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Need to start a Zinc Plating Plant
Sir,
Q. I want to start a small Zinc Plant so I wanted to know the total cost of plant and chemicals used . The zinc plant is to be set up for plating of sheet metal components. So please kindly advice me how to start.
Rakesh AroraAutomotive - Delhi, India
^- Sorry! This RFQ is outdated -^
+++A. Short answer, you need to do some research on your own first, then you probably need a consultant.
James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
February 5, 2012
RFQ: I want to start zinc plating plant & nickel-chrome plant; so please give me a guideline for total investment and cost per kg
arvind patil- ankleshwer,gujarat,india
^- Privately contact this inquirer -^
February 6, 2012
A. Hi, Arvind.
You must start with a knowledge of what type of parts you will be plating so that you can determine a pretreatment sequence (cleaning, activation, and possibly initial plating layers like zincate, alkaline copper, or Wood's nickel based on the material of the substrate). Then the plating sequence (acid vs. cyanide vs. alkaline zinc plating, for example). Then you select the required post treatment (probably a RoHS-compliant chromate, perhaps followed by a sealer topcoat, or a wax or a water soluble oil).
Next you consider such factors as whether you will barrel plate the articles or rack plate them, and whether the line will be manually operated or automatic. With this information and the production rate, you can begin sizing the process tanks and ancillary equipment. I have seen small production plating lines put together from used equipment for $50,000, whereas I was involved in one plating line where the concrete foundation cost $6.5 million before we began setting the first tank :-)
You may possibly find a process supplier and/or equipment supplier who will help you through the entire design, but many years (or decades) of experience are required to make the right early decisions. So, as James says, you should probably retain a plating consultant before attempting to go further.
The best way to determine cost per kg is to request quotes from a couple of local plating shops. Best of luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
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