Anochrome Technologies Ltd, the specialist surface coating division of The Anochrome Group is undergoing developments to improve their facilities. Located at its Bloxwich plant, near Walsall, the facility is currently upgrading its hard anodising facility and dip drain facility.
The facility is set to include a new hot seal capability. The modification also includes improvements to the plant program control to enable even greater flexibility to the type and specification of customer products.
This is the first upgrade to the plant since commissioning eight years ago, during which time millions of parts have successfully being anodised or passivated. Such modifications allow Anochrome Technologies to meet the requirements of customers such as BMW and the VW group and maintain the plant’s position as one of the premier trade anodising facilities in the UK. The new tank is expected to be fully functional and in use by June of this year.
The Bloxwich site has also seen a new Dip Drain facility installed. The plant, which has a fully automatic cleaning, drying and dip operation is now supplemented by flexible supplementary or additional operation, situated alongside the line.
The installation of this line is as a result of growing volumes of work and varied requirement from their customers. The improvements, with automated pre-treatment facilities will enable the coating of larger items or items requiring a duplex finish. This will further expand the range of products the Anochrome Group can coat including brackets, pressings, large fasteners and tubular components.
Dorken©Delta KL100 is the first material chosen for this line, although the flexibility of the plant allow for quick material change over and the potential to run two materials simultaneously. Other zinc flake and organic materials such as Geomet©and Xylan© together with top coats will be offered when the need arises.
The plant is capable of dipping items within an envelope of 600mm x 600mm x 750mm deep, or for large spray application this is increased to 1500mm x 600m x 750mm deep.
The investments at Anochrome Technologies Ltd. is part of the programme the Anochrome Group has in place to provide ever more cost effective coatings with higher specification finishes and greater flexibility in matching their customers’ requirements.
The Anochrome Group have already been successful in being part of the supply chain for Jaguar Land Rover. Many components coated by The Anochrome Group in corrosion resistant finishes, sealing and locking systems, such as Dorken and Magni materials, are now featured in the latest Range Rover model.