Just getting ready to go see some clients but thought I would check on the board first.
I came home late yesterday afternoon from Columbus after troubleshooting a nagging problem that is an ongoing nightmare for this large client of mine.. I finally was able to prove whatthe cause is after telling them the same thing over three weeks ago.
The resistance was from a plant manager who is dumber than a box of rocks who last year changed chemical suppliers who have no expertise in pretreatment of alminum extrusions before coating them.
All the products going through this pretratment and then being coated in a matte black powder coat when bent at 120 degrees exhibit micro abrasions and cracking at the bend line area onone side of the extrusiion lip only.
The rest of it is fine.
This is an extreme overbend and not necesary but the GM wants to do it this way..
I convinced the GM to let me run same extrusions through their powder system using the matte black and do so without using their pretreatment tanks. Wipe off clean using only some MEK and a rag.
Results? Perfection..... Not a trace of a micro abrasion anywhere after severe over bending...
Test 2 involved washing in the tanks using only the first stage wchich is an alkaine cleaner and then rinsing in stage 2 and 3. Water only.... \
Dry parts off in oven.
Now run them thrugh the powder booth and test these.....
Ran 16 extrusions like this.. Again, perfection.... No cracking......Same bend severity...
The final stage of their pretreatment is a no chrome conversion coating.
Not just any chemical supplier has expertise in aluminum architectural extrusion surface prep but the resistance to allowing me to bring in the BEST company for evaluation and their opinion was mind boggling....
NOW that I have actually PROVEN my point, the GM has now said to go ahead and get the second opinion of their system. They still are bringning in the current suplier to see if they can straighten out their problem but I I have little to zero hope of thathappening.
Itis the wrong conversion coating fro what the company is running......
I made a dash to the Florist when I got back in town and then got a Hallmark card. 2 dozen red roses, a card, and box of dark chocolates later I arrived home....
Had to go take care of my father at the nursing home and after that we could share the surprises...
Anwway, mrs. micro had a good Valentine Day and knows she is the most important thing in my life...
THAT is all that matters to me....
Everything else is secondary....
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