Anodize

Bowers Aluminum in Battle Creek, Michigan, is planning to expand its manufacturing operations in Battle Creek’s Ft. Custer Industrial Park.

MIL-A-8625 - Anodic Coatings for Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys, the primary anodizing specification used in the United States, was revised to MIL-PRF-8625 Revision F and is effective as of Nov. 23, 2020. The specification, as well as previous versions is available for download on the ASSIST online database (assist.dla.mil) and the ASSIST quick search (https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsSearch.aspx).¹

Valence Everett continues to invest in and diversify its surface treatment capabilities in the Pacific Northwest with the addition of critical Lockheed Martin Aeronautics approved processes in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Water-based chemistries along with electrical power are used to create a coating made primarily of aluminum oxide. The coating actually “grows” out of the metal making the hardness and wear resistance an order of magnitude greater than paint, and unlike paint, both the process and the coating are considered eco- friendly.

Alternative finishes and substitute materials pose market challenges to the anodizing industry.

Valence Seattle successfully completed its expansion and has been offering hard (Type III) anodizing services for the aerospace and defense supply chain in the Pacific Northwest in September 2020.

White spots on black anodized finishes are a common industry problem. There are a variety of reasons why they might occur.

World-renown anodizing subject matter expert Anne Deacon Juhl, Ph.D., is hosting a free webinar about hard anodizing on January 26.

Anodized aluminum has the potential to save thousands of lives through personalized healthcare. Precision or personalized medicine is health care tailored to the individual and there is a growing need for inexpensive diagnostics in this field.

Organic dye is the most common method of coloring anodized aluminum. Unfortunately, all dyes fade to some extent when they are exposed to ultraviolet light. The good news is that there are steps that an anodizer can take to minimize this unwanted effect.

David Vaughn doesn’t just want to know that his customers are happy with the services that his company, Ace Anodizing and Impregnating, are providing them; instead, the president of the shop wants to know if his customer’s customers are happy.

Observations conducted by the Murikabushi Telescope of Ishigakijima Astronomical Observatory confirmed that dark coating can reduce satellite reflectivity by half.

Iowa Economic Development Authority approved tax credits for In Tolerance Contract Manufacturing to build a new automated anodize line in Cedar Rapids.

Tej Patel and Archana Sonejee from Techevon present this Video Webinar on Anodizing Seal Additives.

Fred Le Friec was a mechanical engineer working in the Spokane, Washington area in the 1990s building dot matrix printers when he realized the area was void of enough finishing services to handle the work he needed to be done.

Ace Anodizing and Impregnating Inc. has increased its capability within its hard coat process to keep up with current day market demands.