The switch to PreCoat CPF
Van Maren Coating was faced with an investment decision. Nick explains: “The previous chemical process had corroded our tanks and pipes. So we had to invest in order to continue. We then looked for new technologies, which we found in PreCoat CPF. The pipes were replaced and the tanks cleaned to ensure a good start with the product.
The most important advantage is that we can use PreCoat CPF at around 35 °C, whereas our previous chemical process (conventional iron phosphating) only worked optimally at temperatures between 60 °C and 65 °C. As the temperature in our production hall is often already around 34 °C, we hardly need any additional heating to keep the bath at the right temperature. This saves us around €1,500 per month.
Nick continues with his experiences with AD: “Since PreCoat CPF is multi-metal, we can use the process for almost all materials we coat, such as steel, aluminium and stainless steel. This means we need fewer baths and can produce faster. Another advantage is that PreCoat CPF degreases excellently, so we can be sure that the products are always clean after treatment. We have also noticed that the baths and pipes remain much cleaner and that contamination is easy to remove. The bath series is also much more stable, so we can often tell visually that everything is in order. Of course, we also check the bath regularly, but the parameters are very stable.”
Van Maren also sees various advantages in terms of water consumption: “Before switching to PreCoat CPF, we used demineralised water in our process for both rinsing and post-rinsing, which led to better results in pre-treatment. However, after switching to PreCoat CPF, we found that rinsing with tap water instead of deionised water produces comparable or even better results. By switching from rinsing with deionised water to tap water, we save up to €700 per month.”
In short, switching to PreCoat CPF has enabled Van Maren Coating to achieve savings in energy, cleaning, production and water costs. PreCoat CPF is a product that the company expects to deliver even greater savings and a more sustainable way of working in the long term.
