Waste Minimization Assessment for a Manufacturer of Finished Metal Components.

摘要

The WMAC team at Colorado State University performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing finished metal components -- approximately 260,000 sq ft/yr. Customer-specified coatings and surface treatments are applied to prefabricated aluminum and stainless steel parts. Aluminum parts may be finished by hard-coat or soft-coat anodizing, and chromate conversion coating. Stainless steel parts are finished by surface passivation. Parts are also processed for surface inspection using a fluorescent dye and ultraviolet light. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that most waste was generated in the aluminum anodizing process, and that the greatest savings could be obtained by using hot deionized water instead of nickel acetate solution to seal pores in the aluminum oxide coating applied by anodizing.