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Exclusive News! Discover the New ALIT Academy Magazine – July 2024 Edition!

We are thrilled to present the eighth edition of our ALIT Academy Magazine, now packed with even more valuable content and information. This issue features more pages, more articles, case studies, and contributions from our suppliers and partners in the industrial paint stripping and metal surface pretreatment sectors. Here’s a preview of what you can expect:

New Passivation Technologies:

  • Drizzling for Metal Surface Protection:
    • Dive into the Drizzling system through a case study by DHK in collaboration with Alufinish, offering a new solution for metal surface protection.

Advanced Chemical Solutions:

  • DrizzSpray Paint Stripping for Alloy Wheels:
    • Discover how METALSTRIP 1333/1 is enhancing spray paint stripping for alloy wheels through a case study with our Estonian distributor RAL-EST.

Industrial Waste Management:

  • Safe Disposal Processes:
    • Explore best practices for industrial waste management with insights from LTA – La Triveneta Ambiente.

Strategic Collaborations:

  • Partnerships that Make a Difference:
    • Introducing our French distributor and successful partnerships with top-tier suppliers.

International Expansion:

  • New Branches and Services:
    • Learn about our new branches in Serbia and Portugal and the launch of ALIT-SERVICE, our third-party paint stripping service.

Don’t miss the chance to stay updated with the latest news and enhance your knowledge.

Download the Magazine Now!

ALIT Technologies S.p.A will Attend PaintExpo 2024

We are happy to share that ipcm®International Paint&Coating Magazine also talked about our upcoming participation at PaintExpo 2024.

Come to visit us at PaintExpo, stand 2446, hall 2.

Learn more here.

ALIT Technologies Presented the New Industrial Masking Brand MAS-KING

In its latest issue, ipcm International Paint&Coating Magazine told about the new brand of ALIT Technologies: Mas-King, the ally that offers solutions for industrial masking.

Find out more by reading the full article.

Perspectives and Trends in the Future of Paint Stripping

The paint stripping of metal parts requires increasingly sustainable, safe, and efficient processes. ALIT Technologies is at the forefront of offering advanced answers and innovative solutions to meet future challenges.

The metal surface treatment market in general and, more specifically, the chemical paint stripping sector are undergoing a significant transformation, with an increasing demand for cheaper but at the same time more efficient products. Traditional requirements persist but new trends are developing, driven by the need to minimise the toxicity of chemicals and improve the safety of plants, equipping them with the most advanced and efficient technological devices and tools.

Trends in the field of chemical paint stripping

The chemical paint stripping market is increasingly moving away from products containing methylene chloride and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which are well known for their high toxicity. Wherever possible, customers tend to opt for water-based paint strippers, such as METALSTRIP 2011 from ALIT Technologies. If, on the other hand, the specific technical conditions, such as the type of metal substrate or paint, do not allow for the use of water-based paint stripping agents, the products must be formulated with a 100% organic base. In these cases, too, chemicals with a low environmental and toxicological impact are preferred, such as the METALSTRIP 136 series from ALIT Technologies. For example, METALSTRIP 1365, an organic-based paint stripper for medium-temperature applications, is particularly appreciated by customers looking for an excellent compromise between paint stripping performance, bath filterability, and low environmental and toxicological impact.

All the mentioned products have a working temperature between 45 and 75 °C. This implicitly indicates that the market is moving away from paint stripping processes conducted at room temperature with hazardous NMP or methylene chloride-based chemicals and towards medium-temperature processes using more sustainable chemistry. Indeed, a higher temperature improves process efficiency and allows utilising formulations with raw materials that are less hazardous to the operator and the environment.

Challenges and opportunities in the field of in-line chemical paint stripping

In-line paint stripping is a process carried out within a coating line to enable the hooks and frames required for hanging the components to be paint-stripped without removing them from the overhead conveyor. After workpiece unloading, the hooks and increasingly often the frames are led through a paint stripping tank while still hanging on the overhead conveyor, in order to go back to the line clean, free of any traces of paint, and ready for a new coating cycle.

With the increasingly widespread use of loading and unloading robots in coating lines, in-line paint stripping is also becoming more and more crucial to ensure the proper functioning of the robots themselves, as frames that have not been perfectly paint-stripped can compromise these machines’ performance degree, thus damaging the coated parts and even slowing down or stopping the workflow – all of which results in significant losses of turnover for the coating lines. Paint stripping quality thus becomes key to the efficiency of the entire process. Whereas in the past clean hooks were mainly needed to ensure good electrical contact between the parts to be painted and the line itself, now the optimisation of the unloading robots’ operation is an equally important factor. Clean frames guarantee all of this – and in-line chemical paint stripping plants are the means to meet such requirements.

ALIT Technologies’ key role in the paint stripping industry

ALIT Technologies operates at the very heart of these transformations, offering a comprehensive range of solutions to meet evolving market needs. Among its services, it conducts paint stripping laboratory tests, provides detailed chemical and engineering reports, and offers complete solutions in terms of both in-line paint stripping systems and related chemicals.

In summary, the paint stripping industry is moving in a more sustainable, safe, and efficient direction – and ALIT is at the forefront in offering advanced answers and innovative solutions to meet future challenges.

n.7 March 2024

  • Focus on chemicals = Revolution in extrusion die cleaning
  • Focus on machines = Chemical stripping as an alternative to pyrolytic stripping
  • Focus on chemicals = Trend in the future of paint stripping
  • News
  • Company Chronicles
  • ALIT events

ALIT ACADEMY MAGAZINE N. 7 HAS BEEN RELEASED

The seventh issue of ALIT Magazine is finally out!

Our aptitude for big projects has given life to the richest edition of our house-organ and we are happy to present it to you today.

As always, within this issue you will find several case studies that we think are useful for understanding the functioning and effectiveness of our products.

In particular, we wrote an article which shows an application case of CLARIS 9346MB, our additive which has allowed the Portuguese company Extrusal, specialized in the extrusion of aluminium profiles, to double the life of the alkaline solution used in the cleaning tank of the moulds.

Another case study tells the story of the Multi-Tank paint stripping process implemented in a company – Sabiana – producing air conditioning equipment which, thanks to the technology provided by ALIT Technologies, has obtained various advantages in terms of quality and costs.

Inside the Magazine there are two important news relating to the growth of the company: ALIT Technologies has become a joint-stock company and has launched a new brand – Mas-King – specialized in the manufacturing of masking equipment for the painting industry.

Furthermore, the company obtained, during 2023, two certifications, which we wanted to talk about in the Magazine. These testify to ALIT’s commitment to the continuous implementation of cutting-edge technologies.

As for automation, we would like to present you “packaGINA”, a completely automatic system for filling tanks with chemical products, positioning the lid, closing it and applying labels.

The seventh issue could not miss the section dedicated to new arrivals in the ALIT family and to those who are celebrating five years in the team.

What else? We look forward to meeting you during 2024 at two important international fairs: PaintExpo and Aluminium!

What is told in the magazine represents tangible proof of our continuous commitment to growth and improvement. Enthusiastic about a bright future and the new goals that await us, we thank you for the precious collaboration and for the trust you place in us. Continue to follow us for further news!

Read ALIT Academy Magazine n.7

In-line chemical paint stripping of hooks and frames within the coating process

More and more coaters are choosing to paint strip the hooks and frames employed in their coating operations to avoid using them as disposable items. The standard method requires stopping production so they can be removed, replaced with new ones, and paint stripped separately. Aware of the importance of working with a continuous flow, however, ALIT Technologies has designed a plant that fulfills this task without interrupting the manufacturing cycle. FASTRIP ISP was conceived precisely to tackle the challenge of integrating the hook and frame paint stripping phase into coating lines.

    1. Hanging frames used for industrial coating operations

As mentioned, many companies today need to remove the paint residues deposited on their coating tools, including hanging hooks, load bars and frames, through a paint stripping operation aimed at re-using them.

But why do hooks and frames need to be cleaned?

Especially when it comes to electrostatic coating, the excellent electrical conductivity of the parts is of the essence. However, this can be significantly undermined by any impurities and paint layers deposited on the hooks and frames and acting as electrical insulators. Decreased conductivity also increases overspray, thus likely affecting the coating results. Therefore, paint stripping hooks and frames allows companies to re-use these accessories countless times without incurring the cost of buying new ones while ensuring flawless finishes.

FASTRIP ISP is ALIT Technologies’ solution for perfect in-line paint stripping of hooks and frames

Recognizing the importance of this process, ALIT Technologies accepted the challenge of developing an efficient solution for paint stripping hooks and frames. With this goal in mind, it designed and built FASTRIP ISP. Thanks to its modular design, this in-line chemical paint stripping system for hooks and frames can be easily integrated into existing production lines, ensuring the continuity of the coating cycle.

2. An example of a customized FASTRIP ISP machine for in-line paint stripping of hooks with a connected filter press

How is FASTRIP ISP made, and how does it work?

The FASTRIP ISP paint stripping system consists of two main units: the paint stripping tank and the FASTRIP FP series filtration system.

The tank is made of AISI 304 steel and contains an adjustable volume of paint stripper, which is simultaneously heated and subjected to ultrasonic waves. The combined effect of the chemical attack by the paint stripper, high temperature, and ultrasound allows removing a paint layer in as little as 3 minutes. While remaining hooked onto the overhead conveyor, the items to be paint-stripped are partially submerged into the stripping tank as they pass through. The tank’s linear length is proportional to the coating line’s speed, usually within a range of 4-8 meters. The paint stripping product is heated by electric heating plates attached externally to the tank, guaranteeing high standards of safety and ease of maintenance at the same time. The ultrasonic batteries are also externally flanged, easy to access, and highly robust. The tank is insulated to minimize heat loss and its shape optimizes sludge filtration.

The FASTRIP FP series filtration system is connected to the paint stripping tank and allows consistent removal of the coating sludge that accumulates in the bath. Sludge is continuously removed from the tank’s bottom and filtered with a filter press. The clean paint stripper can then be automatically recirculated to the paint stripping tank. The configuration options of the filter press, liquid tanks and piping are extremely varied and can be customized according to customer needs.

Adding a water rinse module to remove any paint stripping oil residues and an infrared lamp system for drying is also possible.

What are the advantages of this plant?

The benefits of using FASTRIP ISP for paint stripping hooks and frames are numerous:

  • the system enables to perform paint stripping operations without removing the hooks from the chain;
  • the process is easier to manage, as there is no need for downtime to clean the tank;
  • the labor involved in managing the hooks (i.e. cyclically removing the dirty ones and positioning the clean ones) is significantly reduced;
  • hooks and frames are always clean;
  • thanks to its modular design, the system can reach any length, as well as a hook and frame immersion depth of up to 30 cm.
  • FASTRIP ISP can be used for paint stripping any metal because it is not aggressive to surfaces, even with light alloys. Hooks and frames will always be as good as new!

The ideal chemicals for FASTRIP ISP

One of the goals of ALIT Technologies is to offer complete systems that provide all-round solutions. The market demanded a plant capable of paint stripping the hooks and frames used in coating processes – and the ALIT team met this need by designing and launching FASTRIP ISP. Of course, this type of plant also requires the use of chemical agents, so ALIT Technologies also developed a wide range of paint stripping products that guarantee optimal results when combined with the FASTRIP ISP system. These include as follows:

  • 14XX Series METALSTRIP

These paint strippers are used to fill the tank during the plant’s start-up. Usually, their use is limited to this phase.

  • 16XX Series METALSTRIP AKTIVATOR

They are used routinely to feed the paint stripping tank during regular operation. They should be added periodically to maintain optimal bath chemical parameters. The operator determines the quantities to be added through a simple chemical analysis of the bath.

  • COVER LAYER Series METALSTRIP

This non-toxic liquid forms a floating layer of about 4 cm above the paint stripper in the tank. It helps reduce heat loss and odor emissions and preserve the paint stripper from contact with air.

  • METALSTRIP 1465

This new product has improved fluidity and sludge settling capacity characteristics. One of its main features is its full compatibility with ALIT Technologies’ other paint stripper series, meaning that it can be added directly into the FASTRIP ISP tank, gradually replacing the product used previously without the need to refill the tank completely.

All these products are part of ALIT’s METALSTRIP product range, and in addition to providing excellent performance, they meet strict environmental sustainability requirements.

A case study testifying to the effectiveness of FASTRIP ISP

Background

A major company in Northern Italy producing and marketing wire mesh, fences and gates asked us to supply two complete FASTRIP ISP plants for paint stripping its hooks and frames. The paints to be removed were polyester coatings and the size of the hooks ranged from 70 cm in height to 50 cm in width.

The issue

The company had two already existing coating lines: due to space constraints and the chain’s layout, we had to design two custom plants with elevated paint stripping tanks.

Our solution

ALIT’s Engineering division conducted a detailed geometric survey of the space available and the overhead conveyor in the area of interest. It then presented the customer with a design that was gradually refined until approval. The paint stripping and filtration areas were designed to fit into the existing spaces without interfering with the adjacent coating and robotic unloading areas.

With regard to automation, it was agreed that the plant would comply with INDUSTRY 4.0 standards. The main switchboard was equipped with advanced technologies to exchange process data with the customer’s management software and allow for remote service and monitoring. The wiring and insulation materials on board the machine were selected based on ALIT’s experience in the paint stripping industry, balancing the required chemical and thermal resistance characteristics.

The company protagonist of this case study has undoubtedly obtained many benefits from its new FASTRIP ISP. In addition to radically decreased costs, opting for this plant from ALIT Technologies has enabled it to lower its environmental impact, reduce its long-term costs and increase its turnover by eliminating the need to stop the coating line.

Would you also like to implement such an innovative system for your business?

Get in touch with the ALIT team: together, we will identify the most suitable solution for your production needs!

ALIT Technologies S.p.A will attend PaintExpo 2024

ALIT Technologies is thrilled to announce its participation in PaintExpo, the main European trade fair dedicated to the world of industrial coating technologies.

ALIT Technologies, a company specialising in the manufacturing of machines and products for the chemical paint stripping of metals, will attend as an exhibitor the 2024 edition of PaintExpo, which will be held in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 9th to 12th April.

ALIT Technologies, in a spirit of continuous growth, will make PaintExpo the perfect opportunity to present many new features and some innovative projects that will leave stand visitors pleasantly surprised.

For the 2024 edition of PaintExpo and with this in mind, ALIT Technologies decided to go big by setting up the company’s largest stand ever.

The trade fair will represent an excellent opportunity to meet several stakeholders operating in the world of industrial coating as well as to exchange views and ideas on the present and future of this sector.

ALIT Technologies thus awaits you at PaintExpo, booth 2446, pavilion 2.

ALIT Technologies S.p.a presents MAS-KING, a new brand specialising in industrial masking

In an increasingly dynamic industrial world, it is essential for a company to innovate but also to renew itself to offer increasingly comprehensive services to the market. Strong on this approach, ALIT Technologies decided to expand its reach by creating MAS-KING, a new brand specialising in industrial masking based on innovation, progress and responsiveness to the demands of an increasingly demanding market.

The San Bonifacio (VR) based-company is pleased to announce the transition from dealers to owners of a new line of business operating in the field of masking for coating and other surface treatments. MAS-KING, the brand chosen for this new business, presents a range of products of the highest quality, designed with precision and made with advanced materials. The brand aims to set a new standard in industrial masking and represents the commitment signed ALIT Technologies to excellence in the protection of artifacts during all stages of surface treatment.

The new brand has a strongly international vision made possible by the ALIT Technologies’ global network of agents. To Italian customers, MAS-KING offers an innovative service based on speed of delivery, supplier-customer trust, problem-solving ability as well as on good price-quality ratio: a dedicated van, loaded with solutions for protecting parts during coating, will be available to customers directly at the workplace, thus guaranteeing immediate and customised supply.

Progress and innovation are two goals to be pursued at both strategic and operational levels for any solid and dynamic company. ALIT Technologies, excited about this new adventure into the world of surface treatments, invites all its customers to learn more about the features of the new MAS-KING masking products by contacting the customer service.

Join us to write the beginning of a new chapter in the history of masking.

Waste water: an issue in the aluminum surface treatment industry turned into a challenge for improved environmental sustainability

Most companies performing aluminum surface pre-treatment operations use products containing high levels of fluorides, which call for special water purification treatments. However, especially today, in an era marked by pollution, it is necessary to embrace more and more sustainable practices – even in the aluminum industry.

An example of a waste water purification tank

From a legislative point of view, European regulations set maximum limits for the presence of fluorides in waste water. In Italy, for example, up to 6 ppm are allowed in surface discharge water and 12 ppm in waste water discharged into the sewerage system (subject to specific regional restrictions). This is why the treatment of process water is an indispensable production step in the aluminum industry. However, the traditional purification cycle based on an acidification phase followed by neutralization with lime often fails to achieve such low fluoride concentrations, even with prolonged cycle times. Sophisticated purification systems are therefore designed for this purpose, capable of removing specific pollutants.

If one of the challenges of today’s industry is to pursue productive growth while preserving our planet, the mission of Alit Technologies is to offer advanced technologies to reduce its customers’ environmental impact, generating a synergy that can lead to significant progress and improvement.

The Fluoridite series: high-quality products for waste water purification

Implementing clear strategies is key to achieving one’s goals. This is why Alit Technologies’ experts have devised an innovation that makes it easy to comply with the limits for the presence of fluorides in waste water. Their research work resulted in the creation of the Fluoridite series, an effective solution to tackle this challenge.

Fluoridite is a liquid product formulated to break down fluorides in waste water in the aluminum, steel, and glass industries. This agent can be added to the baths during the purification process, allowing fluorides to be removed from the treated water.

It has an exceptionally high efficiency and it can be easily used in already existing plants without the need to change their layout or waste water circulation system. After installation, it requires only a few adjustments to ensure that the discharged water’s fluoride concentration is below 2 ppm.

The effectiveness of Fluoridite in three actual industrial settings

When it comes to products intended for industrial use, it is always particularly interesting to analyze them in actual production contexts where their properties can be put to the test.

The three case studies collected below not only demonstrate the effectiveness of Fluoridite in keeping fluoride levels below regulatory limits for both sewage and surface discharge water, but also offer some examples of concrete applications that may be useful in understanding how this product works.

The initial problem

As already pointed out, the basic issue reported by companies is the need not to exceed the legal limits for the concentration of fluorides in waste water. This also results in a production issue since, in order to comply with these regulations, manufacturers can be forced to reduce the use of products containing hydrofluoric acid and its derivatives and, consequently, limit their production flow.

Success cases: contexts and solutions

The first success case we would like to present concerns a company headquartered in northern Italy, which coats about 15 tons per day of aluminum every 8-hour shift. It now uses Fluoridite for its purification process. The production line includes alkaline, acid, and non-chromic passivation pre-treatment stages and the purification plant handles 5 m3/h of cleaning water. Fluoridite’s dosage is about 800 ppm in the first tank, followed by neutralization with lime to pH 8 and flocculation. Thanks to the use of Fluoridite, the clarified water always has fluoride values below 9 ppm, i.e. below the legal limit of 12 ppm for discharge into the sewage system.

The protagonist of the second success case is another Italian company specializing in the coating of aluminum profiles and sheets, which processes around 60 tons per day in three 8-hour shifts. The company has two surface pre-treatment lines, one performing acid degreasing/deoxidation and non-chromic passivation and the other alkaline degreasing, acid deoxidation, and non-chromic passivation. The purification line collects water from both plants (6 m3/h in total). To comply with the 6 ppm limit for surface discharge water, the dosage of Fluoridite here is approximately 3500 ppm.

The third case study concerns a company located in central Italy, specializing in the coating and decoration of aluminum profiles. It processes around 50-55 tons per day in three shifts with a treatment operation involving several stages. Waste water is conveyed to a purification plant using Fluoridite. The limit for fluorides, again equal to 6 ppm, is successfully achieved through the accurate dosing of Fluoridite in the purification tank, which has reduced the fluoride concentration in the discharged water from around 30 ppm to less than 4 ppm, thus safely meeting the legal limit.

The advantages of Fluoridite

The use of Fluoridite brings several benefits, including as follows:

  • Ease of dosage;
  • Compliance with legal limits;
  • Quick supply;
  • Dedicated technical support.

In summary, Fluoridite is a clear example of Alit Technologies’ constant dedication to research and development. It is the result of this company’s commitment to offer state-of-the-art solutions for a more sustainable and compliant industrial future.

And if it is true that collaboration in the industrial sector is of paramount importance in moving towards a greener future, Alit Technologies urges all companies dealing with the presence of fluorides in waste water to contact its specialized staff to identify the best solution to their specific needs.

Together, we can do more!

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