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Automotive:
Much
of our work is destined for the automotive industry.
Metal Colours is able to fulfil large high volume orders
at short notice with a quick turn around. These items
have been pressed & brazed and then Metal Colours
has applied a zinc coat as a foundation to a colour
finish. The discolouration indicates brazing flux,
which has differing electrical properties to the ferrous
pressing.
Coatings
favoured for use in the automotive industry include
zinc, zinc-nickel and electrophoretic black. Automotive
parts include both mechanically wearing components
such as cam rods and rotor arms, components exposed
to high temperatures such as those near the engine
block and exhaust system as well as components subject
to corrosion from acids, road salts, temperature extremes
and localised impact damag.
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Engineering:
These
formed bars have a bright layer of zinc-nickel, which
offers both an enhanced aesthetic appearance as well
as providing a hardened surface. The zinc-nickel finish
also offers a degree of heat protection.
A
large volume of our business caters for the needs of
the sub-contract and contract engineering sector. Common
with may other market sectors, the sub-contract engineering
market require the confidence that they are going to
get the finish specified on the drawing, to the correct
thickness and tolerances. Because finishing is always
the last part of a sub-contractors schedule and quite
often the most urgent time wise we provide a flexible
and rapid service. Batch work can be supplied to us at
short notice and is usually processed by the next day.
Our fully automated, large capacity, facilities which
operate 24/7 are geared up to provide a fast service
for standard surface coatings at high volumes which means
that no matter how urgent your work, we can help you
finish and deliver it on time.
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Brackets:
Simple
punch pressed items such as this constitute a large amount
of our work. These items are commonly used within electrical
or electronic enclosures for mounting circuit boards
and wired switching systems. A zinc finish will prevent
corrosion, especially for fixtures subject to the full
rigors of the elements. Zinc also improves the earthing
properties of the item.
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Post-Treatments:
Current
market trends favour products, in particular cars, with
the longest warranties. Designers are therefore seeking
ways to ensure a longer product life span by improving
corrosion protection. These machined parts with threads
have been zinc-nickel coated and passivated with an oil
seal. This will make the item easier to unbolt and reduce
the likelihood of the thread seizing in future years.
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High
Volumes:
A
considerable amount of our work is made up of small mechanical
pressings such as those pictured to the right. We are
capable of turning out high volumes of small components
quickly and have a maximum order turn-round time of five
working days. This type of work is often measured by
weight rather than volume.
Because
we operate such large capacity tanks, both rack and barrel,
and operate 24/7 we are also able to turn around high
volume batches of large components including enclosures,
sheet metal chassises, wire baskets, screens and pressed
components. We also operate a fleet of articulated lorries
for collection and delivery, subject to commercial agreement,
for any quantity or volume of work.
As
one of the largest electroplating companies in the South
of England, and the largest in the Thames Valley, we
are ideally suited to high volume work for the auto,
manufacturing and engineering sectors for whom we can
offer highly competitive rates for large volume repeat
work.
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Washers & Fixtures:
An
additional benefit of applying a zinc finish to an item
is the scope for long-term storage. Screws, bolts, nuts
and washers are often left as stock for years. We regularly
fulfil orders for small, high volume items, but can also
turn-round low volume quantities quickly.
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Electronics:
Zinc
plating is the finish of choice in the electronics and
computing industry. The finish is both appealing to the
eye, wear and corrosion resistant, as well as offering
an improved electrical conductance.
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Pipes & Tubes:
High
zinc-nickel finishes are commonly used for pipes, tubes
and fittings where internal and external corrosion and
heat resistance is important such as automotive engines,
chemical and gas processing facilities and steam systems
where aggressive chemicals, solvents and acids are handled
across a spectrum of fluctuating temperatures. As well
as an increased component life span and appropriate coating
can make future removal and replacement of pipe work
a simple matter in comparison to work that is seized
and corroded. A protective coating will also add extra
shelf life to a product, desirable within the after sales
and service markets.
Metal
Colours has the experience and facilities to undertake
pipe and tube work of any size, from a 3mm component
for the electronics industry, to large gas handling items
such as those pictured to the right.
Examples
of pipe and tube work handled include:
- Gas
and liquid handling
- Structural
tubework including bike frames and special purpose
vehicles
- Hydraulics
including cylinders and actuators
- Architectural
including fence posts, lighting, structural and decorative
- Cylinders,
tanks and vessels.
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Brackets & Mounts:
Simple
punch pressed items such as this constitute a large amount
of our work. These items are commonly used within electrical
or electronic enclosures for mounting circuit boards
and wired switching systems. A zinc finish will prevent
corrosion, especially for fixtures subject to the full
rigors of the elements. Zinc also improves the earthing
properties of the item.
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Plates:
Ferrous
steel plates used in mechanical assemblies often need
additional wax emulsions containing corrosion inhibitors,
in particular where the part is expected to last the
whole life span of the final assembly. Applications include
mechanical machines, tills, ticket machines, parking
meters and public telephones. Items such as these are
exposed to wide thermal and atmospheric conditions for
many years without maintenance. A suitable finish can
extend product lifespan.
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Wire
Products:
These
wire grills used in air conditioning plants are coated
with zinc in order to protect them from corrosion across
a wide range of challenging environmental conditions.
A zinc finish will inhibit red rust for an extended period
and maintain a bright aesthetic appearance.
We
handle a range of wire products from small springs, wire
forms, bars and tubes up to large items such as shopping
trolleys, baskets, and mesh fabrications. For many years
now we have been providing a trolley refurbishment service
for major UK supermarkets, a process that involves burning
off the old coating, cleaning, plating and finishing,
prior to offsite refurbishment by a third party.
Wire
products are ideally electroplated as the large surface
area and intricate structure can often make regular painting
techniques such as spray painting or powder coating ineffectual.
Whether wire products are rack or barrel processed, the
dip process ensures a consistent coating across the entire
surface with minimal variance across corners and welds.
Whether
its a decorative or a functional coating you require,
call us and find out how you make make our 73 years of
experience work for you.
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Radiators:
Pipes
for radiators need corrosion protection both externally
and internally, and where a pipe has many turns, the
option for utilising other finishing techniques such
as spray is minimal. The electroplating process involves
mounting these items onto racks and dipping them into
a dosed fluid. Because the pipe is submerged in the fluid,
the coating has an equal thickness on the internal surface
as it does on the external surface.
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Refurbishments:
Refurbishment
of shopping trolleys and retail equipment is a significant
activity. The requirement is for a low cost protective
and decorative finish to this highly competitive business
sector.
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Fittings:
These
threaded fittings have had a clear corrosion resistant
topcoat to improve the appearance of the finished product
as well as increasing the wear protection.
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Electrophoretic
Paint:
A
cost effective method of applying a uniform finish to
intricate surface areas is through the application of
electrophoretic paint. Electrophoretic paint offers considerable
corrosion protection with salt spray tests resulting
in over 1000 hours.
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Structural
Components:
Chassis
components require protection from the elements to maintain
integrity and to satisfy warranty requirements.
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Gloss
Finish:
Electrophoretic
paint can be used to achieve a gloss finish free from
sags, beads and runs. The chemical process means that
the colour will be uniform across the whole item.
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Pre-Treatment:
Pre-treat
of components before applying an E-coat finish. A range
of pre-treatment options includes zinc phosphate, electroplated
zinc, zinc nickel plus passivates, electroplated zinc
or zinc nickel.
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Rubber,
Seals & Plastic:
One
of the principal benefits of Electrophoretic paint is
that the coating will only be applied to the metal surface.
This item has a rubber seal pre-pressed into the facing
surface. The rubber is unaffected by the plating process
and the paint coat is complete.
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