Brass keeps "just-polished" look
A
Copper Development Association product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Dec 29, 2003
A Telford-based company has developed a novel electrostatic stoving for brass that keeps its "just-polished" look.
SSK began trading over 30 years ago making metal knobs (the "K" in SSK) for cookers, hifi systems and other household goods.
But over the years the market has changed and the majority of control knobs are now plastic.
During that time SSK has also changed to become a leading manufacturer and supplier of metal electrical wall switch and socket cover plates (the "SS" in SSK).
The company makes its cover plates from sheet metal that is sheared to width and cold formed using mechanical presses to produce a range of designs from simple plain cover plates to those with delicate ornate designs around the edges.
The company works in a variety of metals, but brass - because of its formability and the ease with which it can be polished to a deep finish - is its - and its customers' - favourite metal.
Highly polished brass has always had great aesthetic appeal to architects, designers and end-users, but maintaining that just polished finish without an army of "Mrs Mopps" at the ready with their yellow dusters constantly "Brassoing" is a real challenge.
SSK, working in close collaboration with Indestructible Paints of Birmingham, has risen to that challenge and developed a finish that is invisible to the naked eye but maintains that "just finished polished look" indefinitely.
The finish, which is an electrostatic stoving lacquer, is automatically applied by spray gun, wraps around corners, adheres to edges and is cured by infra-red radiation.
Infra-red curing, which is not the norm for brass lacquers, not only shortens the curing time (drying time) but gives that elusive good depth of finish and a tough hard wearing surface that is less likely to be damaged in subsequent manufacturing operations and when placed in situ.
So good is the finish that any flaw in the polished brass is visible through the lacquer.
SSK is therefore installing an automatic polishing system that will ensure the highest standards of polishing are guaranteed and fully exploits its new electrostatic stoving lacquer.
In conclusion, SSK and Indestructible Paints Company have developed a tough lacquered finish that is less susceptible to damage and requires low maintenance, which is ideal for today's busy lifestyle, while preserving that just polished look that comes only with wrought brass.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Copper Development Association
Related Stories
- Parker opens new store in Gillingham
- National Instruments - latest company news
- Our new lead generation service!
- Schaeffler - latest company news
- Leuze Electronic - latest company news
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
