A new generation of galvanic coating systems characterised by high efficiency and ecological sustainability was premiered at the Dörken Days, staged by Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG, Herdecke, in Düsseldorf from 24 to 26 September 2013. Under the brand name Delta-Prozinc® the company presented the complete system of its new electroplating line – from pre-treatment to zinc-based baths and on to passivation and sealing with and without added lubricant. At layer thicknesses of 8 µm to 15 µm the new, process-safe surface coating protection system offers outstanding corrosion protection of a minimum of 240 hours against coating corrosion and 720 hours against base metal corrosion (as per DIN EN ISO 9227) as well as optimised assembly properties with the setting of defined coefficients of friction. Its primary intended use is for fasteners in automobile construction, where, in addition to high-performance functional corrosion protection, a decorative metallic appearance is also required.
Objective: efficiency and sustainability
In order to offer all possible relevant parts and components in automobile construction a coating solution in the micro layer field, in 2010 Dörken MKS-Systeme decided to expand its product portfolio in the direction of galvanic systems. As the company is traditionally a pioneer in reducing environmental and health-damaging substances in surface technology, it was particularly important that the new galvanic components were also environmentally friendly, falling below the limits stipulated by REACH and SVHC where possible. These development goals were met: the new systems are free of solvents and complexing agents, with low disposal costs also making them especially sustainable. With regard to waste water recycling, too, Delta-Prozinc® sets standards, blending in seamlessly with the proven Delta-MKS® concept.
However, the success story of the company not only includes high-performance and sustainable micro layer corrosion protection systems that are globally certified, proven, available and a firm fixture of the automobile sector. From the very beginning, the market and technology leader in the field of zinc flake systems has placed its trust in an association of qualified licensees. The strictly-controlled procedures regarding machine technology and application technology, coating and utilisation tests on the basis of the company’s certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001, DIN EN ISO 14001 and the EC eco audit directive (EMAS) serve to secure the consistently high standard of quality worldwide. This successful licensing system has now also been applied to the new galvanic systems.
The new benefits from the tried and tested
For the licensees, Delta-Prozinc® not only offers a broad range of products systems and proven worldwide service. The package also includes defined systems engineering with consulting, a detailed processing manual, regular quality inspections and integrated process software to help reduce costs and increase time efficiency. Licensees can now benefit from the combination of the new galvanic system and the proven global business model. Because the high acceptance of Dörken MKS-Systeme in the automobile and subcontracting industry with specifications of all well-known OEMs and tiers, the global availability of the technology and the technical support through a dense network of local subsidiaries and TechCenters means that the prospects of success are also good for the new galvanic system.