After a two-year corona break, the 19th North German Electroplating Day took place on 12.05.2022 in Hanover/Altwarmbüchen. The high number of participants, almost 80 guests, confirms how important face-to-face events are, especially in these times.
In addition to the speakers and participants, conference chair Andreas Zahl welcomed Werner Niggemeier, who helped organize the North German Electroplating Day for many years before his retirement, as a guest of honour on behalf of the North and Bielefeld district groups.
As usual, the lecture program consisted of the two lecture blocks "Practical Electroplating", moderated by Rudi Fließwasser from the Northern District Group, and "Environment and Research", moderated by Thomas Kruggel from the Bielefeld District Group.
Practical electroplating
19th North German Electroplating DayThefirst block was opened by Reinhold Specht from Harter GmbH with his presentation "Fast, sustainable and energy-saving drying". Mr. Specht showed how heat pump-based condensation dryers can be used to dry metal surfaces and electroplating sludge cost-effectively.
Dr. Elke Spahn from Gravitech GmbH used examples from the anodizing sector in her presentation "Analysis of anodizing baths - what does analysis mean for a company?" to show how titrations can be simplified and made more economical using gravimetry.
Before the break, Karl Morgenstern from the Hillebrand Group gave a presentation entitled "Black surfaces on zinc-nickel" on the application, properties and corrosion protection of black passivated zinc-nickel coatings, as well as on innovations in this field.
The break was again used to exchange experiences and deepen contacts. You could really feel how important personal contact is to the participants after the North German Electroplating Day had to be canceled in the last two years.
Environment and research
After the break, the second thematic block began with Mike Krüger on the topic: "Electrolytic corrosion protection without nickel - what can high-alloy zinc-iron coatings do?" Mr. Krüger spoke about high-alloy zinc-iron coatings with iron incorporation rates between 12 and 20 %, which exhibit properties very similar to those of zinc-nickel.
At the end of the lecture series, a user had his say: Christian Röhrig from Galvano Röhrig GmbH presented the topic: "Chromium(III): What is possible today?". His thesis: In order to ensure the continued existence of companies, investments should be made in chromium (III). Mr. Röhrig gave an overview of what needs to be considered here and what advantages, disadvantages and risks are associated with it.
Andreas Zahl gave the closing words and immediately announced the next 20th North German Electroplating Day, which will take place as usual in Hanover-Altwarmbüchen on 11.05.2023.
