Carrying out cost effective repairs in the petrochemical industry
Owing to the petrochemical industry’s cyclical nature, it is entering one of the most volatile eras in its history. As […]
Copper Plating FAQs
Copper is a red-orange, soft and ductile metal that is renowned for its corrosion resistance and malleability. Used as part […]
Selective Plating: A Simple Way to Maintain Mold & Die Machines
Many plastics molders who utilize the selective plating process for mold repair have found the process equally useful in press […]
Selective Plating: A Simple Way to Resize Core Pins and Bushings
As with many components in the Mold and Die industry, when wear occurs and pin and bushing dimensions deviate from […]
Selective Plating: A Simple Way to Provide Corrosion Protection
Worn and corroded molds frequently cause downtime for both captive and job shop plastics molders and metal formers. In PVC […]
Selective Plating: A Simple Way to Repair Cavity Damage
As mentioned in the previous blog we know conventional machine shop practices used to repair plastics molds or metal forms require […]
Selective Plating: A Simple Way To Repair Molds On The Press
A portable, high speed process allows molders to make minor surface defect repairs in mold cavities without removing molds from the […]
Why Brush Plating Stops Your Gears from Grinding to a Halt (Part 3)
Brushing Aside Gear Repair Issues While simple on the surface, gears are complex components and once they start to wear […]
Why Selective Plating Stops Your Gears from Grinding to a Halt (Part 2)
Building layers without compromising gear strength, durability and specification Gears used in large applications are expensive to replace if damaged […]
Repairing a Damaged Pinion Gear with Selective Electroplating
Repairing a damaged pinion gear with Selective Electroplating Working with large gear manufacture and repair specialists Horsburgh & Scott Co., […]
Why Selective Plating Stops Your Gears from Grinding to a Halt (Part 1)
Gears are a crucial part of many machines, and if they wear and corrode beyond repair then it can be […]
Women in STEM: Shining the light on Danijela Milosevic-Popovich
Taking place on the 1st to 31st of March every year, Women’s History Month sets to recognize and celebrate the […]
How to stay operational during plating repairs
When it comes to maintaining turbines and generators within the power generation sector, selective plating has long been the plating […]
Repairing Damaged and Corroded O-rings
The oil and gas market is making a strong comeback after the downturn starting in 2014. After the restrictions were lifted on […]
Innovative Thinking Leads to Efficient BOP Repair
With a name like blowout preventor (BOP), there is no guessing as to the critical nature of the component. A […]
Ask the Expert: Can I automate my brush plating operation?
By: Derek Kilgore, Mechanical Design and Project Engineer, SIFCO ASC The short answer is yes. The brush plating operation can […]
3 Ways Automation Transforms Selective Plating: #3
Continuing our series of automation blog posts, Derek Kilgore, Mechanical Design and Project Engineer, explores the third way businesses can feel […]
3 Ways Automation Transforms Selective Plating: #2
Continuing our series of automation blog posts, Derek Kilgore, Mechanical Design and Project Engineer, explores the second way businesses can feel […]
3 Ways Automation Transforms Selective Plating: #1
Modern industry is more competitive than ever before. From aerospace and oil and gas through to power generation and general […]
A day in the life of a SIFCO ASC Plating Technician
At SIFCO ASC our engineers are at the heart of what we do, and for them, no single day is […]
Touch-Up: Selective Brush Plating in the Field
The following article, written by Senior Training Manager Scott Peterson, originally appeared on PFonline.com. Selective brush plating is much more […]
Discover Efficiency in Aerospace Repairs with Webinar
At SIFCO ASC, we know that achieving greater levels of efficiency is perhaps one of the greatest challenges faced by […]
Anodizing for Aerospace
The aerospace industry is a demanding market. Requiring advanced deposits which are applied consistently for each repair or OEM application. […]
Brush Plating Cad Alternatives
Suitable for a comprehensive array of aerospace equipment, including airframes and engines, electronic housings, landing gear, turbine blades, actuators, bearing […]
10 Things You Need to Know About Cadmium Replacements
For years, cadmium has been the solution of choice for corrosion protection and repairs in the aerospace sector. However, as […]
Alternatives to Hard Chrome Plating
For the aerospace industry, hard chrome plating has been the go-to solution for manufacturers for more than six decades. But […]
6 Reasons Why Shipyards Should Consider Selective Plating
Derek Vanek, Technical Manager at SIFCO ASC, explains how shipyards can put key technologies in the dock which offer speed, […]
Portable Plating: Repair On-Board or In Port with the SIFCO Process®
Marine engineers can all agree, when the ship is in port, repairs need to begin immediately. Whether it is a […]
Protection in Port
In the marine industry bigger components can be especially costly to replace. When a ship is in port, multiple repairs […]
Stop Losing Steam Over Prolonged Downtime
Derek Vanek, technical manager at SIFCO ASC, looks into how the marine industry can decrease costs and reduce downtime using […]
On-Board Repairs: Why Naval Forces Use Selective Plating
Day in, day out, marine and naval equipment is subject to extreme conditions including, salt water, high temperatures, wear, corrosion […]
Operation and Maintenance Challenges in PowerGen
Excerpt from “Selective Brilliance: The Use of Brush Plating in the PowerGen Industry,” download the whitepaper, here. The majority of […]
In-situ Repair Saves 9 Days of Repair Times
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is a US based nuclear power company. It offers nuclear products and services to utilities internationally, […]
Taking Off: Fully Automated Selective Nickel Plating
Demanding aerospace operating conditions present continual surface finishing challenges for manufacturers. Components need to be able to withstand friction, extreme […]
Laser Like Precision with the SIFCO Process®
Die tooling specialist, Lasercomb Dies produce steel counter plates, which are lined with grooves that are used to form creases […]
How Selective Plating Saved Them $95k
When a world-leading multi-national manufacturer of large surface mining equipment began researching a method of extending the service life of […]
Plating in Grooves
The oil and gas market is making a strong comeback after the downturn starting in 2014. After the restrictions were […]
Mis-Machined Internal Diameters: Perfect Selective Plating Application
Small internal diameters can be tricky to repair when they’re mis-machined. The benefit of selective plating is being able to […]
Manufacturer Seizes onto Selective Copper Plating for Anti-Galling
When two stainless steel parts are in direct contact with one another, the constant friction can result in galling of […]
Component Repair for the Earth’s Toughest Machines
Improving the service life of vital components is an important factor for any manufacturer, especially those designing and producing mission […]
Extending Service Life: How your Oil and Gas Equipment Can Benefit from Brush Plating
In the oil and gas industry, equipment operates in harsh environments. Components expected to withstand wear, corrosion, fluctuations in temperature […]
Military and Independent Plating Specifications: Which are Applicable to My Repair?
There are hundreds of plating specifications in today’s industries. Military and independent specifications can be hard to understand and even […]
Understanding Specification AMS 2451C
SAE International (SAE) is an association and standards developing organization for engineering professionals in various industries. SAE has more than […]
Celebrate Direct Lift on World Helicopter Day
World Helicopter Day is Sunday, August 19, 2018. World Helicopter Day aims to raise awareness of the societal contributions helicopters […]
Lights, Camera, Action: The SIFCO Process®
What is selective plating? How does the SIFCO Process® work? What type of deposits can I plate? What are the […]
Surface Engineering for Sustainable Manufacturing and Remanufacturing
Component restoration through surface engineering prolongs service life, improves part performance, reduces investment, saves energy, conserves materials and reduces environmental […]
Meeting Productivity Demand through Automation of Selective Plating
Reducing ergonomic risks. Increasing usable capacity. Whatever your reason, if you’re looking to learn more about how to automate your […]
Advancements in Brush Plated Metal Matrix Composites
Finding safer, eco-friendly alternatives to hard chrome plating has been a main driver of brush electroplating research for the last […]
Thermal Spray to Selective Plating: Making the Switch
When it comes to processes for surface finishing, one many technicians default to using is thermal spray or plasma metallizing. […]
The in-situ solution for mining repairs
Components face tremendous and sometimes constant stressors in off-highway vehicles. From the growing size of the equipment to the unpredictable […]
Selective Plating vs. Tank Plating
You know what electroplating is. You know your component can be (brush) selective plated or tank plated. But why choose […]
Zinc-Nickel for Corrosion Protection
Zinc-nickel plating is an environmentally and safer alternative to cadmium and can be used across a wide range of industries. […]
Protection: When and Where Its Needed Most
Every second a vessel spends in the shipyard is one where it’s not creating value. And the cost of disassembly, […]
Metal add-on for repair: What process is right for me?
There are several metal add-on processes that a shop can use to repair a worn or damaged component, but for […]
Immersion Silver & It’s Purpose in a Selective Plating Operation
Immersion plating consists of dipping or submerging a metal component into a nonconductive bath of metal solution ions causing a […]
Selective Anodizing: Restoring & Fulfilling OEM Requirements
What is Anodizing? Anodizing is the formation of an oxide film on aluminum using reverse current (part is anodic) and […]
SIFCO ASC Builds Hands for Those in Need
In the spirit of the holidays, like most companies, SIFCO ASC holds an annual luncheon to celebrate to our employees […]
Usability of Frozen Brush Plating Solutions
Did you know, SIFCO’s solution manufacturing occurs in Cleveland, Ohio? This means with the winter months upon us, freezing temperatures […]
The Brush Plating Repair Approval Process in Aerospace: A Review
Every day the skies host thousands of flights consisting of aircrafts both small and large carrying up to 800 passengers […]
In-place repairs for worn and damaged mold components
This article originally appeared on MaterialsToday.com. Plastics molders, operating both captive and job shops, are frequently plagued with downtime due […]
Brush Plating in the Marine Industry
An alternative to flame spray and welding for the repair of shipboard components. Brush plating is an out-of-tank process used […]
Bus Connections: Why localized silver plated deposits make sense
In the electric industry, optimizing power flow is a primary concern for the generation, transmission and distribution processes. The key […]
Tank Chromium Part II: What are my alternatives?
By: John Langan, Ohio Contract Service Manager Do you used hard chromium? Did you know certain brush plating deposits have […]
Tank Chromium: Should I find an alternative?
By: John Langan, Ohio Contract Service Manager Hard chromium for many years has enjoyed a reputation as being an electroplated […]
Making Titanium Tougher
This article was originally published in Products Finishing in December 2009 By Darrin Radatz, Ani Zhecheva and Sid Clouser High […]
Hydroelectric Power: Room for Growth? Or Swelled Up?
For years there’s been a constant debate as to the efficiency and longevity of the hydroelectric power supply in the […]
This Week in History: September 8, 1986 – Nissan Opens First European Manufacturing Facility
It was 31 years ago on September 8, 1986, that Britain’s Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher, and Nissan’s […]
Ensuring Proper Plating Conditions Under Direct Operator Control
In previous blogs, we’ve covered certain brush plating conditions the operator has direct control over to assure a quality deposit, […]
The Importance of Plating Temperature: A controllable variable in brush plating
While most brush plating solutions produce high quality deposits when plated in the plating temperature range of 60 °F to […]
How to Maintain Proper Anode-to-Cathode Speed
With any brush plating application, controlling the variables of the process is essential to achieving a high quality, adherent deposit. […]
Choosing the Right Nickel for Your Brush Plating Application
Today’s demanding industrial applications require well-engineered and proven deposits that pose as little risk as possible to both the operator […]
How IPS Powers American Success
Integrated Power Services (IPS) is the USA’s leading independent provider of repair and maintenance services for electric motors, generators and […]
NASF study highlights industry’s clean water success
The following article was originally published by the Surface Technology Environmental Resource Center by Christian Richter and Jeff Hannapel. NASF has released […]
CRAIC is Ready for Takeoff
Last month, China and Russia partnered together to launch the China-Russia Commercial Aircraft International Corporation (CRAIC). Their goal, to build […]
Improved Process Capabilities Through Automation of Selective Plating
Last week at NASF’s SUR/FIN exposition SIFCO ASC Mechanical Design & Project Engineer, Derek Kilgore presented on how to improve […]
Digging for the Right Defect Repair
In the mining industry, replacement parts and components for industrial equipment are typically not on hand, or readily available due […]
Repairing Damaged Zinc-Nickel with Brush Plating
The following article, by SIFCO ASC Technical Manager, Derek Vanek, was recently published in Products Finishing’s Plating Clinic Selective (brush) […]
SIFCO ASC to present on automated plating systems at SUR/FIN®
SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts (ASC), the world’s leading supplier of selective plating technology, will be presenting its automated plating systems […]
Recapture and Retain Your Value-added Components through Remanufacturing
What is Remanufacturing? According to a report published by the US International Trade Commission, “Remanufacturing is an industrial process that […]
This week in history – America’s First Practical Helicopter
The Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, invented by Igor Sikorsky, was the first single-engine helicopter to power both the main and the tail […]
Cadmium and the Need for Alternatives in Aviation
As we unpack from MRO Americas, going through our flyers, business cards, and tchotchkes allows us time to reflect on […]
Taking the Mask Off of Labor Rates
When completing selective plating repair applications, each component may have multiple areas to mask. In a recent engine block repair […]
Floating Wind Turbines – What’s Next in Renewable Energy
While by the end of the decade as much as 38,000 megawatts of wind turbines are due to be fixed […]
How to Reduce the Scrap Rate of Molded Components
Wear and tear on molds, and the need for repairs, are a regular cost of doing business. However, these costs […]
Help protect your local waterways
45 years ago, on April 15, 1972, the US and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. It was […]
Kashagan Oil Field Production is Underway
Labeled the world’s most expensive oil field by Business Insider, the Kashagan oil field was one of the largest oil […]
The invention of the rotary printing press – 170 years later
170 years ago, in 1847 Richard March Hoe patented, and put into commercial use, the rotary printing press he invented […]
SIFCO ASC Receives Certificate of Product Design Assessment Confirmation by the American Bureau of Shipping
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Product Design Assessment (PDA) SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts has received an American Bureau of Shipping […]
The Evolution of Automation in Selective Plating
Selective plating is a well-established and reliable process which has already been written into multiple aerospace specifications. It not only […]
Selective Prebrazing – is it the right application for me?
While you may be using cadmium brush plating for AOG repairs, other brush plating applications, such as nickel prebrazing, can […]
This Week in History – February 20, 1915
This week in history, the World’s Fair opened in San Francisco, California. While many new inventions were unveiled throughout the […]
Strong Bonds: Mechanical vs. Atomic
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve re-posted last year’s article on bonds. “Love is the bond of perfection.” – John […]
Why isn’t my brush plated deposit uniformly distributed?
This question first appeared December 1, 2016 on ProductsFinishing.com in the Plating Clinic. By Derek Vanek. The key to uniform […]
Engineering Santa’s Sleigh
The following is a guest blog from Surface Technology In just a matter of days Santa Claus will set off […]
What is Brush Plating?
Brush plating (also known as selective plating) is a portable method of electroplating. Selective plating is used to apply anodized […]
6 Aerospace Brush Plating Repairs in Real Life
Making critical repairs to aerospace equipment using The SIFCO Process®. Selective electroplating, such as the SIFCO Process®, can be used to […]
Automating the Operation: A case study on Johnson Technology, Inc.
Based in Muskegon, MI, Johnson Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of GE Aviation, is the leading manufacturer of aircraft engines and […]
The 6 most common surface finishing applications in aerospace
Selective plating is suitable for a wide array of aerospace equipment, including airframes and engines, electronic housings, landing gear, turbine […]
Surface Bonding: Mechanical vs Atomic
A surface bond between two adjacent materials can be achieved 2 ways: mechanical or atomic. And the quality of the […]
Take Away the Tank: The Importance of AOG Surface Finishing in Aerospace
Disassembly vs. In-situ Repairs Equipment for surface finishing tends to have a large footprint, and demands its own specialist facilities […]
Scientifically Proven – The SIFCO Process in Aerospace
Instead of thermal spray or immersing parts in a tank, selective plating is commonly applied via a hand‑held tool – […]
Discover the standard for your AOG repairs
On an airplane, components are subjected to extreme friction and temperature. Hence the intense focus on safety, and the demand […]
Trusted Technology, Proven Results: Selectively Plating the ENSCO 8505
After a lightning strike, significant damage was caused to the crown mounted compensator (CMC) cylinder of the ENSCO 8505. The […]
Should I Use a Cadmium Alternative?
Cadmium is a soft, malleable metal that is very light in color. In the plating industry it is used as […]
Get the most out of your spring shutdown
Are you struggling with wear and corrosion? Don’t wait until your spring shutdown to fix the problem. The SIFCO Process […]
Make things?
Visiting MACH 2016? Here’s 5 reasons why a visit to SIFCO ASC on stand 5974 is a must 1. Improve […]
Graphene: The super coating for strength and corrosion-resistance?
Graphene is a man made material that was discovered by two professors at the University of Manchester in 2004. A […]
10 reasons why you should worry about cheap oil
Some may think that lower gas prices would boost the economy. By not spending as much on your tank, hopefully […]
At $28 per barrel, repair and refurbishment of offshore equipment cannot be overlooked
With the price of oil hitting a 13-year low of $28 per barrel we are looking at ways the oil […]
3 Reasons to Stock Up on Your Solutions
With the winter months come freezing temperature, frozen roads, and delayed shipments, so it’s time to start thinking about stocking […]
Combating the Costs of Corrosion in the Power Generation Industry
The current cost of corrosion to US industry was estimated to reach $540 billion in 2015. With an infrastructure that […]
SIFCO ASC showing portable silver repair capability to POWER-GEN delegates
We will be at Booth 2136 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 8-10 December 2015 […]