OUR SERVICES
Diverse solutions tailored to your every need
Anodizing is a process the basis of which was developed originally in the 1920s that provides a durable, attractive, protective coating that accentuates the aluminum work piece. Using an electrochemical bath a controlled oxide coating is grown on the aluminum which effectively stops corrosion, spotting, and discoloration. This durable and self-repairing coating not only protects aluminum from corrosion but also increases durability and can protect against abrasion. Furthermore, coupled with various pre-treatments the anodic coating can be used to provide a range of gloss/brightness levels (from a matte Satin to Bright) and colors which in particular is presently a major driving force in European styling in the automotive industry.
This cost effective finish has stood the test of time and is used for virtually all applications of aluminum: automotive, heavy truck, architectural, electronic devices, home appliances, aerospace and pharmaceutical. The versatility and cost effectiveness of aluminum anodizing has made it an almost obligatory coupling for all aluminum applications.
After years of Research and Development Auto Anodics Inc. developed two versions of Alkaline Resistant/Car Wash Resistant Anodizing. Utilizing this advancement, anodized product can withstand pH environments that were previously unheard of. This is a dramatic development in the field of aluminum Anodizing considering the strenuous demands that O.E.M.s have put on Anodizing companies to resist the aggression of Brushless Car Washes. This product has been supplied by Auto Anodics Inc. on millions of parts for numerous O.E.M.s shipping across North America, South America, Europe and Asia since 201. Our reputation for quality, consistency and field performance is evident.
Mechanical polishing is often seen as more of an art form than simple fabrication. Our decades of hands on experience have built up a skill set in mechanical polishing, sanding, buffing and brushing of both aluminum and stainless steel.
Our operations can handle any range of defects, from minor shipping imperfections to major forming defects. We tailor our processes to best serve customers, whether it is fully automated robots, custom designed semi autonomous machines or hand polishing.
Our production experience and capabilities range from small decorative appliance components and fasteners to heavy truck bumpers. We have worked with all materials and forming techniques, including machined extrusions, stampings, roll forms, forgings, break pressed parts, castings to name a few, with the right skillset we can convert them into flawless class “A” trim.
With over 50 years of polishing experience we tailor the process to the program.
Painting over metal can open numerous styling and production options. Clear paint can provide an additional layer of protection for parts and be coupled with color anodizing to add another layer of resistance. Tinted paints can open up numerous styling options, and opaque paint can be used to cover up many substrate defects and make rejected material useable.
However, paint without the right pre-treatment isn’t viable on many substrates.
Over Aluminum (Anodizing FETU):Filiform corrosion is the bane of painted aluminum. There is nothing more catastrophic for a class “A” part than seeing paint peel off as under-film corrosion creeps across a workpiece, luckily, anodizing stops filiform corrosion dead in it’s tracks. Utilizing our paint pre-treatment anodizing, we anodize the substrate and then utilize a customized flash seal, that not only anodizes the part and protects it, but then provides a substrate with excellent adhesion properties allowing for any number of paint products to be utilized. The anodize tooling is also universal, so providing multiple finishes with one set of tooling, or performing a rework
operation on otherwise defective products is easy.
Over Stainless Steel (Micro-Etching):
Micro-Etching is a proprietary process developed by Auto Anodics Inc. that results in excellent paint pre-treatment on all alloys of Stainless Steel. Our process not only allows paint to bind, but it produces a substrate on the work piece that is far more resistant to abuse, corrosion and heat. Combining the enhanced durability and adhesion opens up the possibility of applying more paint products and more applications. Furthermore, the tooling for paint-pretreatment is consistent with our other finishes, we can provide multiple styling options with one tooling purchase.
Electro-polishing is an electrochemical process that polishes a metal surface by removing a microscopic amount of material from the work piece. It is a superior finishing method to achieve super bright, reflective surfaces with substantial depth clarity. While improving the work piece visually electro-polishing also removes scratches, grinding lines, burrs, and sharp edges. +
Ground Needle Point Before and After Electro-Polishing Two identical Exhaust Systems, one in raw state and one after electro-polishing
Not only does electro-polishing improve appearance, it also relieves stress, removes surface impurities and passivates the work piece. The end result is a visually superior part with greatly enhanced corrosion resistance.
We specialize in two techniques of coloring that can be conducted on Anodized aluminum, dye and electrolytic (two step).
Dye:
Anodizing aluminum creates a uniform sealed oxide film over raw aluminum; however, colored dyes can be deposited inside this oxide layer prior to sealing. Every variety of color is available, and while you might not realize it, consumers are handling color anodized parts every day.
Critically, a great deal of innovation in the past decade has yielded a wide range of dyes, which can suit virtually any application. The organic dyes of today dramatically outperform those of the past, with incredible improvements in light fastness, durability and resistance.
Electrolytic:
Using an electro chemical bath, microscopic amounts of tin is deposited inside the oxide layer providing a range of durable colors. This two-stage process in our facility can yield a range of browns and bronzes as well as black. Electrolytic dye can further push the performance boundaries of color anodizing.
Stainless steels are corrosion-resistant, but they are not completely impervious to rusting. In fact, forming, welding, even grinding and polishing can magnify the susceptibility to corrosion especially by introducing contaminants that act as corrosion catalysts.
Auto Anodics Inc. utilizes and aggressive Nitric Acid based passivation technique, targeting and attacking the corrosion hot spots on the work piece and substrate, but not impacting the inherent alloying constituent of Chromium.
After passivation the Stainless Steel effectively returns to it's idealized corrosion-resistant state.