Altec opens new specialist coating facility

The CNC machining company has also invested in vibratory trough finishing and shot blasting machines to generate the key face to which the surface coatings will bond. Surface coatings offered include Alocrom 1200 and SurTec 650. Alocrom 1200 is ideal for coating all types of aluminium and aluminium alloys when maximum corrosion resistance is required. The coating is also approved to DEF STAN 03-18 Certificate No. 031801 for use on aircraft components. SurTec 650 is an environmentally friendly alternative to Alocrom 1200 that gives excellent corrosion resistance and low electrical resistance. It's a non-toxic process that provides excellent bare corrosion protection (with or without paint) and works extremely well on alloyed, cast and extruded aluminium. It also works as a pre-treatment prior to lacquering or powder coating. Altec has also installed the equipment needed for zinc and manganese phosphate coating, and is looking at adding the capability to perform Xylan and hard anodising in the future. Director Paul Lackenby comments: "This new dedicated facility allows us to meet the increasing demand from our customers for finished parts, and provides the capacity needed to support the continued growth of our CNC precision machining operations. We are able to provide a rapid turnaround of high quality components, while maintaining full control at all times, including the inspection and full process documentation procedures." The new coating facility follows recent investments in £ 600,000 of machine tools and a £ 1.5 million extension to the firm's Bowburn site. The firm bought two Sodick AQ400L Wire EDM Machines, a Mazak Quickturn Nexus 450-II and two Hurco VMX30i machines with 4th axis drives and a Haas ST30SS. The extension is currently being built and is due to open in autumn this year.