Metal platers are under increasing pressure from many sources, not the least of which are from environmental compliance enforcement agencies whose main concerns are proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials used in plating processes. More stringent environmental laws-and tougher enforcement policies-from regulatory agencies at all levels have forced closures of some plating facilities at worst and consolidation of others at best to help minimize an organization's exposure to stiff penalties. In this tightly structured business environment add the pressures of higher operating costs, tighter labor markets, tougher competition, and difficult operating conditions, and you have the makings of a steepening uphill curve towards success. No doubt you are quite familiar with this scenario. And if you use precious metals in your plating process you face one more serious issue with regard to recovering them (particularly important towards adding profits) from spent solutions and unusable plated parts. That issue is environmental liability, making you responsible-along with your refiner-for any atmospheric or effluent discharge that occurs whether your refiner is recovering your specific precious metals or anyone else's. Regardless of fault, the "deep-pockets" concept of liability-now virtually legal precedent-will be used and is enforceable.
展开▼
