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Engineering Industry Developments and Awards
News Release from: Copper Development Association
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 29 December 2003
Brass keeps "just-polished" look
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
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 22 Aug 2000 at 8.00am (UK)
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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.
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