Electrochemicals Blog – EPI – Electrochemical Products Inc.

May 27th, 2011

By Eric Olander

We are all excited her at EPi we sold our first app today on the the Droid phone to G. Gilliam. ( See App button below) EPi has been working tirelessly for the last three months working on an iPhone app first and then the Driod version. Apple is still reviewing our application and we hope to have it available by Sur/Fin 2011 time. It was interesting we completed the process for Driod and we received approval in less than 24 hours! Apple seems to prefer Apps more for entertainment value than a technical or business productivity tool. We will get their approval eventually it takes longer. I find this intersting as what happened to us in getting the App approved  seems to follow how a PC versus an IMac works and thinks. PC updates happen automatically while an Imac the administrator has to approve the  update. Apple has more quality control in what happens and protects its brand. Things take a little longer, but things are under control.

EPi's Hull Cell ruler offers the following.

The Hull Cell ruler is utilized to measure the current density of all electroplating processes including copper, nickel and zinc. The Hull Cell ruler is an excellent choice to determine the acceptable plating current density of any plating bath. For example, if there is an unacceptable dull deposit on the work coming out of the tank, by running the Hull Cell, you can see if there is a correlation of the quality of the work being plated to the quality of the Hull Cell results. Therefore, it is an effective method for trouble shooting electroplating processes.

All rulers, including Hull Cell rulers, get lost in desk drawers and other places. Now, with EPi’s Hull Cell Ruler you do not need a physical ruler - just your Android phones. EPi’s Hull Cell Ruler App works on the Android based on the existing Hull Cell ruler scale. You will notice a Hull Cell ruler is longer than the Android screen. The EPi App addresses the size with a scrolling screen that moves left to right and vice versa. 267 ml (on the top) and 1000 ml (on the bottom). Hull Cell panels can be measured with this ruler. The following Hull Cell parameters for cathode/anode material, type of agitation, temperature, amperage, and time for both rack and barrel applications are available.

Type of Plating Processes

* Cyanide Copper
* Alkaline Non Cyanide Copper
* Acid Copper
* Nickel
* Chrome
* Zinc
* Tin
* Cadmium
* Silver
* Brass
* Bronze

Imagine if you can sell 10,000 apps for 0.99 thatis almost $10,000. Maybe I just get into the  App business?

To purchase the App go to this link https://market.android.com/details?id=com.zsl.Epi

Stay tune to when it is available on the Iphone and Ipad!!

Posted in Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings | No Comments »

October 25th, 2010

By Eric Olander

EPi is gearing up for its next trade show Fabtech 2010 in Atlanta in the CCAI Finishing Pavillion. Eric Olander, President and Char Heinke, Business Development Manager will be handling the booth this year. EPi will be exhibiting a aluminum pretreatment process PreCoat CF that replaces hexavalent chromate pretreatment processes with excellent performance and adhesion. PreCoat CF is EU  Qualicoat approved process.

EPi also will show casing it E-Brite Ultra Cu alkaline non cyanide copper process for all metals and E-Brite 50/50 alkaline non cyanide silver process. You can now eliminate cyanide from your finishing shops eliminating the  Department of Homeland Security reporting requirements.

EPi will also be exhibiting our black oxide processes Ultra Blak 400, 285 F hot black oxide, and Insta Blak 333 room temperaure black oxide. EPi provides you solutions for both processes.

Finally EPi will be displaying its trivalent  yellow chromate E-Chrome Ultra Yellow 600 which offers long hours of salt spray to white rust 400-600 hour salt spray resistance.

EPi's booth number is 822!  Hope to see you there!

Posted in Black Oxide, Copper Plating, Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings | No Comments »

March 8th, 2010

By Eric Olander

EPi was recently asked to participate in congratulating Master Lock in its upcoming 90th year in business. Of those 90 years EPi has been doing business for over 40 years with Master Lock. EPi was asked to support Master Lock's 90th year by creating an ad for Industry Today magazine www.industrytoday.com .

EPi has been selling its cyanide cadmuim process E-Brite C-135 for Master Lock laminated locks. The shackles have E-Brite 757 bright nickel process. The zinc diecast use EPi's E-Brite 23-11R cyanide copper brightner system and the E-Brite 757 bright nickel process. The new Magnum lock process uses E-Brite Ultra Chlor AP and our trivalent chromate E-Chrome Ultra Blue.

EPi processes measure up to Master Lock's stringent quality requirements resulting in a long lasting lock!

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating, Metal Finishing, Nickel Plating, Trivalent Chromates, Uncategorized | No Comments »

May 27th, 2009

By Eric Olander

Just a  few weeks away from Sur/Fin as we get ready to load up for the show. Even though the economy is a recession  we  are expecting a decent show of serious metal finishers that are looking for networking, technical sessions, and keynote speaker on the economy and when it is going to comeback. To register on-line go to this website . EPi has been getting interest in alkaline non cyanide copper E-Brite Ultra Cuand alkaline non cyanide silver processes E-Brite 50/50.

The main interest in the non cyanide processes is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes cyanide on its list of chemicals to report. Switching to E-Brite Ultra Cu and E-Brite 50/50 eliminates the reporting the cyanide on the DHS reporting system.

We are taking appointments for Sur/Fin please call us at 262-786-9330 or e-mail us at general-mailbox@epi.com . See you in Louisville!

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating | No Comments »

December 2nd, 2008

By Eric Olander\

Last week we launched our second Metal Finishing podcast on www.metalfinishing.com. Out first podcast produced excellent results with a high amount of interest on EPi's trivalent yellow chromates,black oxide processes and our latest developoments in antiquing/oxidizing click here to see link www2.epi.com/electrochemicalsblog .

This latest blog talks about EPI's E-Brite Ultra Cualkaline non-cyanide copper and  E-Brite 50/50 alkaline non-cyanide silver process .  A new reason to switch to non-cyanide processes is the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations on sodium and potassium cyanide. If you switch to these non cyanide processes you do not have to fall under the regulations of the DHS.

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings | No Comments »

September 26th, 2008

By Eric Olander

Eric Olander, President of EPi and John Gilbert, Sales Representative of Gilbert & Jones install a new E-Brite Ultra Cu bath (alkaline non-cyanide copper) to replace a copper  pyrophosphate  with excellent success. One advantage is the E-Brite Ultra Cu alkaline non-cyanide copper bath is it does not generate the orthophosphate like the pyrophosphate bath. The E-Brite Ultra Cu bath also plates directly to electro-less nickel (EN), while the pyrophosphate copper bath had to use a cyanide copper process. Another expected benefit is the bath stability day after day as it has a larger operating window than the pyrophosphate bath. The customer is also using cyanide copper strike prior to plating zinc die-cast and zincated aluminum parts and then the pyro copper. We can eliminate the cyanide copper process as well.

The E-Brite Ultra Cu is the same process that we used plating directly to the back of an I-pod . Click on E-Brite Ultra Cu to watch the video.

Gilbert & Jones is EPi's distributor in the New England area. To learn more about Gilbert & Jones go to www.gilbertandjones.net. John Gilbert has may years of experience in the metal finishing industry and solves problems for his customers. Gilbert & Jones is a full line distributor that can meet all of your needs. Gilbert & Jones and EPi make a great team!

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating | No Comments »

July 24th, 2008

By Eric Olander

EPI's E-Brite Ultra Cu , alkaline non cyanide copper plating process plates directly to the back of an Apple Nano I-Pod.  EPI's , Sid Arthur, Senior Service Engineer plated the I-Pod and was  interviewed by the President  of EPi Eric Olander. This process idea was developed by a Popular Science magazine idea. Now watch how it is done at EPi's booth at Sur/Fin 2008 in Indianapolis,IN. To view this video click this link .

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings, Metal Finishing | No Comments »

July 24th, 2008

By Eric Olander

Eric Olander conducted an interview by Reg Tucker Editor of Metal Finishing magazine at Sur/Fin 2008 in Indianapolis to discuss EPI's new products which included a discussion about a fish. Check out the lates with EPI's newest trivalent yellow chromate, and BOX 311 metal antiquing process.  To see this video go to this link Sur/Fin 2008 Interview with EPI's president Eric Olander  .  Next years Sur/Fin show is in Louisville,KY to learn more about the show go to www.nasf.org .

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings, Metal Antiquing, Metal Finishing | No Comments »

June 16th, 2008

By Eric Olander

 I am here in Indy Monday afternoon getting ready for Sur/Fin a two day show June 17-18th. Indy is a great conference town as over the years it has transformed itself to the new Midwest city ready to take on the world like Richard C. Longworth mentioned in his book "Caught in the Middle."

EPi looks forward to working with its distributors and cusomters discussing new finishes such as yellow trivalent chromate E-Chrome Ultra Yellow and EPi's alkaline non cyanide copper E-Brite Ultra CU and E-Brite 50/50 alkaline non cyanide  silver process.

I will be blogging about my presentation tomorrow on Trivalent Yellow Chromate and the Diphenyl Carbazide controversy. The blog will also discuss other trivalent chromates discussed tomorrow at 2-5 PM. Also on Tuesday and Wednesday we will be plating a nano I pod with our E-Brite Ultra Cu process. We will have a give away both days.

Posted in Copper Plating, Electroplating, Eric Olander Happenings, Trivalent Chromates | No Comments »

May 6th, 2008

By Eric Olander

EPI's E-Brite 757 nickel plating process is know for its excellent coverage in rack and barrel applications. What we have found with this nickel plating process is that it plates more nickel in the low current density area, approximately 20-33% more nickel than other nickel processes. On long tube parts we have found that you will achieve the minimum thickness faster, which means for the nickel plater less nickel usage per part saving the plater money.

In barrel applications you will achieve excellent ductility and brightness with the E-Brite 757 . Masterlock uses the E-Brite 757 on its shackles that you see on their combination and laminated locks.

Another fact is this process gives excellent chrome coverage. I remember one customer who is used the E-Brite 757 process on a bed spring display that was 2 feet by 3 feet by 6 inches deep. The chrome covered the entire bedspring area including the deep recesses. The other processes left nickel showing.

Posted in Electroplating, Nickel Plating | No Comments »