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Q&As since 1989


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Chromate conversion market

 

I am working in a metal research group looking at alternative methods to Chromate conversion coating. Most of the market is driven by aircraft aluminum product coating at large aircraft manufacturing plants. I need to know if this is the major part of this market or is there other applications that are just as big.

Who are the major suppliers of this material and process? How large of a market is it? Who do the aircraft manufacturers buy from? Who do other industries buy from? We are trying to understand the implication to a business model if we develop a new greener product.

Ed Brown
- E. Hartford , Connecticut

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We posted your inquiry and will be happy to post any responses, Mr. Brown. But our experience is that market research questions never draw a response.

People in that business don't want you in it to compete against them, so they don't say anything; the users don't like to pay high proprietary prices for a product they have to teach the vendors about; and the consultants don't like to give the answer to someone who will be collecting the check and doesn't know the answer, when they feel they should be collecting the check because they do :-)

But if you start with MIL-C-5541 and work through the Qualified Products List, you'll at least find out who makes the stuff.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
 

I'd suggest he contact the AESF for their annual reports on market conditions for this type of information. The one they published about 2 years ago was a wonderfully detailed and very easy to read source for all this market research data. It truly is the only reliable way to tell, as we can all provide you answers but Ted is right at the same time.

We're here to help, but there's always that notion that you could be moving in behind me, and I would have hence allowed you to compete against me because of my own willingness to provide and help with questions/answers.

Matthew Stiltner
plating company - Toledo, Ohio