Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Electro-polishing Stainless and Anodizing

Does electro-polishing of stainless steel have enough in common with anodizing (e.g.plant and power supplies) that it could be considered a worthwhile diversification for an underused anodizing shop? I'm thinking of one of our suppliers who are struggling to keep their anodizing business going, but I'd hate to suggest something to them if it was going to lead them down a blind alley.

Gary Middleton
general engineering - Hainault, Essex, U.K.
2003

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Hi Gary. Yes, electrolytic wet processing has a core technology (open-top rectangular tanks, process solutions, cleaning routines, rectifiers, exhaust ventilation, anode rods, heating coils, etc.) that is common to anodizing, electroplating, and electropolishing. If you looked at a process line from a couple of hundred feet away you would not know which of the three you were looking at.

Still, my personal opinion is that diversification of finishes is not the way to go; rather,higher technology is. So I'd suggest that they consider bright dipping, Teflon impregnation, two-step coloring, hard coating, phosphoric acid anodizing, or some other extension of their anodizing skills rather than moving into stainless steel processing.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003