Electroplating plant turns to Qdos pumps 23 September 2014

BIA Kunststoff- und Galvanotechnik, which manufactures plastic components with metallic surfaces for the automotive industry, is reporting success since installing Qdos pumps, from Watson-Marlow, to dose process-critical additives into its electroplating machines.

The company based in Solingen near Düsseldorf, says the pumps replaced diaphragm pump technology, and were selected for their precision, reliability and low maintenance costs.

"Our core competence is electroplating, and we have designed our own state-of-the-art electroplating machines," explains according to Alexander Zabel, maintenance manager at BIA.

Each of the company's four electroplating machines has a dosing station, with precisoin pumps introducing additives, such as brighteners, wetting agents and accelerators, into the electroplating baths.

"In modern electroplating machines, the question of when, where and in what form additives are dosed plays a crucial role in the quality of the end product," explains Zabel.

Until recently, diaphragm pumps were used as standard in the dosing stations at BIA, but they were proving problematic, he says.

"The diaphragm pumps simply failed to provide the level of precision we require when transporting additives," confirms Christian Fanenbruck who, as master electroplater, is responsible for two of the four electroplating machines at BIA.

"We frequently had to carry out volumetric measurements to ensure precision." However, a more serious issue was the frequent, time-consuming and costly maintenance, he adds.

"We sometimes dose concentrated acids and these frequently damaged the pump components, so the parts had to be replaced," continues Fanenbruck.

"What's more, the diaphragm dosing pumps produced a flow with a high level of pulsation. This had a negative impact on the quality of the substances being transported. Surfactants are a particular example of where it's important to pump at a steady rate to avoid damaging their structures."

Tests using the Qdos pumps are liened by Zabel to striking gold.

"First, Qdos provides 100% precision. Typically we transport volumes of 100 ml/min, and when we set the Qdos to 100 ml it transported precisely that amount, even along a route that was more than 50 metres long. This makes the frequent need to carry out volumetric measurements a thing of the past."

In contrast to diaphragm pumps, the Qdos pump also works without any accessories, such as seals or check valves, making installation easier.

"We still haven't been able to see how easy it is to replace the pumphead because we simply haven't needed to yet," continues Zabel.

"We installed the first Qdos pumps in May 2013 and they haven't caused us any problems since, even though they're in constant use six days a week."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Watson Marlow Pumps Group

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