On July 26th, 40km away from the Eiffel Tower and the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, SIFCO ASC France demonstrated its know-how in its own way.
Safran Reosc, a world leader in high performance optical systems, manufactures all the mirrors of the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Led by the international consortium ESO, this €1,5 billion project aims at assembling and commissioning the largest telescope on earth in the Atacama Desert in Chile by 2028. In short, the ELT is a revolutionary ground-based telescope that will have a 39-metre main mirror and will be the largest visible and infrared light telescope in the world: the world’s biggest eye on the sky. In addition to this unparalleled size, the ELT will be equipped with a lineup of cutting-edge instruments, designed to cover a wide range of scientific possibilities.
While the main mirror has a 39-meter diameter, Safran Reosc reached out to SIFCO ASC France to treat parts for the secondary 4-meter diameter mirror. Several lateral supports of the mirror needed to be nickel-plated. SIFCO ASC France leveraged its portable Selective Electroplating technology to perform the treatment in-situ without disassembling the supports. A layer of 50 microns of nickel was plated using the SIFCO Process to help prevent corrosion.
This intervention is a perfect example of SIFCO ASC’s globally recognized technical expertise. The SIFCO Process enable technicians to perform the plating locally, on the exact area requiring the repair, without disassembling the part. Most of the plating in the world is done in baths, where the parts are fully immersed in large tanks. Here this would have required Safran to dismantle the Lateral Supports which would have been very costly and would have delayed the project. Our Selective Electroplating technology offers the opportunity to plate without the use of an immersion tank.
To learn more about selective plating, click here.
SIFCO ASC, a Quaker Houghton company, will be showcasing its selective electroplating process at this year’s FABTECH 2022 under the show’s FAB to FINISH Production Experience. The live workshop provides attendees with the opportunity to observe parts production, from fabrication through to the finishing process – all on the show floor.
Coordinated by the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), FAB to FINISH will demonstrate a variety of fabrication and finishing techniques. Production processes on show include laser cutting, bending and pre-treatment, powder coating, curing, and finally, the SIFCO Process®, SIFCO ASC’s world leading selective electroplating solution.
Providing a level of portability over rival plating methods, selective electroplating will be especially relevant to attendees looking to either enhance the surface of OEM components, apply permanent repairs, or salvage worn and mis-machined parts. These surface finishing techniques can be done all without the need to transport the part to offsite premises.
Chic Allen, General Manager at SIFCO ASC, said: “Like last year, we want to provide FABTECH visitors with a truly comprehensive and memorable experience of what we do at SIFCO ASC. After going through the various workshops, attendees will be able to join us at the final stage of production, where they can watch how we plate copper through selective electroplating. Best of all, they can take the part home as a souvenir!”
The FAB to FINISH Production Experience starts at the laser cutting and bending booths. From there, attendees will be directed to the finishing pavilion where parts will then be cleaned, ready for the attendee to powder coat the component themselves after watching the curing process. Finally, SIFCO ASC will plate the part with copper using selective electroplating.
Attendees will see first-hand the efficiency of the selective electroplating process and the minimal tools and equipment necessary to conduct on-site plating, such as power packs, leads, anodes, solutions, trays, and portable ventilation. SIFCO ASC reps will be on the stand to answer any questions around selective electroplating while also discussing SIFCO ASC’s wider service offering, ranging from the new Advanced Solution Control System with dripless tooling and automation to contract service and the various training services for any industry.
Alongside this, SIFCO ASC will also be presenting on the benefits of automation. Join Chic Allen on Wednesday, November 9, in room B405 at 8 am as he discusses how attendees can improve the productivity and repeatability of their plating operation through automation.
SIFCO ASC will be on booth B5159. FABTECH is North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding tradeshow and will be held at the Georgia World Congress Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, November 8-10, 2022.
We would like to express our deepest sadness at the news that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. Her Majesty has been steadfast in her commitment to the service of the nation and Commonwealth, providing compassionate and inspirational leadership during the many challenging times of her long reign.
Times are hard right now – made more so by the loss of our much-loved Queen – and our tribute should be to work tirelessly to build a better future for the people of this country in memory of Her Majesty.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal family and all who knew her.
SIFCO ASC, a Quaker Houghton company, has continued its commitment to improving the selective plating process by revolutionizing its heated flow system. The newly redesigned TechnoFlow can give operators and technicians data logging capabilities as well as improved safety features.
The units are designed to work with SIFCO Process® solutions that are best plated at an elevated temperature. The TechnoFlow 600 can hold over seven liters of solution, while the 1200 unit has a solution capacity of up to 12 liters. Both sizes contain no fuses and have internal circuit breakers as well as 24-volt finger-safe switches meeting UL and CE requirements.
One of the major improvements is the pump adapter plate providing better access to the frame mounting screws, making removing the large 14 GPM pump easier. Improvements have also been made to the pump connector plugs. The new twist lock system guarantees a safe power connection, yet easy removal when needed. Lastly, the TechnoFlow is now equipped with CPVC plumbing lines – providing both sizes a bypass filter – allowing technicians to change the filter mid-operation for large applications.
SIFCO ASC’s Engineering Manager, Derek Kilgore, said: “As well as making the overall electroplating process more efficient and user friendly, we wanted to improve the safety features for operators, such as lids with an o-ring seal to decrease solution splash. The system is now equipped with a PID temperature controller with auto-tuning functions, resulting in less overshoot of the set temperature and has the ability to log temperatures throughout the operation for post plating review.”
The TechnoFlow has recently been incorporated into SIFCO ASC’s new all-in-one plating system featuring dripless technology called the Advanced Solution Control System (ASCS).
As the world leader in selective plating technology, SIFCO ASC has been providing practical, cost-effective brush plating solutions for both OEM components and parts requiring refurbishment in the aerospace, oil and gas, general industry, and power generation sectors for over 50 years.
About SIFCO ASC
SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts provide practical, cost-effective selective brush plating solutions to improve part performance and reduce manufacturing costs through corrosion protection, increased wear resistance, increased hardness, improved conductivity, anti-galling, or slip.
SIFCO ASC surface enhancement technologies and brush plating services have been utilized for over 50 years on both OEM components and parts requiring refurbishment in the aerospace, oil and gas, general industry, and power generation sectors. www.sifcoasc.com
About Quaker Houghton
Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world’s most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,700 employees, including chemists, engineers, and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit www.quakerhoughton.com to learn more.
SIFCO ASC, the global leader in selective electroplating, has launched a new
portable all-in-one plating system featuring dripless technology called the Advanced Solution Control System (ASCS).
Thanks to the system’s cutting-edge technique of non-drip selective plating, all chemical solutions flow and vacuum through the SMART tools before being recycled back into the cart’s solution management system – right at the surface of the workpiece. The result is a cleaner, more environmentally friendly, and inherently safer working environment.
This innovative piece of electroplating technology is also entirely portable, enabling it to be brought directly to the specific part or component. In addition to aiding throughput and productivity, the reduced ergonomic risk will offer significant safety benefits to operators and employees.
SIFCO ASC’s General Manager, Nicolas Baudin, said: “By using the ASCS, technicians will quickly see a boost in safety and reduction in their process footprint – a key consideration for everyone in the industry. The system’s dripless tooling will also significantly cut exposure to fumes and chemicals as well as reduce waste thanks to the use of less masking, cover materials, and cleaning supplies.”
In addition to the clear environmental and safety benefits, the ASCS has been designed to further enhance automation. After all, selective plating is no longer strictly a manual process. By increasing automation, cycle times can be optimized, data is logged in real-time, repeatability from one technician to the next is increased, and human errors are minimized.
Two sizes of the ASCS, the Nano and Prime, are currently available. Each has been designed to further build on the existing benefits of selective plating, such as in-situ repairs and reduced masking and downtime.
Designed for basic operations of two process steps or less, the manual Nano utilizes the TechnoPlate® with its removable controller, allowing technicians to continuously monitor the amps and volts without ever having to turn around. Recommended applications include anodizing, zinc-nickel, cadmium, and passivation.
An expansion of the Nano, the Prime is suited to more complex applications and can hold up to nine different plating solutions. This fully automated system is equipped with an HMI controlled rectifier, allowing technicians to program each process step, continually monitor the operation, and log data in real-time. The cart also has a unique Cleaning-in-Place feature, which prevents the potentially harmful mixing of chemicals. Yet, despite all this functionality, the Prime still only takes up the footprint of a standard pallet.
In addition to the Nano and the Prime, SIFCO ASC has also developed a collection of SMART tools to cover a variety of geometries and contact areas, ranging from 0.07 dm² (1 in2) to an incredible 1 dm² (15.5 in2). With the SMART tools, the deposit can be plated in any orientation – horizontally, vertically, and upside down with no difference in performance or result.
These new systems mark the latest example of SIFCO ASC’s commitment to continually improve the selective plating process. As the world leader in selective plating technology, SIFCO ASC has been providing practical, cost-effective brush plating solutions for both OEM components and parts requiring refurbishment in the aerospace, oil and gas, general industry, and power generation sectors for over 50 years.
For a closer look at SIFCO ASC’s new game changing Advanced Solution Control Systems join the SIFCO ASC team, May 24 at 10am for their upcoming webinar. The webinar will highlight its key benefits including safety, process consistency, waste management, and space savings. Book your place here – https://myqh.link/3MV1O9s
ENDS
Notes to editors
About SIFCO ASC
SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts provide practical, cost-effective selective brush plating solutions to improve part performance and reduce manufacturing costs through corrosion protection, increased wear resistance, increased hardness, improved conductivity, anti-galling, or slip.
SIFCO ASC surface enhancement technologies and brush plating services have been utilized for over 50 years on both OEM components and on parts requiring refurbishment in the aerospace, oil and gas, general industry, and power generation sectors. www.sifcoasc.com
About Quaker Houghton
Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world’s most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies.
Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,700 employees, including chemists, engineers, and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next.
Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit www.quakerhoughton.com to learn more.
Quaker Houghton and SIFCO ASC Showcase their Hydraulic and BOP Fluids, Marine Underlayments and Deck Coatings, and Selective Electroplating Technologies
CONSHOHOCKEN, PA (April 21, 2022) – Offshore oil and gas drilling companies face complex challenges as never before. They are under pressure to reduce costs, lower their environmental footprint, and provide superior engineering performance all while having to increase productivity. Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR) along with its subsidiary SIFCO ASC, will showcase their solutions to these challenges in-person at the Offshore Technology Conference in booth 2701 on May 2 – 5, 2022 in Houston, TX.
Quaker Houghton and SIFCO ASC’s portfolio of offshore solutions and technologies include:
Quaker Houghton is the global leader in industrial process fluids. With a presence around the world, including operations in over 25 countries, our customers include thousands of the world’s most advanced and specialized steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, can, mining, and metalworking companies. Our high-performing, innovative and sustainable solutions are backed by best-in-class technology, deep process knowledge and customized services. With approximately 4,700 employees, including chemists, engineers and industry experts, we partner with our customers to improve their operations so they can run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next. Quaker Houghton is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, located near Philadelphia in the United States. Visit quakerhoughton.com to learn more.
SIFCO ASC will be showcasing its selective electroplating process at this year’s FABTECH 2021 under the show’s FAB to FINISH Production Experience. The live workshop provides attendees with the opportunity to observe parts production, from fabrication through to the finishing process – all on the show floor.
Coordinated by the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), FAB to FINISH will demonstrate a variety of fabrication and finishing techniques. Production processes on show include laser cutting, bending and pre-treatment, powder coating, curing, and finally, the SIFCO Process®, SIFCO ASC’s world leading selective electroplating solution.
Providing a level of portability over rival plating methods, selective electroplating will be especially relevant to attendees looking to either enhance the surface of OEM components, apply permanent repairs, or salvage worn and mis-machined parts. These surface finishing techniques can be done all without the need to transport the part to offsite premises.
Mark Meyer, North America Sales Manager at SIFCO ASC, said: “This year, we wanted to provide FABTECH visitors with a truly comprehensive and memorable experience of what we do at SIFCO ASC. After going through the various workshops, attendees will be able to join us at the final stage of production, where they can watch how we plate copper through selective electroplating. Best of all, they can take the part home as a souvenir!”
Attendees will see first-hand the efficiency of the selective electroplating process and the minimal tools and equipment necessary to conduct on site plating, such as power packs, leads, anodes, solutions, trays, and portable ventilation.
Alongside this, SIFCO ASC’s reps will be attending the event to answer any questions around selective electroplating while also discussing SIFCO ASC’s wider service offering, ranging from the new encapsulated plating method and automation to contract service and essential training for any industry.
The FAB to FINISH Production Experience starts at the laser cutting and bending booths. From there, attendees will be directed to the finishing pavilion where parts will then be cleaned, ready for the attendee to powder coat the component themselves after watching the curing process. Finally, SIFCO ASC will plate the part with copper using selective electroplating.
SIFCO ASC is a Quaker Houghton company, and will be on booth D45762. FABTECH takes place in from 13th-16th September 2021 at McCormick Place, Chicago, US.
SIFCO ASC, the global leader of selective electroplating, has brought to market a new plating method named Encapsulated Plating, combining the technology of both selective plating and tank plating.
The new process takes the best of both existing techniques to offer a sustainable way to plate complex, circular or axi-symmetric parts such as deep bores or recessed areas. Offering the same advantages as selective plating, the process minimizes masking, reduces the reliance on immersing an entire part, creates minimal waste and maintains a fast-plating rate.
Using fundamental electrochemical principles and custom tooling that conforms to the geometry of the area that needs to be plated, the part is encapsulated within a sealed fixture and the plating solution is directed through a gap in the tooling, allowing the solution to flow over the component at a high velocity. Due to the nature of the plating method, the new process is suitable across multiple industries, from power generation and industrial, through to electronics and aerospace.
With its unique approach, Encapsulated Plating is more environmentally friendly than other plating methods, offering significant health and safety benefits to operators and employees. Alongside this, the new method offers a level of process control, repeatability and traceability that cannot be achieved using other plating methods, giving the customer reassured service for critical components.
Patrick Kerampran, Engineering Manager – SIFCO ASC France, states: “We’ve identified a need for a solution that’s capable of plating a high volume of complex parts while still requiring the selective electroplating process. Our new solution combines the benefits of both leading plating technologies to meet the demand of the market.”
“By moving to less labor-intensive processes, we can reduce manpower costs while at the same time, offer improved efficiencies for the end-customer – a valued benefit when high volumes of components are in need of plating. With additional benefits ranging from cleaner processes and heightened process control, Encapsulated Plating will allow SIFCO ASC to better serve its customers and continue leading the market in plating technology.”
To learn more about how to best plate non-line of sight areas, SIFCO ASC’s upcoming webinar on Encapsulated Plating will cover the benefits of this unique approach. The webinar takes place on Tuesday, 24th August and attendees can register via the link: https://bit.ly/3hqpHsC
For additional information about SIFCO ASC’s new plating offering, visit https://www.sifcoasc.com/explore-encapsulated-plating to download the whitepaper.
SIFCO ASC is revising its recommended shelf life to four years for most SIFCO Process® solutions produced beginning June 1, 2021. The recommended shelf life will be written on all solution labels in the bottom left corner taking place of the expiration date. Exceptions to this recommendation are noted on individual solution Technical Data Sheets contained the SIFCO Process® instruction manual. Please note that the 2021 edition of the manual is currently under review and will be released soon; the referenced change to recommended shelf life will be included in the new edition.
Shelf life is defined as the length of time a SIFCO Process® solution should remain inside the published specification limits, provided the product has remained in the original sealed, unopened container under proper storage conditions throughout the time period.
This recommendation has been implemented to align with the current shelf life of the raw chemicals used to manufacture our solutions, meet IATA and ADR shipping regulations for plastic containers, and to align with the Good Chemical Practices for the chemical industry.
Please continue to use your current solutions on hand. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please do not hesitate to contact us..
We appreciate your continued business and support of SIFCO ASC.
El proveedor líder mundial de tecnología y soluciones de revestimiento selectivo, SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts (ASC), está invitando a personas de la industria de la minería y la remanufactura a aprender más sobre los procesos de revestimiento selectivo asistiendo a su seminario web. Diseñado para brindar información sobre cómo superar los desafíos que enfrentan los fabricantes y operadores en la actualidad, Refurbished: Using Selective Plating to Remanufacture Components to OEM Specifications (Reacondicionado: Uso del enchapado selectivo para remanufacturar componentes según las especificaciones OEM), el seminario web gratuito, brindará información y asesoramiento de expertos para fabricantes y centros de reparación.
Para los administradores de sitios que buscan extender la vida útil de los equipos y la maquinaria y reducir los costos, la remanufactura es una de las mejores opciones disponibles. En todas las industrias, el proceso de enchapado selectivo se ha convertido en un método confiable para cumplir con las altas exigencias de los recubrimientos de superficies, lo que garantiza una calidad y un rendimiento constantes para proteger los componentes críticos incluso en los entornos operativos más hostiles.
El 25 de febrero, “Refurbished” (Reacondicionado), presentado por Tony Arana, Gerente del Territorio del Sudoeste de SIFCO ASC, ayudará a los asistentes a comprender el proceso de enchapado selectivo y cómo maximizar el rendimiento de sus componentes, reducir el tiempo de inactividad y ejecutar una reparación comprobada.
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Safran Reosc, a world leader in high performance optical systems, manufactures all the mirrors of the future Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). Led by the international consortium ESO, this €1,5 billion project aims at assembling and commissioning the largest telescope on earth in the Atacama Desert in Chile by 2028. In short, the ELT is a revolutionary ground-based telescope that will have a 39-metre main mirror and will be the largest visible and infrared light telescope in the world: the world’s biggest eye on the sky. In addition to this unparalleled size, the ELT will be equipped with a lineup of cutting-edge instruments, designed to cover a wide range of scientific possibilities.
This intervention is a perfect example of SIFCO ASC’s globally recognized technical expertise. The SIFCO Process enable technicians to perform the plating locally, on the exact area requiring the repair, without disassembling the part. Most of the plating in the world is done in baths, where the parts are fully immersed in large tanks. Here this would have required Safran to dismantle the Lateral Supports which would have been very costly and would have delayed the project. Our Selective Electroplating technology offers the opportunity to plate without the use of an immersion tank.
SIFCO ASC, a Quaker Houghton company, will be showcasing its selective electroplating process at this year’s FABTECH 2022 under the show’s FAB to FINISH Production Experience. The live workshop provides attendees with the opportunity to observe parts production, from fabrication through to the finishing process – all on the show floor.
We would like to express our deepest sadness at the news that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. Her Majesty has been steadfast in her commitment to the service of the nation and Commonwealth, providing compassionate and inspirational leadership during the many challenging times of her long reign.
SIFCO ASC’s Engineering Manager, Derek Kilgore, said: “As well as making the overall electroplating process more efficient and user friendly, we wanted to improve the safety features for operators, such as lids with an o-ring seal to decrease solution splash. The system is now equipped with a PID temperature controller with auto-tuning functions, resulting in less overshoot of the set temperature and has the ability to log temperatures throughout the operation for post plating review.”
This innovative piece of electroplating technology is also entirely portable, enabling it to be brought directly to the specific part or component. In addition to aiding throughput and productivity, the reduced ergonomic risk will offer significant safety benefits to operators and employees.
An expansion of the Nano, the Prime is suited to more complex applications and can hold up to nine different plating solutions. This fully automated system is equipped with an HMI controlled rectifier, allowing technicians to program each process step, continually monitor the operation, and log data in real-time. The cart also has a unique Cleaning-in-Place feature, which prevents the potentially harmful mixing of chemicals. Yet, despite all this functionality, the Prime still only takes up the footprint of a standard pallet.