The digitalization of electroplating technology and the search for alternative coatings for hard chrome plating - these are the two major topics with which Fraunhofer IPA will be represented at the "SurfaceTechnology GERMANY" trade fair in Stuttgart from 21 to 23 June: Hall 1, Stand H10.
Digitalization offers electroplating technology the opportunity to exploit huge, previously untapped potential: First of all, the electrolyte and system management can be optimally designed for process-reliable electroplating. This leads to better system availability with improved process stability and quality. Production becomes more individual and flexible and the company's own competitive position improves. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA are currently investigating exactly how electroplating systems can be digitalized. To this end, they are building a learning and research facility as part of the "SmARtPlaS" project.
Digitalization: will simulations soon replace expensive tests?
The Fraunhofer IPA research team will be presenting its results to date at SurfaceTechnology GERMANY from June 21 to 23: Hall 1, Stand H10. "Digitalization not only improves process control and system availability," says Martin Metzner, Head of the Electroplating Technology department at Fraunhofer IPA. "Big data and simulation tools will also make it possible to predict material properties. This will probably reduce the costs of complex test setups and test procedures in the future."
But that is still a long way off. As far as improved process control and system availability are concerned, Metzner and his team are happy to prepare company-specific potential analyses on request. In these analyses, the scientists clarify which digitalization measures make sense and how they can be implemented most efficiently.
Hard chrome plating: advice in the search for alternatives
The researchers at Fraunhofer IPA also provide industry with advice and support in the analysis of alternatives (AoA) in ongoing authorization applications for the REACh Regulation. "Chromium(III) is the most promising alternative to chromium(VI) in many cases," says Metzner. "However, depending on the requirements, nickel or bronze coatings also perform surprisingly well." Metzner and his team are further developing existing alternative solutions, adapting them as far as possible to the individual coating properties and then testing the surfaces under real conditions. For some time now, the scientists have had access to a system for coating trivalent hard chrome electrolytes with a capacity of 400 liters for their development work - the largest in Germany owned by a research institution.
"DIE OBERFLÄCHE": Who gets the award?
Metzner is also one of the three jury members who will be awarding the Stuttgart Surface Technology Prize "DIE OBERFLÄCHE" at the SurfaceTechnology GERMANY trade forum on June 21 from 1 pm. The prize is awarded for innovative applications and technologies within all disciplines of surface technology. From mid-January to mid-April, both individuals and organizations were able to apply for the award.
There will also be presentations at the trade fair forum, two of which will be given by scientists from the Electroplating Department at Fraunhofer IPA: On June 22 at 1:40 p.m., Peter Schwanzer will speak about "SmARtPlaS-Lerngalvanik: Development environment for Industry 4.0 in electroplating at Fraunhofer IPA". At 3:30 p.m., Stefan Kölle will talk about "Energy and resource efficiency in electroplating".
