spin surfacetreatment 2401 · 2016-08-08 · 4 surface treatment metals are treated to change the...

Surface Treatment

www.spin-project.eu

2

Imprint

This broschure has been produced with the assistance of the European Union (http://europa.eu). The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the author and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

Imprint

PUBLISHERIVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet ABValhallavägen 81P.O. Box 210 60100 31 StockholmSweden

EDITORSUwe Fortkamp and Magnus Klingspor, IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet AB, Sweden

CONTRIBUTORSDaniel de Graaf, Federal Environment Agency (BMU), GermanyRené Ancher Grøn, Teknologisk Institut, Denmark

DESIGNdesign_idee_erfurt GbR, Erfurt

Published January 2012

Photo credits:Cover: Vladimir Shevelev/Fotolia.comPage 5: orhan81/Fotolia.comPage 15: christian42/Fotolia.com

3

Surface Treatment 4

SPIN Surface Treatment Highlights

ALANOD GmbH: Environment-friendly coating processon aluminium coil 6

Carl Gommann KG: VACUCLEAN PLUS method fordegreasing of large workpieces 7

C5 Surface Technology 8

Micro Clean: an environmental friendly and effectiveremediation of mould problems 9

Atotech Skandinavien AB 10

Carbonate control in alkaline zinc bath by freezing 11

Unique Overhead Handling Systems 12

Candor Sweden AB 13

Vilokan Sweden AB 14

The Spin Project 15

Content

4

Surface Treatment

Metals are treated to change the surface properties for: decoration and refl ectivity, improved hardness and wear resistance, corrosion prevention and as a base to improve adhesion of other treatments such as painting.

The range of components treated varies from screws, nuts and bolts, jewellery and spectacle frames, components for automotive and other industries to steel rolls up to 32 tonnes and over two metres wide for pressing automotive bodies, food and drink containers, etc.

In Europe, the surface technologies predominantly used are electroplating (one third) and painting (another third). The remaining third of surface technologies includes chemical and physical vapour deposition, plasma technologies, metal spraying, hot dip galvanizing and other specialized tech-niques.

The Surface treatment industry plays a major role in extending the life of metals, such as in automotive bod-ies and construction materials. It is also used in equipment that increases safety or reduces consumption of other raw materials (e.g. plating of automotive braking and suspen-sion systems, plating precision fuel injectors for automotive engines to reduce fuel consumption, plating materials for cans to preserve food, etc.).

The main environmental impacts relate to energy and water consumption, the consumption of raw materials, emissions to surface and groundwater, solid and liquid wastes and the site condition on termination of activities.

SPIN project set out to collect innovation highlights that are both innovative and sus-tainable. Within the fi eld of surface treatment there are a number of highlights fulfi ll-ing the mentioned criteria. With this brochure SPIN contributes to market penetration of some of the technologies that addresses some of the key environmental issues re-garding surface treatment.

The surface treatment sector is a relatively small sector compared to the whole of mechanical engineering and metal working, but it is one of the most signifi cant cross-sectorial manufacturing branches in the European economy. The core sector which is focused around the treatment and coating of metals in specialized industrial manufacturing SMEs, gener-ated in 2008 a turnover of roughly 30 billion EUR with some 330,000 jobs in about 22,000 companies throughout EU27

Surface Treatment

Surface Treatment in Baltic Sea Region countries

Key environmental issues of surface treatment

The processes related to surface treatment are predominantly water-based and the consumption of water and its manage-ment are central themes, as it also affects the usage of raw materials and their loss to the environment. Both in-process and end-of-pipe techniques affect the quantity and quality of waste waters, as well as the type and quantity of solid and liquid wastes produced.

The key emissions of concern to water are metals which are used as soluble salts. Depending on the process, emis-sions may contain cyanides (although decreasingly), as well as surfactants which may have low biodegradability and accumulative effects, e.g. NPE and PFOS. Effl uent treatment of cyanides with hypochlorite may result in the production of AOX. Complexing agents (including cyanides and EDTA) can interfere with the removal of metals in waste water treatment or remobilise metals in the aquatic environment. Other ions, e.g. chlorides, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates and anions containing boron may be signifi cant at a local level.Air emissions from the surface treatment industry are mainly solvents from painting and from some degreasing operations. Otherwise there are some emissions which may be locally important like NOX, HCl, HF and acid particulates from pickling operations, hexavalent chromium mist released from hexavalent chromium plating, and ammonia from copper etching. Dust, as a combination of abrasives and abraded substrate, is generated by the mechanical preparation of components.

5

This brochure introduces a selection of the innovation high-lights that contribute to surface treatment. The highlights described in this brochure include innovative examples on different and more remarkable products and solutions.

SPIN Surface Treatment Highlights

(Euro-stat). The majority of this European surface industry is concentrated in fi ve countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK) with over 10,000 surface engineering companies.

The German electro-plating sector has more some 2.100 companies with about 49.000 employees.

Thus, the majority of companies in the surface industry employ less than 20 people, though this fact is diffi cult to see in offi cial statistics. For instance, German statistics only record 800 electroplating companies with a total of 44,000 employees.

In Sweden there are approximately 700 metal surface treat-ment installations of which one half performs chemical pretreatment before painting (i.e. phosphating and chromat-ing). Most of these are mechanical workshops painting their own products.

The other half normally perform metal coating where the most common methods are electrolytic (zinc, chrome, nickel, copper), chemical (nickel, copper) or thermic (hot dip galva-nizing). This is mostly done on lego basis, very few mechani-cal industries have an installation of their own for this type of processes.

6

SPIN

ALANOD GmbH: Environment-friendly coating process on aluminium coilAbstract: The ALANOD Aluminium-Veredlung GmbH & Co. KG applies a sponsored continuous vacuum process which allows for the fi rst time to enhance metal strip on a single side with the result of total refl ection of more than 98%. This is reached by the worldwide unique and fi rst time applied sputter technology for depositing silver on metal (aluminium) strip. The new product achieves the required performance and its long-time durability as well as the level of light-refl ectance of 98% by combination of glow-discharge and sputtering pretreatments and in addition by the application of reactive electron-beam evaporation to apply the interference and protective layers. Spectral ellipsometry allows for a new quality of detecting the layer thickness.The use of the new product as a refl ector for the lighting technology increases effi ciency and by this reduces specifi c energy-consumption by up to 20%. Because of its high solar refl ect-ance the new product presents itself as an alternative to existing glass-mirrors applied in photovoltaics and collectors for solar thermal energy. The product is used predominantly in the lighting industry.The production facility was designed and engineered by Von Ardenne Anlagentechnik GmbH Dresden according to the ALANOD system specifi cations.

Description: Silver coating of aluminium strips increases the light refl ect-ance for illumination purposes to over 98 % compared to 95 % when pure aluminium is used. The applied physical vapour deposition (PVD) technique replaces electrochemical proc-esses which cause big quantities of waste water and sludge which had to be disposed to high costs. Together with an in situ optical control, the product shows a continuous light refl ectance of >98 %, resulting in less scrap than with the former facility. The product is incorporated, amongst others, in solar collectors for hot water preparation and guarantees more effi cient solar yield compared to glass mirrors. Thus, the technique unfolds its environmental friendliness in many respects. 570 tonnes of chemicals are saved annually, the overall electricity consumption in the production process is reduced by 50 %.The new facility also allows to coat with alternative materi-als for different applications like corrosion and abrasion protection.

ALANOD is one of the leading producers of PVD-coated aluminium coils worldwide. 30,000 tons of aluminium are coated annually. The latest facility equipped with the PVD coating technique (AIBA3) started production in 2005.

Application of the sputter-technology is a novelty in the surface treatment fi eld of application. In addition, the shift from electrochemical processes to PVD is a crucial step to more sustainable coating procedures.

In contrast to electrochemical coating techniques, there is no need for galvanic baths consuming enormous quantities

Innovative aspects – environmental, economic, social:

Provider:

ALANOD Aluminium-Veredlung GmbH & Co. KG

ContactALANODAluminium-Veredlung GmbH & Co. KGEgerstr. 12 | 58256 Ennepetal | GermanyTel: +49 (0) 2333-986-500Fax: +49 (0) 2333-986-555E-mail: [email protected] http://alanod.com/opencms/opencms/index.html?__locale=de

SPIN SURFACE TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS

of electrolytes (NaOH) and generating considerable amounts of waste water and sludge. The product itself contributes to higher effi ciency in illumination and solar energy applica-tions. Since there are no air emissions, production of waste water or handling of corrosive galvanic baths, work safety is broadly improved compared to standard wet chemical methods.

7

Carl Gommann KG: VACUCLEAN PLUS method for degreasing of large workpiecesAbstract: A specialist for hardening of iron workpieces, Carl Gommann KG in Remscheid, has installed a new, environmental friendly facility for the degreasing of large pieces, e.g. gearwheels and shafts of windmills. Preceding the hardening process, pieces need to be made clean, fat-free and dry in order to obtain good quality. By applying the VACUCLEAN PLUS technique, emis-sions of solvent (volatile organic compounds, VOC) are reduced to zero and energy consump-tion is remarkably reduced compared to previous application where drying was achieved with hot air. The solvent is recaptured and can be reused in the cleaning process.

Description: The cleaning and degreasing step is carried out in a closed basin (about 500 m3) by dipping the workpiece into organic solvents. After cleaning, the chlorine-free solvent is let off from the basin, entirely removed by application of vacuum and recaptured by condensation in a cold trap. Its reuse avoids costs signifi cantly and emissions are almost com-pletely avoided (reduction by 99.9%). In comparison to a conventional degreasing installation, the new facility saves 789 MWh of energy and 24 tons (58 %) of washing agent. Savings result in a short amortisation period of only 3.2 months.

The VACUCLEAN PLUS method described here is applied for the fi rst time on industrial scale.It replaces the hot air drying resulting in reduced energy consumption and prevention of VOC emissions. The latter ensures compliance to EU-directive 1999/13/EG and corresponding German regulation (31. BImSchV). It also improves working conditions by avoiding exposure of harmful solvents to employees.


Provider:

Carl Gomman KG

ContactCarl Gommann KG Mr. Marco C. JostDreiangelstraße 2942855 Remscheid | GermanyTel.: 02191-88650Fax: 02191-80839 E-mail: [email protected]

Furnace for the hardening process and gearwheels

8

SPIN

C5 Surface TechnologyAbstract: Since 2004, C5 Surface Technology has given advice and consulting as well as delivered chemi-cal products for surface protection within the industrial sector.C5 Technology mainly works within surface protection against graffi ti and cleaning of graffi ti contaminated surfaces.Our industrial coating for the rail industry can be applied already at the production site. Easy to clean, anti-fi nger prints, corrosion protection is some of the advantages our products give you company.

Description: A long lasting protection of plastic, metal and lacquer surfaces is guaranteed when using C5 Surface technology. 2K based coating gives a fast dry time, easy to use with a sponge, rolling or by spraying. Our products leave no “shad-ows” after the graffi ti has been easily removed. The Coating is 100 % non-organic and cannot burn. C5 products gives on top of the protection also an easy to clean surface that makes fi ngerprints and dirt easy to remove. Restrain up to +40 attracts against spray color.

Railway stations, underground, tunnels, stairs and fl oors can easily be protected for many years without problems. But also areas where problems such as dust, iron oxide from brakes, oil, salt etc. occurs can be protected in “one go” for up to 15 years before recoating is needed. The surface treat-ment also eliminates corrosion in armed concrete. On top of that the surface can breathe from inside and out.Graffi ti at railway stations, underground stations etc. can be eliminated or minimized as the tags erodes at the coated surface. Our water based antigraffi ti coating hold up to 6-8 attacks before recoating is needed. With our very mild clean-ing agents it is easy to remove the tags again without high pressure gauge or aggressive chemicals.


Provider:

C5 Surface Technology

ContactC5 SURFACE TECHNOLOGY [email protected] www.C5ST.com


Liquid or Gel based anti-graffi ti cleaners for all surfaces helps keeping the surroundings of the city nice and neat.The surface treatments are VERY mild to the environment as well as VOC conform and water based. But is at the same time an Extreme effective cleaner.

C5 Surface Technology cleaners for stainless steel not only remove corrosion, but also protect the surface so corrosion does not reappear. The surface treatment also extend the surface lifetime. The products are biological degradable, do not contain any aggressive agents and are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).- Paragraph after this sentenceC5 Surface technology provides everyday cleaners that makes surface cleaning easier day by day. Cleaners make treated surfaces hydrophobic, save main-tenance time and total costs are reduced. In addition, the environmental impact is minimized.

9

Micro Clean: an environmental friendly and effective remediation of mould problems Abstract: In 1997 Micro Clean A/S was awarded a patent for the micro clean® method, applying dry steam to disinfect building surfaces.In Denmark the method is recommended by most consultants in the indoor climate fi eld, and is today the most used method to sanitize mould infected buildings. The method is offered in license to certifi ed contractors and has proven to be very profi table, for all partners involved, including the building owners that can actually save great sums by cleaning surfaces instead of tearing them down and rebuilding them. Currently Micro Clean A/S intends to expand its market activities beyond the Danish borders and is looking for partners in the renovation/con-struction sector.

Description: With the micro clean® method it is possible to clean buildingsurfaces and restore a healthy indoor climate without any use of chemicals. The method effectively fi ghts any mould problems in new as well as old buildings.The solution can save up to 70% of the costs normallyassociated with treatment and recovery from mould. Thereare several benefi ts in choosing micro clean® as the treat-ment will not damage the surface of the building or any ofits fi xed installations. The micro clean method uses only drysteam and thus no chemicals, therefore micro clean® can effi ciently remove all fungal spores and remains of mouldgrowth without causing any environmental damages.

Mould removal by micro clean® is carried out as follows:1. Vacuum cleaning of infected surface using device with HEPA fi lter.2. Steam cleaning using brush or plate nozzle (temperature of the steam must be above 130 °C when it hits the surface)3. Steam cleaning using cotton cloth over nozzle4. Vacuum cleaning of disinfected surface an surrounding area using device with HEPA fi lter5. Microbiological testing to ensure that surface is clean (if not repeat from step one)

AdvantagesThe main reason to opt for the micro clean® method is that it provides the highest quality available on the market.At the same time it is the fastest and most effi cient way tofi ght mould.The cost of cleaning is approximately 10 per cent compared to demolition.Costs of cleaning using chemicals and the micro Clean®method are similar, but using dry steam ensures that nobiomass or toxic chemicals will be left in the interior as wellas in the exterior climate.


Provider:

Micro Clean A/S

ContactJakob KarboDr. Neergaards Vej 15 | DK-2970 Hørsholm | DenmarkTel.: +45 (0) 51 57 15 53Fax: +45 (0) 45 66 49 22E-mail: [email protected]

The method replaces use of toxic chemicals and gives theopportunity to continue using building parts instead ofreplacing them.The method requires electricity to produce steam, but muchless compared to the energy used producing chemicals andtearing down/rebuilding constructions parts.The method removes mould from indoor environments.and is highly profi table to both end user and supplier of this service.It has been successfully used in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Germany. its practical application may be supported by European and national funds.

10

SPIN

Atotech Skandinavien ABAbstract: Atotech is one of the world´s leading suppliers of integrated production systems, chemistry,equipment, know-how and service for decorative and functional electroplating, semiconductorand printed circuit board manufacturing. Next to the core business units GMF (General MetalFinishing) and Electronics (Printed Circuit Board Production), additional business units such asElectronic Materials and Wafer play an increasingly important role for the future growth ofAtotech and its customers. Headquartered in Berlin, with locations in all important industrialregions of the world, Atotech is a truly international company employing over 3,200 people in more than 35 countries. Atotech Skandinavien AB had 10-19 employees in 2009.

Description: EDEN® - Atotech´s electrodialysis system for continuous electroless Nickel plating baths offers up to 35% reduction in waste volume and overall losses of Ni (drag out not con-sidered) can be reduced signifi cantly with the optional use of an ion exchanger.Using the integrated production technology for hard chromeplating of shock absorber rods - DynaChrome® – chromiumconsumption can be reduced by 15% and energy consump-tion by 30% compared to conventional systems. Further-more, the utilization of water evaporation for chrome bathcooling enables the total recycling of rinse water, meaningthere is no waste from the rinsing process.

With Triotect®, Atotech´s regeneration technology for Cr(VI)-free passivates for a continuous removal of iron and zinc,savings in chemistry can be achieved up to 90%.The Nikotect® system is an advanced maintenance andrecycling technology for bright, semi-bright and MPS nickelelectrolytes. It keeps production-quality levels, reduces re-jects, helps to eliminate hazardous carbon waste, downtimeand periodic dilutions and furthermore recovers valuablematerial and chemicals.Atotech´s patent protected and fully automatic ZYpHEX® re-generation system enables high through-put applications tomaintain the cloud point of Zylite® acid zinc electrolytes ata constant high level. By the addition of acid, the dragged-inoil contaminations as well as the organic break-down prod-ucts are effectively separated (TOC reduction up to 50%).


Provider:

Atotech Skandinavien AB

ContactSlottsgatan 33, Box 5SE-60102 Norrköping | SwedenTel.: +46 (0) 11 36 11 00Fax: +46 (0) 11 10 01 62Email: [email protected]


One of Atotech´s main challenges as a chemical technologysupplier is the sustainable development of processesand systems to ensure safe manufacturing and operations inthe electroplating industry while reducing its environmentalfootprint. Within GMF, Atotech develops sophisticatedproducts to help the customers to minimize waste towardsthe goal of zero environmental impact. In addition Atotechhas a strong commitment to further develop its know-how inrecycling and wastewater treatment.GMF´s environmentally responsible chemical products rangefrom Cr(VI)-free passivates and fl ake processes, Cr(VI)- andphosphate-free conversion coatings through Cr(VI)-freedecorative chrome electrolytes to ammonium-free acid zincnickel electrolytes as well as low VOC zinc fl ake coating systems. Cyanide-free zincates and cyanide-free alkaline zinc,copper and silver processes are replacing cyanide-containingsystems. Electroless nickel processes are free of Pb, Cd andammonium. For decorative and hard chrome applications,non-PFOS mist suppressants are available. The GMF paintsupport technology product line works with bioremediationproducts, e.g. for superior paint detackifi cation, paint re-moval or paint pretreatment applications. In addition to that,Atotech´s auxiliary equipment supports the effort towardsgreener production.

11

Carbonate control in alkaline zinc bath by freezingAbstract: Carbo-Ex is an automatically operating device for the freezing of carbonate from alkaline baths. It effectively controls carbonate concentration in alkaline zinc and zinc alloy electro-lytes. Throughout the ages, platers had problems with increasing carbonate concentrations in their zinc processes. It has often been run with much higher concentrations than appropriate inanticipation of cold winter months. In addition, the freezing procedure is very labour-intensive.Moreover, security problems may occur because freezing is usually done outdoors and outside the facility embankments and protection.

Description: Constant carbonate content in electroplating baths is an im-portant factor for the quality of surface treatment outcome. Particularly in the newer zinc alloy processes carbonate content should be held within narrow limits.

With Carbo-Ex a partial fl ow from the bath is continuouslytreated and carbonate content is controlled very carefully. The freeze carbonate amount will be easy to handle and process downtime is minimised.


Provider:

Schlötter Svenska AB

ContactNorra Promenaden 29602 38 NORRKÖPINNG | SwedenTelephone: +46(0)11-36 28 40E-mail: [email protected]

Schlötter Swedish AB provides a broad portfolio of products to companies of the electroplating industry:

– Electrolytic and chemical processes– Raw Chemicals and anode material– Complete coating and treatment plants– Renovations and extensions of existing plant

12

SPIN

Unique Overhead Handling SystemsAbstract: Designed and manufactured by Galvanoservice AHAB, the Deltalift is today’s most used trans-port robot in the surface treatment industry in Sweden. The Deltalift transport robots arereliable, easily maintained and exhibit a compact design which makes them suitable for use inconfi ned spaces. Alongside the Deltalift transport robot Galvanoservice AHAB also manufac-tures a range of other equipment which includes goods separating vibrators, automatic systems for loading and unloading goods, barrel openers, pallet turners and other congeneric products to complement a process line.

Description: The Deltalift 1100 can be equipped with an easily replaceablecontrol package to simplify installation and maintenance.The IS control package contains a frequency inverter, controlmodule and a wireless connection module which means thatthe central control unit can be minimised and the need formoving cables is eliminated.No cables or power chains are needed since a 3-phase elec-tric power rail is suffi cient for a fully automatic function.The built-in frequency inverter can be easily replaced with a PLC card for the Deltalift’s internal logical functions.By entering vertical and horizontal position data, the device is installed very easily.The lifting pattern is registered in a central PLC unit and the equipment is ready for operation. Up to eight Deltalift 1100 can be controlled by a central PLC controller.The IS control system can be installed on existing Deltalifts, making electric installation very simple.The lifting head is the interface between the Deltalift andthe goods carrier. Galvanoservice AHAB provides a wide array of different lifting heads to ensure high effi ciency and good quality when moving different types of goods.Shown below is a selection of lifting heads that can be spe-cially adapted to some of the Deltalifts in our range.In order to suit particular needs, the company offers to adjust certain types of lifting heads according to customer specifi cations.The lifting head depicted here is a basic rigid head with vacuum cups designed to lift imperforated surfaces and carry them along the whole process line.

Provider:

Galvanoservice AHAB

ContactP.O. Box 24 | 312 21 Laholm | SwedenTel.: +46 (0)430-455 00Fax: +46 (0)430-455 99E-mail: [email protected]@galvanoservice.se


13

Candor Sweden ABAbstract: Candor was established in 1946 and is today specialized in manufacturing and supply of chem-icals, metals and different equipment for the surface treatment and electronic industry.The headquarter and manufacturing plant is placed in Norrköping, Sweden. Candor hassubsidiaries in Denmark, Norway and Finland.The main product areas for the surface treatment industry is conventional metal fi nishing, alu-minium treatment, phosphating, wiredrawing and different pretreatment techniques.In this area Candor is the agent for several well-known International companies.

Description: Chrome free technology for Telecom:Candor has worked with chrome free technology forpretreatment of aluminium alloy used for base stationsfor many years. The objective is to combine quality and higher technical demands with environmental and safety aspects.Several Candor products have been specifi ed by the telecomindustry (processes E-CLPS 4600, E-CLPS 2100 and CANDO-PASS 3PLUS).

Phosphate replacementCandor has also developed different processes to replacephosphates in pre-treatment applications before painting. Process technology involves silane based coatings in combi-nation with zirconium and Sol-Gel technique.Today there are equal technical replacement for both zincand iron phosphates (processes Zirca-Sil and E-CLPS 1980).


Provider:

Candor Sweden AB

ContactBox 946SE-601 19 Norrköping | SwedenTel.: +46 11 21 75 00Fax: +46 11 12 63 12E-Mail: [email protected]

– No hexavalent chromium– No rinse process – easier water effl uent treatment– Low waste production, resulting in,decreased costs for

disposal– Better technical performance

14

SPIN

Vilokan Sweden ABAbstract: Vilokan is a specialist in environmental techniques for surface coating, painting and electro-plating workshops.Vilokan offers and guarantees a certain function, not just a technical solution. The company co-operates with Europe’s leading manufacturers of surface treatment appliances without keeping closer ties to them. All equipment used has been thoroughly tested independently from the original manufacturer, thus ensuring comprehensive quality checks and control of product information.Therefore, the customer is supplied with particularly adapted equipment which allows for best performance in the company’s production process.

Description: Cleaning of process water and recovery of chemicals areimportant issues for electroplating businesses. Here, consid-erable savings and improvements of environmental perform-ance can be exploited.

Vilokan offers a multitude of technical and environmental solutionsespecially adopted for SMEs working with surface coating,painting and electroplating. This comprises– Cleaning of process water– Vacuum evaporatoration– Falling fi lm evaporatoion– Ultra-fi lters– Ion exchangers– Active carbon fi lters– Filter presses and sludge separation

Vilokan also offers:– Sludge separation for paint shops– Re-use of solvents through distillation

Vacuum evaporators are used for purifying water and waterseparation. The process takes place in a heat exchangesystem with negative pressure, which involves very low temperature and energy consumption. Owing to carefully commissioned equipment which is adapt to the company`s needs, the environmental impact is at a very low level.

Falling fi lm evaporators are customized for industries withhigh treatment demands on rinse water and emulsions. Themachines are designed for easy handling and cleaning, bothautomatically and manually.

Provider:

Vilokan Sweden AB

ContactPO Box 145SE-452 23 Strömstad | SwedenTel.: +46 (0) 526-18730Fax: +46 (0) 526-15184E-Mail: [email protected]


Vilokan´s ultra-fi lters are designed for polishing distillatesfrom evaporation plants for e.g. reducing chemical oxygendemand (COD) of wastewater from the plating process.

Ion exchange is applied when the water is only polluted withsalts. The technique is based on two columns fi lled with ionexchange mass which exchanges hydrogen and hydroxideions for metal or salt ions. By using this technique the watercan be re-used in e.g. rinse water baths. The total waterconsumption drops as well as the need for a fi nal concentra-tion of the wastewater. Ion exchange is also used to improvethe quality of incoming water if, for example, it is hard andcontains a lot of minerals.

EnvoCarb active carbon fi lters are used for separation ofoil. Even smell and paint problems can be eased with activecarbon fi lters.By combining a mechanical precipitation unit with fl oating chemicals Vilokan is able to separate e.g. paint, metals and oils from process effl uents.Within the surface treatment industry the concept Envo-coat® is used, where both water and solvent-based paints are separated from water. The technique is specially adapted for paint production and spray painting where the paint coagulates and is removed from the water, which can then be re-used.

15

The aim of SPIN is spelt out in the full title of the project:SPIN aims at enhancing “Sustainable Production throughInnovation in SMEs”.SPIN is based on the simple but normally successful businessequation of matching supply and demand. SPIN taps oninnovations throughout the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), whichlead to sustainable production in SMEs. It supports SMEswho have developed sustainable solutions to reach out toa larger market. At the same time it gives enterprises thetechnical and managerial solutions they need to make theirproduction process more sustainable and to increase theirprofi ts. In doing so the project is creating a win-win-win situation: The supplier increases his profi t by selling more products / services, the applier increases his profi t by reducing production costs (e.g. through improved resource effi ciency) and / or by increasing his sales (through innova-tive production techniques fulfi lling higher environmental or social standards).

In any case society benefi ts through reduced environmentalcosts or improved working conditions. The slogan of SPIN is therefore: Private Profi ts – Public Benefi ts. SPIN has created a number of instruments to fuel this matchmaking through-out the BSR: Innovation highlights like the ones presented in this brochure are collected in the SPIN Database. This is a ready-to-use instrument for SMEs wanting to push their innovative products and for enterprises seeking an innovative solution for their specifi c situation. All SMEs from the BSR can register and post their entries directly online. The SPIN partners perform a quality check and if the data set is meet-ing the criteria of sustainable production the entry is made accessible to all users. Users only searching the database for innovations can use it without registering. Other instruments are the SPIN Toolbox and the SPIN Industry Workshops. The SPIN tools can be applied rather broadly in all kinds of SMEs and are not as specifi c as the innovation highlights. “Umber-to“ is such a tool that is promoted by SPIN. It is a powerful software tool to model, calculate and visualize material and energy fl ow systems in SMEs with cost intensive produc-tion that wish to optimize their processes and improve their competitiveness. Results can be assessed using economic and environmental performance indicators.

The SPIN Industry Workshops bring together experts, enter-prises and researchers from different countries of the BSR.The host of the workshop is setting up the agenda of theworkshop based on a background analysis on the needs ofthe SMEs in the specifi c industry sector of his country.It’s all about creating a market for innovations – providedthat they enhance sustainable production:While the effective matchmaking between supply anddemand involving SMEs from the whole BSR is one pillar ofthe SPIN project the other important pillar of SPIN is theimprovement of the political, macro-economic frameworkconditions. Based on the results of country specifi c studiesand a synthesis report for the whole BSR, SPIN partnershave developed the SPIN Strategic Actions. The SPIN Stra-tegic Actions translate the fi ndings on SME needs, exist-ing barriers to innovations for sustainable production and experience on best-practice incentives into transnational recommendations. It addresses policy makers on national, transnational and European level as well as authorities, fi nancing institutions and associations. The aim is to reduce barriers and create new transnational incentives to effective-ly support an uptake of innovations for sustainable produc-tion in SMEs of the BSR.

The Spin Project www.spin-project.eu

Our understanding of innovation is based on the defi nition of the former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho who stated: “Quite often, when people talk about innovation they mean research and development. But innovation is broader than that: research is trans-forming money into knowledge, while innovation is transforming know-ledge into money and well-being.

SPIN runs for 3 years (until January 2012) and is supportedby the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 of theEuropean Union. SPIN is lead by the Federal EnvironmentAgency from Germany and brings together some of the mostimportant institutions for eco-innovations in the BSR.Many national governments, sector associations, researchbodies and transnational NGOs support the project. The im-portance of SPIN is further highlighted by the fact that theEU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region as well as the Councilof the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) awarded SPIN the title asStrategic and Lighthouse Project, respectively.

The website www.spin-project.eu has developed into afrequently used information platform for entrepreneurs andpolicy makers in the BSR but also into a market place for in-novations and tools supporting sustainable production.For more information please visit the website, which providesyou also with all contact details for each country.

PROJECT PARTNERS

Germany Federal Environment Agency (UBA) - the Lead Partner Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

Sweden IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)

Poland Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation (EPCE) Central Mining Institute (GIG)

Denmark Danish Technological Institute (DTI)

Lithuania Kaunas University of Technology, Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI)

Estonia University of Tartu

Finland Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)

spin surfacetreatment 2401 · 2016-08-08 · 4 surface treatment metals are treated to change the...

Documents