Föhl, a specialist in zinc die casting, will be presenting solutions and inspiration for all aspects of zinc processing at the Euroguss die casting trade fair. However, the company will not only be focusing on zinc in the future: Föhl is now also planning to offer its Föhlan nano-coating for certain aluminum alloys. According to the Rudersberg-based zinc die-caster, the process is a green alternative to electroplating, which not only offers ecological benefits but also better corrosion resistance.
The environmental aspect is an elementary component of in-house developments at Föhl. The high-tech Föhlan process, thin-film passivation for zinc components, was developed in-house and offers economic advantages. The process is also interesting from an ecological point of view because, according to Föhl, savings of up to 70% in energy and up to 90% in coating material are possible compared to conventional electroplating. The chemical-physical process requires no cauterization during pre-treatment, produces no waste water, does not require a permit and does not require any hazardous incident regulations. Föhlan is also said to offer high corrosion resistance and a low coating thickness of around 2 µm. While nanocoating has already become established for zinc and is used for many components - including by major German car manufacturers - it is currently also being tested for certain aluminum alloys.
