Electrochemicals Blog – EPI – Electrochemical Products Inc.

June 26th, 2009

ByEric Olander

We are back from Sur/Fin and the show reflects the state of the manufacturing economy on the US today. The numbers are down from last year, but the Keynote speaker Dr Ken Mayland. ClearView Economics, LLC discussed past  recessions and "What will be the sign of the Coming Recovery" and it indicates that we are bottoming out and we should be seeing signs of life late this year. For the metal finishing industry we may lag behind in the initial phases of the recovery as typically we  are the last to go into a recession and the last to go out of a recession.

 The attached picture is Rebbecca Bennett Director, Chemical & Environmental Compliance of Precision Plating in Chicago,IL Becky is holding her Award of Merit from the NASF www.nasf.org for all of her hard work and volunteerism she has done for the NASF. Congratulations Becky!

This year at Sur/Fin EPi displayed our new Insta Rust 340 process. This new architectural finish contains no acid and produces a rainbow of rust colors.

Posted in Eric Olander Happenings, Metal Antiquing | No Comments »

May 7th, 2009

By Eric Olander

Last week I attended NASF Washington DC forum in Washington DC. Approximately 70 attendees listened to EU, EPA and OSHA regulatory issues plus the US Commerce and Chrysler representatives made presentations as well. The US Commerce states that we are bottoming out right now from the recession and by the 4th quarter we should be close to 0% grow in GDP. The Chrysler representatives discussed the state of the automotive industry. 2009 sales will be about 9 million  versus 2008 was 17 million for light vehicles.  They also stated the car sales will not return  to 17 million because of the lack of easy credit so batten down the hatches.

The trip to the hill was interesting that we did not see any Congress people or Senators. The aides were very busy meeting many lobbyists and taking on the Obama agenda. We met with Brian ( see picture) Senator Kohl's Legislative Assistant discussed the policy issues. This year was OK going up to the hill, but everyone was preoccupied.

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March 31st, 2009

By Eric Olander

Last Thursday March 26th CMFI meeting at Wellington's in Arlington Heights, Il I participated in a industry expert panel that discussed the existing challenges with the present economy. Rick Delawder was the panel moderator and Alene Magino, Gary Belmonti, Bob Giomi, Sarah Carey, Rick Macary, Bill Whitcher and myself were on the panel. We discussed collections, payables, metrics on measuring business climate and trends that we are seeing. The panel did agree that there is some positive news out there, but challenges do exist in the USA and the world. We are  all watching for bankruptcies and trying to get introduce new products and grow new markets. It was a worthwhile evening to listen to ideas of other companies out there trying to survive these econominc challenges. One good outcome with economy is this with less hours worked means workman compensation will be less for 2009. Hard to see all us in the panel picture sorry!

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March 25th, 2009

By Eric Olander

A few weeks ago I was interviewed for an article for the END OF THE LINE in Products Finishing (PF). In the April 2009 issue of Products Finishing you will find on page 56 the last page the interview.  For those of you that do not have a subscription to PF you can see the article via web by going to  http://www.pfonline.com/latest.html . If you are reading this after April then you will have to go into the archives on PFonline.

A couple of subjects you will find is nickel is it a carcinogen. Another interesting fact is there has been some studies on trivalent chromates turning into hexavalent.

 Need more info on  Sur/Fin? Go to www.nasf.org to register for attending or to get a booth for exhibiting.

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

March 20th, 2009

By Eric Olander

I usaully save my blog for work related items, but today I am going to venture away and recommend a book for all to read regardless of you faith and your religion. First of all The Shack is a great read fiction read. You want to keep on turning the pages to learn about the next surprise. This book will challenge your faith regardless of your religion because it discusses God's unconditional love.

The main character of the book goes to The Shack to meet the Trinity. The main character faces his past life challenges that have been kept in his memory that has caused a lot of pain. He faces each of his life challenges and finds peace! This book can help you can find some peace.

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February 10th, 2009

By Eric Olander

I became the National Association Surface Finishers (NASF) Sur/Fin Steering Committee Chairman effective January 1st, 2009.  Originally, I was to assume the Chair after Sur/Fin 2009 in Louisville,KY. Barry Cohen resigned when his company dropped their membership in the NASF. The Steering Committee is made of 8-9 volunteers from various backgrounds and companies. This additional responsibility has created  extra work, but we are striving to develop a system for Sur/Fin trade show now and in the future. Right now we are revamping our technical program.  For example,  how we recruit papers  and what categories of papers that will be presented.

Sur/Fin the trade show toke a step backward last year in Indianapolis from Cleveland . This year will be more challenging than last year because of the economic times.  So far we are  seeing tiny fallout from the economy with exhibitors. This years show will be in June 15-17th,2009. To learn more go to www.sur-fin.net. We look forward to seeing you in Louisville! Any questions please contact me in the office!

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December 19th, 2008

By Eric Olander

 Today Ms. Du from China completed here training at EPi. EPi looks forward to having my Ms. Du represent EPi is China. Ms. Du trained on EPi's  latest developments in blackening  magnesium and electroplating magnesium  . Ms. Du's customers are looking for a blackening process for magnesium. EPi hopes to launch it some time first quarter in 2009.

Additional training was completed on EPi's B/Ox  product line including a discussion on the many variables in antiquing processes; substrates, antiquing process, relieving process, and the top-coating process. Another  interesting application was black oxiding polished stainless steel cell phone cover with Ultra blak 407  as a replacement for black nickel. We look forward to growing our business in China with Ms. Du .

Posted in Copper Plating, Eric Olander Happenings, Metal Antiquing | 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 11th, 2008

By Eric Olander

EPi is excited about working with Metal Finishing magazine in participating in its first pod-cast/webinar. Reginald Tucker Editor of  Metal Finishing magazine interviewed me regarding the latest innovations at  EPi. To gain access to this pod-cast/audio program go to http://www.metalfinishing.com/webinars/epi0908.html  . Log in and sit back and listen to what is new in trivalent chormates, black oxide and antiquing at EPi.

Posted in Black Oxide, Eric Olander Happenings, Metal Antiquing, Trivalent Chromates | No Comments »

August 29th, 2008

By Eric Olander

The last day we went through two training sessions on manufacturing  by Masterlock team members. The first session a group of suppliers had a goal of shooting a  ball with a catapult 12 feet plus or minus 6 inches. We had three variables, the ball ( a sponge ball and a golf wiffle ball), the launching angle ( a protractor device was built on the catapult for measuring the angle),  and the point where the catapult arm stopped after the arm released. A runner band was used as the springing device. You can see me on the right side of the picture helping to hold the catapult for back fire. Fortunately we had three engineers in our group so we taking the military approach in firing a mortar. Our goal was to find what variable had the largest effect on the distance. We first used the sponge ball and tried changing arm stop position. After two tries withbthe arm position we had it close , but it was too far. Next, we  worked on the launch angle finding that a 5-10 degree for the launch arm gave us our range and 8 -9 degrees was the best angle.  The last variable was the type of ball. We all thought  the whiffle ball would fly less. We kept the same settings on the catapult and the golf whiffle ball was in range! Therefore, the launch angle had the largest affect on the distance.

The next event  was to assemble a wooden car with four wheels, four wooden axles, and four disk brakes. We had six work stations and one person who transported everything. During the first ten minutes we only assembled three cars because of the rules of manufacturing that were given to us. I worked station three, assembling the wheels,axles, and disk brakes to the wooden car. I had to unassembled the three components and re-assemble them together.  We lost a lot of time not being efficient. Together we worked on developing a new process and our rules. We tried it again and we assembled 52 cars in 10 minutes!

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