Anodising Custom protective coatings: The future of metal manufacturing The benefits of protective coatings for machined components are well known – but manufacturers can take this a step further. Working closely with a specialist coating supplier gives manufacturers the ability to provide custom, project-specific finishes and offer a tailored, quality service to their customers.
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ANUFACTURING metal components is more than simply machining parts based on a drawing. Fabricators and metal manufacturers need to be attuned to their customers’ needs, delivering high-quality and long-lasting parts. Choosing expert surface finishers to supply protective coatings such as anodising and powder coating can help manufacturers meet their customers’ requirements for durability, including corrosion, abrasion, heat and chemical resistance, as well as colour preferences. However, with specialised projects for industry priority areas such as defence coming more into focus in Australia, manufacturers may need to think outside the box to deliver the highest quality products possible. Seeking the advice and support
of specialist protective coating and surface finishing providers allows manufacturers to go beyond simply checking the boxes for corrosion or abrasion resistance. By determining which finish – or finishes – meet customers’ specific requirements and working to create customised finishing solutions, manufacturers can provide an unparalleled quality service, build grater customer trust and stronger customer relationships. Defence manufacturer Milspec Manufacturing has garnered a reputation as one of Australia’s most precise, reliable contract manufacturers, providing brushless alternators and portable power systems to supply chains across the globe. When Milspec received project specifications for a crucial land project for Kongsberg Defence Australia, they sought a way to fulfil the strict requirements needed to
DECO works with customers to customise protective coatings.
30 SEPTEMBER 2021 Manufacturers’ Monthly
ensure the metal components could withstand the harsh conditions they would be exposed to. “Defence projects require very specific finishes, because of the very harsh conditions they parts are exposed to and the stringent global standards they must comply with,” said Milspec general manager, Neil Morrison. “To ensure customer satisfaction we needed to find a finisher who could collaborate with us at every step to achieve exactly what the customer required.” Teaming up with DECO Australia – the South West Sydney surface finishing experts – assisted Milspec in achieving the highly custom finish required for the project. DECO Australia, who have collaborated with a wide range of engineering, aerospace, automotive, medical and defence manufacturers, are driven to provide specialist finishing solutions to meet unique customer needs. Their tailored services and willingness to work with customers mean they are able to set up specialised production lines and even create custom finishes. When project requirements call for a niche finish, working with a surface finisher can yield unprecedented positive results. The use of duplex finishes, which combine the benefits and properties of multiple surface treatments, can optimise production and performance for complex projects. Milspec’s project specifications called for a very specific grey finish to meet international standards, as well as the removal of surface contaminants, corrosion resistance and the application of multiple finishes to different areas of the
Processes like hard anodising helps manufacturers meet durability requirements.
component. While this may have initially appeared to be a challenge, DECO has a history of developing duplex coatings – one of their most notable examples being the one-of-a-kind finish on the façade of the Hong Kong Tai Kwun Arts Precinct. To achieve the required finish for Milspec’s project, DECO set about developing an efficient coating system, blasting the parts with plastic media, masking certain areas before anodising the components, to ensure different coatings could be applied to different areas of the same product, and applying a custom grey finish to other areas. “DECO’s innovative approach meant instead of sending the part to multiple suppliers or offering an alternative that wasn’t quite what was specified, we could utilise a coating system that met the exact specifications,” said Morrison. As well as providing creative solutions, working with surface finishers allows for more thorough quality testing. Manufacturers can closely observe initial trials, discussing adjustments and approving prototypes to get the best final result. Before working on Milspec’s manmonthly.com.au
