Lets change pace here

for a moment and discuss plans

for the new Surface Engineering

Database. Who proposed theidea for the database, and how

is the AESF responding to the

idea?

FM : We were approached by Dr.

Keith Legg of Rowan Technol-

ogy, who suggested that the da-

tabase needed a home that was

above reproach and also non-

profit; the AESF fit these criteria.

Furthermore, we already have afairly substantial database. The

foundation is all for it, but is

looking for more detail. In the

meantime, Keith is looking for

funding. We are pressing ahead

with it, though, because we

think its a great idea.

FTalk: Where was all of this in-

formation previously located?

FM : It is actually part of the

DOD. There is a lot of research -

some of which is classified - but

a lot of it is common knowledge,

so we want to make it available

to those that design, build, pur-

chase, and so on. Ultimately, its

a resource that will help finishers

match the right finish with the

right job.

FTalk: Who will have access to

the database once it is ready?

FM : The database is part of thepublic domain our tax dollars

go towards creating it, so there

is no way to make it exclusive.

FTalk: Who will benefit the most

from using the database?

FM : When people are aware of

how to use and choose coating,

the U.S. as a whole will benefit

financially from implementingthe proper instruments and

equipment for a job. Americas

finishing industry has a quality

finish, and we expect a quality

price for it, even though that of-

ten places us at a disadvantage

against other countries with

lower quality standards.

FTalk: I look forward to seeing

this project move from the plan-

ning stage into the valuable re-

source it sounds like its going to

become. Shifting gears again,

lets discuss the finishing indus-

try in general. What is your takeon the intense collaboration

within the industry that has oc-

curred during recent years?

FM : I think the level of collabo-

ration that has taken place is in

response to the changing mar-

ketplace. Globalization has cost

the industry dearly in North

America. What you are seeing is

a unified response to that. Giventhe chance, and by working to-

gether, we can do a better job.

We can turn our products around

more quickly and less expen-

sively, and with a higher quality.

FTalk: Do you see a trend to-

Continued on page 12 .


6/16


F R O M T H E F O R U M : H A R D C H R O M E A N O D E S ? S T E E L ?

In this months column, Finishing Talk forummembers Overchrome, DustinGebhardt, and Skel-ton discuss the use of steel anodes in the electro-plating process. Feel free to add yourthoughts to their discussion by going towww.FinishingTalk.com/electroplating and click-ing on the thread entitled Hard Chrome Anodes?STEEL?. For more From the Forum discussions,check out our monthly internet television show,Finishing Talk Live, where hosts Paul Fisher andPaul Skelton bring the boards to life!

www.finishingtalklive.com

Overchrome:

I currently use lead/tin anodes to plate withHARD CHROME. I was recently in a bind andmade the choice to use an all-steel anode to platean internal bore of a piece of tubing. I now hearthat this is not recommended. My question is,what would the issue be with the steel anode?The item was in the solution for less than 2hours. The chrome came out with the size Iwanted, no pitting, and it adhered to the baseitem. This is not an anode that is left in the tank;it is a one, maybe two time use item.

DustinGebhardt:In my experience, steel anodes have their use butcan be problematic. The main problem stemsfrom the fact that the steel is consumed duringthe process. The steel is not inert like the tin/leadanodes. As the current is passed through thesteel, it dissolves the steel. This can cause con-tamination of the chrome bath if used frequently.

Also, as the steel is being consumed, the dimen-

sions of the anode are changing. The anode getssmaller, and presumably farther from the part,which limits the amount of current it can pass(without modifying the voltage). It is also likelythat the steel piece will become deformed andcan cause uneven plating. In rare cases, it canalso become so thin that it will bend under itsown weight and touch the work piece, causing ashort.

I've used steel anodes before, but only until Icould get something better. In a job shop, youmay not have that luxury. But then again, you

should expect to have more problems than a cap-tive shop while running virtually every conceiv-able part under the sun.

Overchrome:

I am just glad that the anode worked. We are a job shop. The 10" diameter X 8' long steel pipewas a lot cheaper then one made of lead. We did-n't notice a loss of current, as we had the rectifierrunning at about 95% of full load. As far as add-ing iron to the bath, hopefully it is nothing that

turning that large steel anode into a giant electro-magnet can't fix.

DustinGebhardt:

I'd be pretty impressed if you could remove dis-solved iron with an electromagnet like this one.People use a similar principle when they filtertheir chrome with a porous pot, but there thecontaminated solution is contained.The dissolved steel anode won't create iron filingsor small pieces, but instead it will dissolve as iron

ions (Fe+2, Fe+3) in the bath. These cationsmight be attracted to an electromagnet, but canand will quickly dissociate away.

Skelton:

Wow! This is some intense tech-talk on HardChrome. But I need some clarity; all this talkabout inert anodes and electro-magnets has mebaffled. More so, I am just being active and par-ticipating, thanks to Overchrome planting a seedon this topic and Dustin helping sow the seed.

Now, million dollar questions for both of you:Dustin, what levels of iron contamination can ahard chrome process resist before failures in thedeposit occur? Also, why is tin/lead inert in chro-mic acid vs. iron or steel?

Overchrome, I saved the best question for last:

What exactly do you mean by "hopefully it isnothing that turning that large steel anode into a

Posted on January 1st, 2007


7/16


giant electro-magnet can't fix? I am scratchingmy head trying to determine what this means. Iam familiar with the "dummy plate", the porouspot, and now I am getting ready to learn aboutthe "electro-magnet"! Although, I do respect youringenuity in supplementing your auxiliary anode

with a steel pipe. You are a MacGyver of MacHardChrome!!!

My thoughts exactly on the dissolved iron con-taminants, filtration for the insoluble(s), and po-rous pot for the "tri-" and other "stuff". If you aregoing to "knowingly" contaminate your bath, andit makes good sense to do so from a costs per-spective, you need to know what thresholds youcan remain productive with. In other words, buyyourself a porous pot, be aware of the iron levelsin your bath, and reconsider the use of steel vs.lead/tin, lead or other aux. anodes.

DustinGebhardt:

What levels of iron contamination can a hardchrome process resist before failures in the de-

posit occur?

It will vary depending upon who you talk to. I'vegot more experience with decorative chromewhere 2opg of metallic contamination (zinc, cop-per, nickel, iron, lead, etc) is generally consideredon the high end, and as you get higher than 3 or

4opg your plating range gets much smaller. Forhard chrome, this is much less of a problem dueto the (usually) lower chrome/sulfate ratio and(usually) higher current densities.

To directly answer your question: it is up to theplater to determine what levels are acceptable. Asyour metallic contamination levels grow, thechrome deposit will become more impure, leadingto potential failures in the field. Personally, I'dinvest in a porous pot (or multiple pots) to main-tain the metallics less than 2opg total.

Why is tin/lead inert in chromic acid vs. iron orsteel?

Lead anodes form an insoluble lead peroxide filmon their surface when a current is applied. This isthe "chocolate brown" film that you sometimeshear described. This layer also protects the un-derlying lead metal from attack from the chrome

bath. As the current is removed and the anodesare allowed to sit in the bath, the peroxide layerbreaks down. The lead is then exposed to thechrome bath. Lead chromates can form, whichare inhibitors to current flow. They can form acrusty, flaky deposit that is yellow in color and

can be very stubborn to remove. There are spe-cific descalers for this problem available fromyour chemical supplier. Recent research hasshown that an excess of mist-suppressant canincrease the problem of the chromate scale.

The tin in the anodes makes the anodes morerigid. Over time, a pure lead anode will bend inthe direction toward the work piece. Old schoolplaters just rotated their anodes or hammeredthem back into shape. Now, tin and\or antimonyis used at around 5-8% to prevent or minimizethis. Steel/iron anodes will not form the protectiveperoxide layer and are therefore subject to rapidattack by the chrome bath.

Join in on this conversation and other finishingdiscussions at www.finishingtalk.com. Maybe your

advice, views, or opinions will end up in a futureinstallment of From the Forum.


8/16


V O C A B A T M E N T S Y S T E M S - S U B M I T T E D B Y M I K E S H O L Z

* New requirements for VOCcapture plus destruction havemarginalized direct heat recov-

ery and increased the operatingcost gap between thermal re-cups and RTOs.

Silgans existing thermal recu-perative oxidizer was designedbased on volume of airflow,organic vapor concentrationsand desired destruction effi-ciency. During operation, VOC-laden air is drawn into the sys-tem fan and is discharged into

a heat exchanger. The air ispreheated through the tubeside of the heat exchanger andthen passes the burner, wherethe contaminated air is raisedto the thermal oxidation tem-perature (1,200-1,800 deg F /650-1,000 deg C). When the

VOC-laden air is raised to thethermal oxidation temperaturefor the specified residence time(0.5-2.0 seconds), an exother-

mic reaction takes place. TheVOCs in the air stream are con-verted to carbon dioxide andwater vapor. The hot, purifiedair then passes on the shell sideof the heat exchanger wherethe energy released by the re-action is used to preheat theincoming solvent laden air re-ducing the systems fuel con-sumption. Finally, the contami-

nant-free air is exhausted intothe atmosphere.

A weakness in all thermal recu-perative oxidizer designs is thatthe steel in the heat exchangeris exposed to high burner cham-ber temperatures (typically up to1600 deg F / 871 deg C). Thesystem at Silgan had a history of

The use of regenerative ther-mal oxidizers is expanding into

applications where they would-nt have been considered yearsago. As the first generation ofoxidizer systems in the industrynears the end of their servicelife, many can making plantsface repair or replacement oftheir existing air pollution con-trol systems.

Like many others in the indus-try, a Silgan can making plant

in the Midwest had been usinga thermal recuperative oxidizerwith direct heat recovery forcontrol of emissions from itssheet coating lines. After morethan a decade of service, theoxidizer was reaching a pointwhere repairs would be neededin order to continue to meetstrict compliance limits. As aresult, Silgan began looking foran effective, efficient solution.

Historically, thermal recupera-tive oxidizers with direct heatrecovery have been a popularchoice in can making facilities especially those with ovenzones operating above 350 deg.F (177 deg C). In the past,thermal recuperative oxidizershad a capital cost advantageover regenerative thermal oxi-dizers (RTOs) and boasted

much more flexible Volatile Or-ganic Compounds (VOC) load-ing limitations. Their one draw-back has always been in sup-plemental fuel usage. Thermalrecuperative oxidizers top outat 70 percent internal heat re-covery, whereas RTOs are ableto achieve more than 95%.

For can makers, this drawbackwas minimized with the use ofadditional heat recovery. Hot,

purified air from the oxidizer isrouted directly back to the ovenzones and not lost to the at-mosphere. This has reducedthe operating cost penalty ofthe thermal recuperative oxi-dizer and, in the past, hasswung the balance towardspecifying that system for VOCloads above ten percent LowerExplosive Limit (LEL) almostexclusively. So exclusively that,

when hearing that Anguil Envi-ronmental Systems had recom-mended an RTO for its Midwestcoating facility, Silgan re-sponded almost incredulously:

They recommended what?This is clearly not an RTO appli-cation.

Given the technologies offeredwhen Silgan made its initial se-lection of a thermal recupera-

tive oxidizer, this was an under-standable response. It alsoserved as an ideal framework tostudy what has changed in oxi-dizer design over the past dec-ade to reverse such a drasticinitial response:

* Thermal recuperative oxidiz-ers no longer have capital costadvantage

* With hot gas bypass and feedforward technology, RTOs arenow specified in situations upto 25 percent LEL

* With fuel costs being unstableand still on the rise, every heatrecovery percentage pointcounts


9/16


requiring ongoing maintenancein this area, which had beendriving up cost and impactingthroughput. The engineeringteam at Silgan needed to fix theaging system, replace it with an

equivalent, or look for alterna-tive equipment.

After evaluating several op-tions, the RTO selection wasbased on the capital cost ad-vantage and operating cost sav-ings. It would be a custom-builtabatement system designedspecifically for this applicationwith high loadings and concen-trations. Anguil would design,

manufacture and install a40,000 scfm RTO with heat re-covery, hot gas bypass andoven purge system.

Silgans new RTO operates asfollows:

The solvent laden process gasenters the oxidizer through aninlet manifold. Flow controlpoppet valves direct this gasinto one of two energy recovery

chambers where the processgas is preheated. The processgas and contaminants are pro-gressively heated in the inletceramic bed as they move to-ward the combustion chamber.The VOCs are oxidized in thecombustion chamber, releasingthermal energy in the ceramicbed that is in the outlet flowdirection from the combustion

chamber. The outlet ceramicbed is heated and the gas iscooled so that the outlet gastemperature is only slightlyhigher than the process inlettemperature. Flow control pop-pet valves routinely alternatethe airflow direction into theceramic beds to maximize en-

ergy recovery within the oxi-dizer. The VOC oxidation andhigh energy recovery withinthese oxidizers reduces theauxiliary fuel requirement andsaves operating cost. For exam-

ple, at 95 percent thermal en-ergy recovery, the outlet tem-perature may be only 70 deg Fhigher than the inlet processgas temperature with an RTO.The oxidizer can reach self-sustaining operation with noauxiliary fuel usage at typical

operating concentrations.

The process emissions at theSilgan facility as well as thetemperature of the oven zonespresented some challenges, aswell as opportunities. Withprocess LEL levels as high as 14percent there was a concernover high temperature in theRTO. A hot side bypass valvewas provided to allow excessRTO reaction chamber heat tobe vented either directly into

Aging Thermal Recup

Continued on next page...


10/16


the exhaust or the back to theoven inlet manifold during peri-ods when the inlet VOC loading

provides more heat than is nec-essary to maintain the set pointtemperature. This primary heatrecovery saves thousands ofdollars in operating costs be-cause the ovens require muchless fuel to reach the desiredtemperature. With the Anguildesign there is no loss of resi-dence time at temperature, en-suring destruction and eliminat-ing the concern of overheating

the unit. VOC destruction effi-ciency is guaranteed whetherthe bypass is open or not.

Silgan is also investigating an-other energy reduction strategyby using a secondary heat ex-changer to recover additionalheat from the RTO exhauststack. Initial estimates showthat an extra 6.5 million btu/hrcan be recovered by utilizing a

heat exchanger in the oxidizerstack. Fresh air (at an averageoutdoor temperature of 46 degF / 8 deg C) passes through asingle pass 50 percent effectiveheat exchanger and is heatedup to approximately 350 deg F(177 deg C). This recoveredheat can be used for processesor comfort heat during the win-ter months, which could trans-

late into significant savings.The RTO is also equipped witha high temperature bake-outsystem, very similar to the self-cleaning option in an oven. Thisfeature removes organic build-up on the cold face of the heatexchange media. In the bake-out mode, the RTO is taken off-

V O C A B A T M E N T S Y S T E M S - C O N T I N U E D

line from the process. At a re-duced airflow, the outlet tem-perature is allowed to reach anelevated temperature beforethe flow direction is switched.This hot air vaporizes organicparticulate, essentially clearingthe media bed of any obstruc-

tion. The flow direction is thenswitched and the opposite coldface is cleaned. Standard bake-out occurs at 650 deg F (343deg C); stainless steel mediasupports and poppet valveswere used on the Silgan systemthat allowed bake-out tempera-tures to reach 800 deg F (427deg C), ensuring a more com-plete cleaning. Scheduled RTObake-outs reduce the pressure

drop across the heat recoverybeds. Therefore, Anguil in-cluded the transmitters neces-sary to monitor media bedpressure drop and provide bothcontinuous recording of thisdata as well as an indication tothe operators when a bake-outis recommended.

Dan Gallo, Silgans area man-ager of manufacturing, waspleased with the outcome. Weselected Anguil because of theirtechnical excellence and com-mitment to service, he said.

Not only has the companybeen able to troubleshoot itsown equipment, but it has also

provided operating solutions foroxidizers made by other manu-facturers. We are pleased withtheir dedication to excellenceand are happy to have Anguilas a business partner.

Mike Scholz is a senior applica-tion engineer at AnguilEnvironmental Systems.

You can contact him by mail at:

8855 N. 55th StreetMilwaukee, Wisconsin 53223

Or directly by:

Tel: 1-414-365-6400.Fax: 1 414 365 6410,Email:[email protected]

New Anguil RTO


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Page 15

M A I N T A I N I N G C O M M U N I T Y I N A W I D E S P R E A D I N D U S T R Y

Human nature has alwayscompelled us to build communityinfrastructures. We value being

part of a community, whether itsas small as a family or as largeas a city. Communitys enable usto take on more than we couldalone as individuals. The oldaphorism, two heads are betterthan one is further confirmationon the benefits of working withothers just imagine how muchbetter it would be to have 10, 50or 300 heads working towards acommon goal?

The metal finishing industry hashistorically encompassed a num-ber of communities. Organiza-tions such as the American Elec-troplaters and Surface FinishersSociety (AESF), Metal FinishingSuppliers Association (MFSA),National Association of Metal Fin-ishers (NAMF), the Surface Fin-ishing Industry Council (SFIC),and the National Paints and

Coatings Association (NPCA)have individually and collectivelybrought scores of metal finishingprofessionals together in supportof the industry. Due to the vari-ety of operations that aregrouped under the metal finish-ing sector and their fairly smallsizes (nearly 90% of U.S. metalfinishing establishments hadfewer than 50 employees in 2003

EPA) it has been necessary for

these establishments and individ-ual finishers to pool their re-sources.

Economic recession in 2001,causing a decline in U.S. manu-facturing activity, significantlybruised metal finishing in thiscountry. It has been difficult formany in our industry to bounceback due to simultaneous global-

bers to engage socially, network,learn from one another, vote onindustry issues, and collaborateon projects. It has now become

easier than ever to join a com-munity. The internet is riddledwith social networks coveringeverything from the professionalsort (law.com for lawyers) tot h e r i d i c u l o u s s o r t(Hamsterster.com yes, a net-work site for hamsters; a parodyof freindster.com). It is here, inthe wake of this networkingrevolution, that Finishing-Talk.com aims to play a key role.

Since the website was createdspecifically for networking pur-poses, we have been able towatch as members benefit fromthe shared content of industrynews, events, and interactivitywith other metal finishers at thetips of their fingers. At no othertime in human history has thislevel of communication been sowidely available, and at such anaffordable cost.

Metal Finishers may still have tobattle and adapt to the threat ofglobalization, the demands ofincreasingly rigid environmentalcontrols and regulations, price-competition from developingcountries, and product and mate-rial regulations but not alone.If the level of industry collabora-tion increases, the less intimidat-ing these threats will become. As

metal finishers combine their re-sources, share their knowledge,and work together to find solu-tions to these looming obstacles,they will understand the powerthat lies in such a simple andfundamental concept as commu-nity.

~ Anna Levitsky , Editor

ization trends. As a result, manyfinishing firms have simply exitedthe industry. It is estimated that

between 2000 and 2003, there

was a 25-30% reduction in in-dustry employment, with a corre-sponding reduction in sales ofapproximately 40% (EPA). Glob-alization is not only affecting thefinishing industry, however.Overall, the American economy issuffering from the decline of itsmanufacturing base, the rapidincrease of global competition,an accumulating trade deficit,and a lack of commitment to sci-

entific research.

Despite this ominous outlook, themetal finishing industry hasmade it clear that they are hereto stay. Beginning in 2007, the

AESF, NAMF, and MFSA joinedforces to officially become theNASF National Association forSurface Finishing. Prior to themerger, advocates asserted that

the reorganization is expected

to create a stronger, more viablevehicle for advancing the inter-ests of the North American sur-face finishing industry globally.The name, NASF, reflects theintegration of association cultureswhile preserving the individualidentities and traditions of theformer organizations. (FinishingToday Magazine, Oct. 2006). Asa collective, this newly expandedcommunity of metal finishers has

amplified their voice, widenedtheir industrial network, and sig-nificantly enhanced the benefitsof membership.

The benefits of immersing one-self in a like-minded community,however, do not stop here. Or-ganizations, such as the NASF,provide opportunities for mem-

T H E L A S T W O R D


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PO Box 349

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January/ February 2008

Anna Levitsky, Editor

Phone: 704-995-2263

[email protected]

www.FinishingTalk.com

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