Episodes
-
In this episode of ANO-talk, the official podcast of the Aluminum Anodizers Council, hosts George, Mark & Tej give us a detailed preview of the upcoming 33rd Aluminum Anodizers Council Annual Conference in Cleveland October 1st-3rd. This years exciting theme, "Anodizing: The Rockstar Finish," ties into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Gain insights into ths years program's lineup, including technical sessions on wastewater treatment and pulse anodizing, leadership talks, and the integration of academic research with industrial applications. The episode also emphasizes the value of AAC membership renewal and the networking opportunities available at the conference.
Listeners are encouraged to attend the conference, whether they're seasoned anodizing professionals or newcomers to the industry, with the promise of valuable learning experiences, networking opportunities, and a touch of fun with the "rockstar" theme.
For more details visit: www.anodizing.org
-
George Oh & Judy Runge join Jason Weber of the AEC to discuss their upcoming Anodizing Essentials Workshop at this years ET'24 event in Orlando. For more details visit: ET In-Conjunction Workshops | Aluminum Extruders Council (aec.org)
AAC Anodizing Essentials Class8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $495 AAC members / $895 nonmembers
Instructors: AAC member anodizing expertsAnodizing Essentials is part of the Aluminum Anodizers Council's (AAC) "School for Anodizers" that teaches more than the fundamentals of anodizing. This one-day class is designed to increase the knowledge and ability of anyone involved in operating an anodizing line. Anodizing Essentials Class details the foundation of quality anodizing, taking the learner through the entire process - beginning with the metallurgical properties of aluminum alloys commonly anodized through to the final rinse and sealing processes.
The program is designed to benefit anodizing production personnel at every level-from the line operator to the production manager, particularly if they are new to the business.
Anodizing Overview and Anodizing Video Metallurgy Basics for Aluminum Surfaces Racking Cleaning & Rinsing Etch, Desmut & Bright Dipping Anodizing Basics for Aluminum Surfaces Power - Rectifiers & Transformers for the Aluminum Surface Treatment Industry Dyeing & Electrolytic Coloring Sealing the Anodic Oxide
Workshop topics include: -
Missing episodes?
-
Tin Electrolytic Coloring with Pinakin Patel
Electrolytic (or two-step) coloring is one of the most durable metal coloring methods on the market, even outperforming paint. Electrolytic coloring is primarily used on extruded aluminum parts for the architectural (store front), and automotive trim industries due to its durability. Our hosts Tej Patel of Techevon LLC and George Oh of Quaker Houghton discuss the process of tin electrolytic coloring with Pinakin Patel, owner of Techevon LLC, a global anodizing chemistry supplier in Chicago, IL. Electrolytic coloring, as noted by our hosts, is a combination of “science, sorcery, and luck”. Pinakin describes the basic science and history of electrolytic coloring and colors available for aluminum anodizing. One of the biggest advantages of electrolytic coloring is its light- and weather-fastness. In this episode, Pinakin focuses on the tin electrolytic coloring method and specific equipment, chemicals and processes that need to be considered to ensure consistent color.
-
Pinakin Patel on Mid-Temperature Sealing
Our hosts, George Oh of Quaker Houghton and Tej Patel of Techevon, talk with anodizing industry expert Pinakin Patel, owner of Techevon LLC, a global anodizing chemistry supplier in Chicago, IL. Pinakin explains what mid-temperature seals are, the types of mid-temperature seals, his patent on sealing of aluminum oxide, nickel-free mid-temp seals, types of surfactants and how they interact with sealing methods. Comparison of different sealing methods to mid-temperature seals and its environmental impact. Be sure to join us at the 2023 Anodizing Conference on October 10-12 in Bellevue/Seattle, Washington. Learn more at www.anodizing.org/AnodizingConference where Pinakin will also be speaking.
-
2023 Anodizing Conference Preview
George Oh of Quaker Houghton and Co-Chair of the AAC Education Committee, Tej Patel of Techevon, and Mark Spencer of AaCron Anodizing talk with AAC President Jeff Henderson about what to look forward to at the 32nd Annual Anodizing Conference & Exposition, October 9-12, 2023 in Bellevue/Seattle, Washington. Listen to this episode to get a feel for what to expect, what you’ll learn, and how you will benefit by joining us at the 2023 Anodizing Conference. Visit www.anodizing.org/AnodizingConference for program and registration details.
-
Heavy Metal-free Dyes
Mahe Chandrasekaran, Chemical Engineer with Techevon, LLC, joins our hosts George Oh, R&D Senior Chemist with Quaker Houghton and Tej Patel, Director with Techevon, to discuss which heavy metals show up in the anodizing industry, heavy metal-free dyes, why use metals in dyes compared to metal-free dyes, which heavy metals are used in dyes for the anodizing industry, and the advantages and disadvantages for each dye type. They also discuss the types of colors one can get using various dyes for aluminum anodizing. To hear more of this type of educational content, be sure to attend the 2023 Anodizing Conference & Exposition on October 10-12 in Bellevue (Seattle), Washington. Visit www.anodizing.org/AnodizingConference for program and registration details.
-
The Environmentally Friendly Anodizing Line
Rob Pawson of Haviland Products talks with Mark, George, and Tej about creating an anodizing line that is environmentally friendly. PFAS regulations, dealing with other city, state and federal water regulations, the cost for installing scrubbers, and solutions for water discharge treatment are covered. Rob discusses how chemical manufacturers are continually coming up with more environmentally friendly solutions—from non-nickel seals and spray rinses to metal-free dyes—to help anodizers reduce water use and reduce the environmental impact of wastewater discharge.
-
Promoting Careers in the Anodizing Industry
Kevin Janis, Business Development Manager for Reliant Aluminum Products, talks with hosts George Oh and Mark Spencer about his career path versus his expectations, challenges in hiring for the anodizing industry, what might attract young people to the industry, doing more to share information about the beauty of anodizing, and more.
-
Meet the Industry Figure: Kevin Janis, Reliant Aluminum Products
Our podcast hosts, Mark Spencer, George Oh and Tej Patel, talk with Kevin Janis, Business Development Manager for Reliant Aluminum Products to learn more about his 25-year career in the aluminum finishing industry. Kevin’s background as a lawyer, his love of college football at his alma mater University of Wisconsin, his experience with a “wood-fired bright dip anodizing line” early in his career, and what he does during his down time are explored. Here Kevin’s perspective on the benefits of attending the Anodizing Conference every year in this enlightening episode.
-
Dan Bishopp, Quaker Houghton, on Acid Etch
Dan Bishopp, Regional Sales Manager for Quaker Houghton, discusses his start in the aluminum extrusion industry and his eventual move into the anodizing line in the 1980s with Bonnell Aluminum in Kentland, Indiana with our hosts Mark Spencer and George Oh. He discusses his career trajectory from line worker to Process Improvement Manager with Bonnell Aluminum and then to Regional Sales Manager with Quaker Houghton. Dan explains how the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium project became the first architectural acid etch job in the United States. The eventual adoption of the acid etch process in the U.S., which reduces streaking on aluminum extrusions, and how the acid etch process may have increased the volume of anodizing today is also discussed.
-
Meet the Industry Figure: Rob Pawson
Rob Pawson, Vice President of Haviland Products in Grand Rapid, Michigan, talks with our hosts about his company, the anodizing industry, the benefits of membership and committee involvement in the Aluminum Anodizers Council, as well as Rob’s longevity in the industry.
-
Bill Zahner and Aluminum Anodizing
President & CEO of A. Zahner Company, Bill Zahner, talks with our hosts to tell us a little about his background, and his company. The company, founded in 1887, is a pioneer in architectural metal fabrication, engineering and installation. Bill, a prolific writer, talks about the lack of knowledge of architectural metals during the research of his first book. The hosts dig into his book Aluminum Surfaces: A Guide to Alloys, Finishes, Fabrication and Maintenance in Architecture and Art, and discuss aluminum anodizing, its characteristics, how Zahner approaches anodizing finishes and how it differs from paint. Learn also what Bill does in his downtime, his aluminum finishing tips, and the differences between the use of anodized aluminum in the U.S. and Europe in this fascinating episode.
-
Sequel Anodizing Racks
Get into the details about anodizing racking with Kyle and Peter Schumer of Sequel Anodizing Racks, a 35-year-old family-owned and operated racking company in Minnesota. Kyle and Peter talk with our hosts about their career paths and how they landed in the anodizing industry, their approach to sales, experiences at the AAC Anodizing Conference, idiosyncrasies of anodizing racking, which type of racking material works best in various situations, and more.
-
Tej Patel of Techevon, Mark Spencer of AaCron Anodizing, George Oh of Quaker Houghton, and special guest Pinakin Patel of Techevon talk about the differences between anodizing and painting aluminum and why anodizing is actually a superior coating. The guys discuss why paints are used instead of anodizing and vice versa, the durability of both methods, benefits and drawbacks for anodizing and painting, color fading, filiform corrosion, and much more in this informative episode.
-
Meet the Industry Figure – Dawn Purucker
Learn a little bit about Dawn Purucker, Environmental, Health and Safety Director for Bonnell Aluminum in Niles, Michigan, including how she started in the anodizing industry, her career and educational background, what she likes to do in her spare time when she’s not leading the safety program at Bonnell Aluminum, how she feels about Charlie Brown, and more.
-
Safety in the Anodizing Industry
Dawn Purucker, Environmental, Health and Safety Director for Bonnell Aluminum in Niles, Michigan, talks with podcast hosts George Oh and Tej Patel, about safety - specifically in the anodizing industry. In this fun and engaging episode, Dawn discusses her approach to safety at Bonnell Aluminum and the success she has had with reducing injuries, the types of safety issues in around the anodizing plant, how the culture of safety can bleed into other areas of one’s life, the types of people who tend to display safe behavior, and more. In addition, tune in to hear some fun trivia about rocks, minerals and the Great Lakes from Dawn, Tej and George!
-
Non-Nickel Sealing
Pinakin Patel, Founder and President of Techevon LLC, with decades of experience in the anodizing industry, talks about the different anodizing sealing methods – and focuses specifically on non-nickel sealing – in this episode of ANO-Talk: All Things Anodizing. He talks with our hosts, George Oh, Mark Spencer and Tej Patel about this mid-temperature range (180-200 degrees F/82-93 Celsius) sealing method, the pros and cons, the chemistry involved in the process, why anodizers use non-nickel seals, when and how it is used, the effect on dyes, and the non-nickel seals currently available on the market.
-
Scott Walker is Regional Vice President for Products Finishing magazine and a Professional Member of the Aluminum Anodizers Council. Hear how Scott got his start in the metals industry publishing world and where his career took him before he landed at Products Finishing. Tej Patel and George Oh talk with Scott about AAC, his involvement with the Council, and what Products Finishing offers the anodizing industry.
-
Learn a little more about the Aluminum Anodizers Council’s first female Chairperson, Jeanette Courtney, Division Environmental, Health and Safety Director for Bonnell Aluminum. Jeanette talks with hosts George Oh of Quaker Houghton and Tej Patel of Techevon LLC to discuss how she got her start in the anodizing industry, what drew her to the field of EHS, how she views her role as AAC’s Chair, and more.
-
Our hosts, George Oh, Tej Patel, and Mark Spencer, hold an engaging roundtable discussion on the finer points of Type-II Anodizing. Highlights include, what is Type-II Anodizing, what happens during the Type-II Anodizing process, what happens when it’s not done properly, the dangers of sulfuric acid, the differences between various types of anodizing, as well as anodizing versus plating, how aluminum is transformed during the anodizing process and what types of applications use Type-II Anodizing. We’ll also learn each of our hosts’ earliest memories of seeing their first anodized product – and their answers may surprise (and entertain) you!
- Show more
