The installation of the Drizzling system by ALIT Technologies at DHK represents a significant advancement in the protection of aluminum surfaces. On this occasion, ALIT installed its innovative Drizzling system, while Alufinish, its partner for chemical supply, provided the ALFICOAT 748 product used for the conversion coating. This case study demonstrates how DHK, a leader in aluminum coverings, improved its processes thanks to ALIT’s advanced technology and Alufinish’s chemical products.
Our Customer and his request
DHK is a Belgian company specialized in the production and sale of aluminum products, including terrace coverings, customized pergolas, canopies, windowsills, and thresholds. The company offers a wide range of products, including aluminum profiles, sandwich panels, and architectural construction accessories.
The strength of DHK lies in the use of aluminum, a lightweight, recyclable, and corrosion-resistant material, making it ideal for external architectural applications. However, to ensure the long-lasting durability of its products, accurate surface pretreatment is essential before powder coating.
At its Chatelineau facility, DHK operates a new and modern painting line where metal surfaces undergo pretreatment and powder coating. Therefore, DHK needed a solution that would ensure an effective conversion coating, enhancing paint adhesion and corrosion resistance.
The Solution: ALIT’s Drizzling System
To meet this need, DHK chose ALIT Technologies to install the Drizzling system at its Chatelineau plant. This innovative technology allows for the precise and efficient application of the ALFICOAT 748 chemical product, supplied by Alufinish, improving the quality of the aluminum’s conversion coating.
Specifically, the Drizzling system installed by ALIT at DHK marks a major technological advancement over traditional methods. With the ability to atomize a real-time mixture of ALFICOAT 748 and demineralized water, the Drizzling system ensures that the chemical solution is always fresh and ready for use, eliminating the need for coating tanks or energy-intensive spray pumps.
How Drizzling Works
The Drizzling system atomizes a freshly prepared ALFICOAT 748 solution directly onto the aluminum surface, creating a fine mist that adheres perfectly to the metal surface. This process delivers a uniform, high-quality conversion coating, avoiding the contamination and wear issues associated with traditional immersion or spray systems.
The benefits of this technology are numerous:
– Energy Efficiency: No need for pumps or coating tanks.
– Consistent Quality: The chemical solution is prepared instantly, ensuring freshness and reactivity.
– Simplified Management: There is no longer a need to monitor or analyze tank liquids, reducing maintenance and operational times.
Additionally, the installation was completed within a few hours, with two atomizer ramps mounted inside the pretreatment tunnel and a mixing and control panel installed externally. The system, delivered in a plug-and-play configuration, was ready for use immediately after installation.
Performance and Results
Thanks to the Drizzling system, DHK has significantly improved the quality of its aluminum conversion coating, with a consumption of approximately 0.5 kg/hour of ALFICOAT 748 and a solution flow of about 160 liters/hour. Regular verification of the titanium deposits confirmed that the results perfectly align with the parameters set by the chemical supplier Alufinish, ensuring superior corrosion resistance.
In conclusion, the successful installation of the Drizzling system at DHK showcases how the integration of ALIT’s advanced technology and Alufinish’s chemical products can deliver excellent results in the pretreatment of aluminum surfaces, offering an efficient and innovative solution for conversion coating.
Together with PMR SYSTEM GROUP, ALIT contributes to innovation in drum filling
In the dynamic field of chemistry, technological innovation plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and safety of production processes. ALIT Technologies SpA, with a broad and diversified portfolio of chemical products, has recently made a significant leap forward through the collaboration with PMR SYSTEM GROUP. This partnership has led to the implementation of a cutting-edge automatic drum filling line, revolutionizing the drum filling process.
The need for automation
ALIT Technologies is renowned for the production and sale of a wide range of chemical substances, including alkaline, acidic, neutral, aggressive, and non-aggressive products. Our strength lies in chemical stripping, an area that demands precision and absolute safety in handling potentially hazardous substances. The need to automate the drum filling process became evident, not only to improve efficiency but also to ensure a high level of operational safety.
Choosing the right partner
After careful evaluation of various suppliers, ALIT chose PMR SYSTEM GROUP for their ability to understand and address the specific needs of our industry. Claudio Burato, Chemical Manager at ALIT, explains: “We contacted several suppliers, but quickly leaned towards PMR. Their attention to the aggressiveness of our chemical products was decisive. Together, step by step, we built a tailor-made machine, carefully selecting materials, pipework, and components.”
Features of the drum filling machine
The automatic drum filling machine developed by PMR exemplifies advanced technology and engineering precision. The process begins with gravimetric filling of the drums, ensuring impeccable dosing accuracy. Subsequently, the drums move to an automatic capping station, followed by a labelling station where three labels are applied, all synchronized with our management system based on Industry 4.0 principles. This automation significantly reduces manual intervention, enhancing both process safety and efficiency.
Testing and implementation
Before final delivery, the machine underwent rigorous functional tests at PMR. Two subsequent trials allowed the verification of the machine correct operation and the implementation of necessary adjustments. Claudio Burato recalls: “We performed tests and two subsequent trials at PMR to verify the functional performance of the machine. After the first trial, we requested some modifications, which were promptly made. The second trial was a success, leading to the delivery and installation of the machine at our facilities.”
A promising future
The collaboration with PMR SYSTEM GROUP has underscored the importance of a personalized and flexible approach to meet specific needs in the chemical sector. The new automatic machine has not only significantly enhanced our production capacity but also strengthened our commitment to operational safety. Claudio Burato emphasizes the significance of this partnership: “We encountered a responsive and flexible company that showed great attention to our requirements. We will certainly turn to PMR again for future innovations.”
In conclusion, the introduction of the new automatic drum filling machine marks a significant chapter in the history of ALIT Technologies. This advancement not only boosts productivity but also enhances the safety and efficiency of our operations, paving the way for a promising and innovative future.
We are pleased to announce that ALIT Technologies will participate in the 2024 edition of ALUMINIUM, the renowned international trade fair taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 8 to 10, 2024. During the event, we will showcase our latest technological innovations, designed to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of industrial processes.
At our booth 3H42, you will have the opportunity to discover a range of cutting-edge technologies, including:
– Drizzling: Our complete dosing and nebulization system for the passivation of aluminium and metal profiles. This compact, low-energy solution eliminates the need for a traditional passivation tank while ensuring high-quality results.
– ISP (In-line System for Chemical Stripping): An innovative in-line system for the chemical stripping of hooks and frames used in electrostatic painting processes. ISP reduces processing times to just 3 minutes, significantly boosting operational efficiency.
– CLARIS: Our additive for cleaning extrusion dies, which enhances bath longevity and cleaning performance, while reducing sludge formation and fume emissions. CLARIS also enables up to 20% energy savings.
We have designed our booth to provide an immersive and engaging experience. In addition to exploring our technological solutions up close, you can enjoy some typical delicacies from our home region of Veneto, such as sopressa veneta and Durello wine. You will also have the chance to discover the history of ALIT Academy Magazine, our house organ, and take memorable photos in our photobooth area featuring a branded Vespa 50 Special. And that’s not all – a special surprise awaits all visitors as a token of our appreciation.
We invite you to visit us at booth 3H42 during ALUMINIUM 2024. This will be the perfect opportunity to explore the latest innovations in aluminium surface treatment, exchange ideas, and participate in the immersive activities we have planned for you.
Behind every advanced technological solution and every successful project is a dedicated team of people, and at ALIT Technologies, this principle is the foundation of everything we do. In an industry where efficiency and technical precision are essential, we believe that the human contribution plays a crucial role in keeping innovation at the forefront.
To celebrate this synergy between technology and people, we organized an exclusive company photoshoot, documented in a behind-the-scenes video that showcases the human side of our team. The goal? To capture the essence of who we are, both professionally and personally.
📸 The Human Side of ALIT
During the photoshoot, each employee had the opportunity to express their personality through both serious and fun poses, creating moments of authenticity and team spirit. These shots not only reflect the professionalism we bring to our daily work but also the passion and creativity that drive us to constantly improve.
Our team is the heart of ALIT Technologies, and each individual contributes uniquely to our mission: to provide cutting-edge masking and paint removal solutions with quality, precision, and sustainability at the core.
Don’t miss the chance to get to know the people behind the industrial technologies we develop. Discover all the individual and group photos in our dedicated section: alit-tech.com/team.
🔗 Why Our Team Is So Important
In an increasingly digital and automated world, it’s easy to forget that behind every machine, every system, and every technological innovation, there are people. At ALIT Technologies, we are fully aware of this, which is why we value and celebrate our team at every possible opportunity.
With our expertise in chemical paint removal and custom masking solutions, we continue to grow, knowing that our greatest value lies in the people who make up the company.
📢 Don’t Stop Here!
Follow us on our social media channels to stay updated on our news, projects, and stories from the heart of ALIT Technologies. Don’t miss a moment of our ongoing evolution!
Stripping alloy wheels is a key process for ensuring high-quality repainting and extending the lifespan of automotive wheels. The Estonian company Ral-Est OÜ, an official distributor of ALIT Technologies Spa, offers chemical stripping solutions for alloy wheels and other metal products in the Estonian market. Over the last nine years, Ral-Est has provided complete technical solutions, including equipment and chemicals for chemical stripping alloy wheels.
Ral-Est’s Early Journey into Chemical Stripping
Ral-Est’s CEO, Olev Ustinov, shared insights on the company’s journey. “When we started, chemical paint stripping was relatively unknown in the Baltic region. We were the first to introduce these solutions to Estonia,” Ustinov explained. Initially, the company partnered with a North American supplier, but faced several challenges, prompting them to seek better solutions. Collaborating with the Estonian Institute of Chemistry, they tested various products, and eventually, ALIT Technologies Spa emerged as the best provider of paint stripping chemicals and technology.
Customized Solutions for Efficient Stripping Processes
Ustinov emphasized the importance of not only quickly and accurately stripping products but also offering tailored technical solutions to meet customer needs. ALIT’s support has been crucial in achieving this goal, providing innovative equipment and chemicals that enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
A Case Study: Success with Metalstrip 1333/1
A prime example of this collaboration is a recent case involving spray paint removal for alloy wheels. A Ral-Est customer was experiencing long cycle times and deteriorating bath quality with a competitor’s paint stripper. Ral-Est proposed ALIT’s Metalstrip 1333/1, an alkaline, water-free chemical stripper, particularly effective for aluminum. Applied via spray at 70°C, Metalstrip 1333/1 significantly reduced stripping time and extended the life of the stripping bath, making the process faster and more cost-effective.
Feedback and Performance Results
Feedback from Ral-Est’s own paint stripping plant, as well as end customers, highlights the product’s success in stripping alloy wheels. Typical paint removal times range from 15-30 minutes for Chinese-manufactured wheels, and 30-120 minutes for German wheels, depending on paint thickness. After stripping, a rinse stage ensures the wheels are clean and ready for repainting.
Maintenance and Optimization for Stripping Baths
Ustinov noted that the key to optimizing the performance of the chemical stripping bath is maintaining proper alkalinity with Metalstrip AKTIVATOR 1533 and regularly filtering out paint sludge. This maintenance ensures the bath lasts longer, improving both efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Ramping Up Success with Metalstrip 1333/1
The results from using Metalstrip 1333/1 have been overwhelmingly positive, sparking enthusiasm within the Ral-Est team. Following these successful outcomes, Ral-Est has ramped up marketing efforts and customer visits within the Estonian painting industry, positioning themselves as leaders in chemical stripping alloy wheels and related services.
A Partnership Built on Mutual Success
As ALIT’s regional manager, Bojan Stevanovic, concluded, the partnership between ALIT and Ral-Est is built on mutual satisfaction, professionalism, and a commitment to supporting customers with the best paint stripping solutions available.
Ral-Est continues to deliver high-quality chemical stripping services, ensuring alloy wheels are efficiently and effectively stripped, prepared for repainting, and made to last.
We are delighted to announce a historic milestone for ALIT Technologies. Our company, a leader in chemical paint stripping, is officially expanding to Serbia and Portugal with the opening of the first two international ALIT-Service branches. This expansion marks the beginning of a new chapter for us, highlighting our ambition to bring the excellence of contract paint stripping to new global markets.
ALIT Technologies team in Serbia
ALIT-Service is the result of an innovative and targeted strategy aimed at revolutionizing the industrial paint stripping landscape. This service stands out for its bold and personalized approach, exclusively using ALIT Technologies’ top-tier products to meet the specific needs of our clients worldwide.
With the introduction of ALIT-Service, we further enrich our already extensive range of offerings, getting closer to our customers and ensuring the highest quality service. The new branches in Serbia and Portugal are just the start of an ambitious development project that envisions the opening of many more strategic locations around the world. These new openings aim to bridge geographical gaps and meet the growing demand for contract paint stripping in regions not yet covered by our distributors.
ALIT Technologies team in Portugal
ALIT-Service is not only a demonstration of our ambition but also a concrete commitment to economic growth and sustainable development of local communities, creating new jobs and offering increasingly sought-after services.
With this revolutionary initiative, we embrace change, redefine industry standards, and open the doors to a new and exciting chapter of global success. We continue to demonstrate our vision of a future where innovation and excellence are fundamental pillars.
Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to expand and bring our quality services to new markets.
Find out how you can manage your industrial waste safely and worry-free
The disposal of industrial waste is an operation that every company should consider thoughtfully, looking for the best solutions to carry it out safely and with the most negligible impact possible on the environment. The ALIT Technologies team met with Alberto Panozzo, the owner of LTA – La Triveneta Ambiente, a company specializing in the disposal and recovery of waste of all types, to discuss every detail of this critical phase in the production cycle.
Why is industrial waste disposal so important?
The industrial waste disposal phase is a complex and delicate process that is simply essential for protecting the environment and human health. The waste generated by industrial activities, often containing toxic, chemical and hazardous substances, calls for specific management and treatment techniques. Companies specializing in this area can play a crucial role by offering advanced solutions for the safe treatment and disposal of waste, using cutting-edge technologies to minimize environmental impact and promoting best practices to recycle and reuse materials. Strict standards and government controls also play a key role in ensuring disposal operations comply with environmental regulations, encouraging the industry to adopt suitable solutions.
At ALIT Technologies, the issue of chemical waste disposal, particularly when it comes to sludge, contaminated water and spent baths, has always received scrupulous attention. That is why we rely on LTA – La Triveneta Ambiente, an expert company in the recycling and waste disposal fields. After collaborating for many years and in light of this issue’s importance in the industrial world, we decided to interview LTA’s owner, Alberto Panozzo, and ask him to illustrate what steps need to be performed and how hazardous waste, including laboratory chemicals, is disposed of.
Waste disposal steps and processes explained by Alberto Panozzo, the owner of LTA – La Triveneta Ambiente
LTA – La Triveneta Ambiente, headquartered in San Bonifacio, Verona, has been dealing with the disposal and recovery of industrial waste and offering consultancy services throughout Italy since 2006. It can handle any type of waste, with a focus on hazardous and difficult-to-dispose waste, such as sludge and acids. This company’s strength lies in its ability to meet even the micro waste collection needs of enterprises that generate small quantities of waste. “Often, companies turn to us to dispose of small amounts of waste, such as a couple of drums of sludge or a small tank. As we also specialize in this service, we can respond readily,” explained Alberto Panozzo, the owner of LTA. LTA’s highly trained staff visit these companies’ premises to affix labels and check the waste to be managed; its drivers who then perform the pickups specialize in micro waste collection and offer precise and dedicated service.
“At the same time, customers also choose us because of our record-keeping service via online software for efficient and fully digital log management. With this system, our customers can easily print out the necessary documents from their computers without having to fill them up manually,” added Panozzo. LTA offers a comprehensive package that includes preparation, inventory monitoring, and management of any new waste type with a variable monthly fee based on the recorded movements. More specifically, this service includes signing the papers, filling up and printing the loading and unloading logs, validating them, paying administrative fees, and delivering the logs to individual production units.
“By relying on us, customers can count on professional and error-free management, constant monitoring, and ongoing support,” said Panozzo. Online management of waste loading and unloading logs is particularly useful for small and large businesses needing to handle special waste. This service does not require the installation of any new computer program: all you need is a PC, an Internet connection and a printer. LTA’s customers can thus save time and avoid errors, with the peace of mind of always having up-to-date records ready for possible audits, as well as Environmental Declaration Forms (MUD) filled up correctly and submitted to the relevant Chamber of Commerce within the legal deadlines.
What are the disposal process’ steps?
LTA’s steps to dispose of industrial waste begin with an inspection at the customer’s site. During this visit, it briefly checks the production process and the raw materials used. Then, waste is sampled and analyzed, a critical step in identifying the right EWC code. The European Waste Codes (EWC) list is a classification system that uniquely identifies different types of waste. The first two digits of the code indicate the sector from which it originated (e.g. 01 for mining, 02 for agriculture, etc.), the next two the subsector (e.g., smoke abatement) and the last two the specific type of waste.
Once the most appropriate EWC code has been identified by analyzing the production process, LTA draws up a business proposal. After this is accepted, it prepares all necessary documents, including the approval form. Before pickup, it also verifies that the containers are suitable for transport, as it is sometimes necessary to repackage the waste to ensure safe handling. Once this verification is completed, LTA makes arrangements for the collection of waste. If its amount is small, it is picked up with that of some other local customers to optimize costs, whereas a dedicated pickup is organized if it requires a full load. All these steps ensure effective and safe waste management under current regulations, guaranteeing that waste is classified, documented and disposed of properly.
How does the disposal process take place in practice?
Industrial waste is disposed of through several steps and with different methods, each specific to the type of waste and its environmental impact. In general, waste is collected from industrial production sites and taken to licensed disposal facilities. Proper classification and separation are crucial in this phase to avoid contamination and ensure appropriate treatment. Before final disposal, waste may undergo a pre-treatment process to reduce its volume or stabilize it, for instance through crushing, compaction, inerting, or chemical neutralization processes.
The actual treatment varies depending on the type of waste and may call for different technologies. Waste is often burned at high temperatures to reduce its volume and destroy hazardous substances; this method, called incineration, can generate energy but requires plants with emission filtering systems to reduce air pollution. Another technique is landfilling: waste with an inert/inorganic matrix is sent for disposal in controlled sites equipped with sealing and leachate collection systems to prevent soil and groundwater contamination. Waste can also be treated with chemical agents to neutralize hazardous substances or with biological processes that use microorganisms to degrade organic contaminants. In addition, many industrial materials, such as metals, plastics and paper, can be recycled or recovered for new uses, thus reducing the amount of waste to be disposed of and saving natural resources. Finally, some types of waste, particularly radioactive ones, require safe temporary storage until final disposal solutions can be adopted.
Disposal facilities must be constantly monitored to ensure there are no leaks or environmental contamination: emission controls are carried out in the air, water and soil, and compliance with current environmental regulations is verified. Companies specializing in waste disposal do implement advanced technologies to ensure that this process takes place safely and efficiently, minimizing environmental impact and complying with relevant laws and regulations.
What about liquid disposal? How is this done?
The waste produced by ALIT Technologies and its customers primarily consists of liquids, namely sludge, contaminated water and spent baths. That is why we were glad to take a closer look at how these are disposed of. Liquid waste disposal occurs mainly in two ways: purification through chemical-physical plants and thermal destruction.
Liquids that contain metals, other difficult-to-dispose inorganic compounds such as ammonia, or high levels of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) are treated in purification plants. These systems use chemical and physical processes to remove harmful substances and make water safer for the environment. However, there are situations where the liquids contain solvents or other substances that cannot be effectively treated through purification. In these cases, liquid waste is sent for thermal destruction, which subjects it to high temperatures in incinerators specifically designed to handle both liquid and solid waste. Thermal destruction is a more expensive solution than chemical-physical purification, but it is necessary to treat materials that are particularly difficult to dispose of – and it is, in any case, a guarantee of maximum waste reduction. It also ensures very high energy recovery rates, which companies are increasingly demanding. “In the specific case of ALIT Technologies, for example, a type of liquid waste such as spent paint strippers, which cannot be purified due to their chemical composition, is destined for thermal destruction. That ensures hazardous substances are completely eliminated,” indicated Alberto Panozzo.
Why rely on a specialized company for industrial waste disposal?
Relying on an industrial waste disposal expert offers many advantages, especially for small/medium-sized companies that do not have an in-house HSE manager. Industrial waste requires precise management in compliance with current regulations, and DIY can lead to costly and dangerous mistakes. Regulations are complex, and the risk of incurring penalties for incorrect waste management is high. A company like LTA can offer comprehensive technical assistance, from waste classification to preparing the necessary documentation for transport and disposal, ensuring that each step is performed correctly and in accordance with the law. For companies that choose to manage waste in-house, the main problem is often the lack of specific skills and dedicated staff. And, even when they have the technical expertise to handle a part of the process, they are not authorized to transport waste, so they still have to turn to a specialized company at some point. Finally, training and retaining in-house staff responsible for waste management entails high costs and using resources that could be better deployed.
In brief: rely on LTA to safely dispose of your chemical waste!
A well-functioning production cycle needs all its stages to receive the attention they deserve, which is why activating cooperation networks that include companies involved in different supply chain steps is essential: only together can we do more and better!
Therefore, we would like to thank Alberto Panozzo for accurately illustrating all the details of this part of the industrial journey: waste disposal. By relying on LTA, you too can be sure that managing your chemical waste will no longer be a problem or a source of worry.
Contact us to learn all about our chemical paint strippers and to understand how to dispose of them: it’s easier than you think!
We are pleased to announce that our CEO, Loris Rossi, has been appointed as a board member of the UCIF association for 2024. This prestigious position represents an important recognition for ALIT Technologies Spa and underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and collaboration with industry leaders.
The new UCIF Board of Directors, elected on June 12th, includes the following leading companies:
Geico SpA
Dürr
IMF Engineering
HUBO Automation S.r.l.
SAVIM EUROPE – Industrial Painting Plants
ALIT Technologies Spa
Kenosistec S.r.l.
Loris Rossi, along with other members of the Technical Committee, will be engaged on several fronts: from regulatory development to relationships with Italian institutions, and European representation. This appointment is a testament to ALIT Technologies Spa’s dedication to actively contributing to the sector’s development and best representing our values of innovation, leadership, and commitment.
The Role of ALIT Technologies Spa in the Board of Directors
Being part of the UCIF Board of Directors provides ALIT Technologies Spa with the opportunity to influence key decisions affecting the industry. Loris Rossi will carry forward our commitment to promoting innovative and sustainable solutions, working in synergy with other leading companies to tackle future challenges.
Commitment and Dedication Towards the Future
Loris Rossi’s appointment as a board member is just the latest example of our continuous commitment to innovation and leadership in the sector. We are excited about this new opportunity and are committed to best representing our values and contributing to the sector’s development with passion and determination.
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