The surface technology team at voestalpine Forschungsservicegesellschaft makes a significant contribution to Performance in Wire with its experience and problem-solving expertise in the surface area.
In a steel producing and processing company like the voestalpine Group, the material and the mastery of its properties play the most significant role. Less visible in many respects, but often no less important, on the other hand, are the influences of the surface on the further processing of semi-finished products or the properties of end products.
Cleaning, coating and other processes for functionalizing surfaces have long been established in voestalpine's production plants.
For a few years now, the "Surface Technology" department within the voestalpine research service company contributes additional expertise to the wide range of topics within this discipline.
In addition to classic wet-chemical cleaning and pickling processes, electrolytic processes or alternative methods based on plasma or laser technology are also used. Galvanic and resin-based functional coatings, lubricants and special coating processes as well as corrosion technology complement our repertoire.
Long-term projects were launched with the Wire Technology business unit to address strategic issues such as the development of functional coatings for the cold forming of wires or their corrosion protection.
The required infrastructure is situated in the pilot plant of the research service company and now includesa fully automated robot system for wet chemical processes or machines for cold heading tests as well as creep and corrosion testing setups.
Through our research network there is also the possibility of coating system development and adaptation according to customer requirements.
The industrial upscaling of new developments faces many constraints in existing production lines, consequently, production trials are primarily carried out at external service providers. The active development of in-house trial facilities is nevertheless also pursued.
In addition to classic wet-chemical cleaning and pickling processes, electrolytic processes or alternative methods based on plasma or laser technology are also used.
Galvanic and resin-based functional coatings, lubricants and special coating processes as well as corrosion technology complement our repertoire.
The surface technology team, consisting of two engineers and two surface technology master craftsmen, combines more than 25 years of experience from theory and practice each, which ensures the highest level of technical expertise as well as customer-oriented problem-solving competence.
The examples given illustrate a portfolio of activities ranging from process and product optimization within voestalpine plants and at customers' sites, new process development on laboratory and pilot plant scale, implementation of new processes on production scale with support during commissioning and subsequent operation, to technical assessment of product surface conditions and corrosion testing.
