Keywords
Citation
(2002), "PAL line + waste-water treatment plant for China factory", Anti-Corrosion Methods and Materials, Vol. 49 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/acmm.2002.12849daf.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
PAL line + waste-water treatment plant for China factory
PAL line + waste-water treatment plant for China factoryKeywords: Water treatment, Waste, Plating, China
Filtronic, a designer and manufacturer of a broad range of customised RF, microwave and millimetre wave cellular and broadband components and subsystems, has ordered a plating line from Process Automation International Ltd (PAL) for their factory in Suzhou near Shanghai, China. Installation of the new PAL line, a manual silver-plating machine for RF components, featuring purpose-designed agitation on the silver and electroless nickel baths; ultrasonic cleaning; jig-stripping facilities and an airless (eductor) solution agitation on nickel and silver plate, took place at Filtronic (Suzhou) Telecommunication Products Co. Ltd and the line was in full production by late June 2001.
Filtronic also ordered a waste-water treatment plant from PAL, featuring, among other attributes: automatic monitoring of final discharged water; closed loop management of all cyanide rinses and RenoCell reclaim of silver metal. In collaboration with a specialised design institute PAL was able to work with Filtronic on the application for government permits for the factory.
Buy-off of both the machine and the waste-water plant was completed successfully in early February.
The Filtronic (Suzhou) operation was formed in October 1999 to support the rapidly expanding telecommunications market in China, and to provide a local source of products for the cellular handset and wireless infrastructure markets. The company originally operated from a purpose-built facility in the Suzhou New District Hi-Tech Industrial Park with a total area of 2,400m2. Increasing demand for wireless products in China resulted in Filtronic (Suzhou) opening a second, larger (5,800m2) factory in September 2001. With future growth in mind, the option for an additional 2,400m2 production area was incorporated into the design of this building. The construction of the 2,400m2 silver-plating facility completes this stage of the development of the Suzhou site.
"The selection of PAL to design and manufacture our new plating line and waste-water treatment plant was based on many months of research and discussion," explains project manager Alistair Barr, of Filtronic. "We were well aware of PAL's international reputation for innovative design, the quality of plating produced by their machines and their long-term customer support. In our meetings with them, we very quickly realised that we were entering into a partnership, in which they took on board all our requirements and rose to the challenge of producing equipment designed specifically to meet all our objectives."
"PAL's knowledge and experience of Western and Chinese standards and practices obviously stand us in very good stead, as, just like them, we will be manufacturing in China for the international market," stated Andrew Wikle, Filtronic's technical manager, adding that "knowledge of Chinese regulations was obviously of particular importance as far as the waste-water plant was concerned."
The main waste from the new machine will be treated by conventional methods for up to 10,000 litres of waste-water an hour; PAL will install a RenoCell metal recovery system to recover silver from the waste-water. "Not only will they be treating their waste appropriately, but recovering the silver will be a cost-effective solution for Filtronic", explains Geoff Paterson. A solution monitor, operated by means of a PC, will monitor the discharge water on a continual basis. The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of Suzhou has been fully involved throughout the design and specification of the waste-water treatment.
"There is increasing awareness of the importance of environmental protection in China and we believe that this waste-water treatment plant will help Filtronic meet all current and perceived future requirements. This project has given the PAL Environment Department (PAL-ED) team valuable experience, that stands us in good stead for future projects in the north east of China," adds Geoff Paterson.
Details available from: Process Automation International Ltd (PAL). Tel: +44 (0)1743 860086; Fax: +44 (0)1743 860022.