Expansion of treatment facilities

Citation

(1998), "Expansion of treatment facilities", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770baf.022

Expansion of treatment facilities

Expansion of treatment facilities

Aerospace Surface Treatments Ltd report an extensive investment of over £3 million has been made within its Treatments facility to bring it up to the most modern and efficient high capacity plant in the country. No compromise in the design or cost has been allowed to hinder the installation of a state of the art facility specifically developed for aerospace treatments work.

The previous manual plant has been replaced by a plant which can easily cope with the sort of sizes and batch quantities that are the norm within the aerospace industry. The tank sizes have been optimised to give the maximum capacity and best utilisation of space. Plasticraft Ltd was contracted to assist with the design and manufacture of the new plant.

The range of processes available is being increased to cover all aerospace requirements. This will enable it to offer a "one-stop shop" facility; a benefit recognised by the prime aerospace manufacturers. In this age of just-in-time requirements and ever shortening lead times, the response potential and efficiency is self-evident.

The two large banks of treatment tanks at AST, designed and installed by Plasticraft

Therefore, in addition to its existing range of processes, which includes:

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  anodising (chromic and sulphuric);

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  cadmium plating;

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  chromate conversion coatings;

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  tin plating;

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  metal spray coating;

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  passivation/pickling;

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  blasting/cleaning;

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  non-destructive testing; and

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  paint finishes,

it is also installing:

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  hard chrome (along with grinding facilities);

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  hard anodising; and

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  phosphating.

This will complete its ability to meet all drawing requirements. A new integral paint/stoving facility supplied by Spraybake Ltd has enabled it to produce top quality paint finishes at high capacity.

Naturally, an important aspect of aerospace work is the need for precise process control and technical resources. To ensure that the new plant is backed by up to date technical services, a new laboratory has been built and equipped. The most modern analytical methods and test procedures are now available to give the best from these facilities. In addition, metallurgical equipment and salt-spray testing facilities enable the company to carry out investigations and extended control of its products.

Environmental awareness is an increasingly important concern both legislatively and socially, but also by the prime aerospace manufacturers themselves, as they also wish to be seen as supporting subcontractors who act on these issues. With this in mind, and the knowledge that environmental requirements will only become more stringent in the future, the new plant has been designed to meet the very latest requirements and those in the foreseeable future.

A new custom built effluent plant and high efficiency extraction and scrubbing units have been designed and installed by Plasticraft Ltd, which together with a zero emission cadmium plant, ensures that no hazardous material is emitted from the premises.

It is clearly in the best environmental interests for manufacturers to subcontract to those suppliers who are fully compliant and conversant with the latest requirements and techniques rather than to smaller concerns that do not invest in the best available technology. According to AST its ability to meet its environmental and legislative responsibilities with the most modern plant does not compromise its competitiveness, both in terms of price and delivery, while always maintaining the very highest product quality.

While this investment in plant puts AST at the forefront of aerospace treatments, to ensure the customer is fully served, it has set up computer systems and working practises to give the fast response for which its group of companies is noted. AST's ability to offer this efficient service is enhanced by its 24-hour, seven-days-per-week working schedule.

Details from Aerospace Surface Treatments Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1245 350444; Fax: +44 (0) 1245 256925.