Our cleanroom facilities at Stalbridge incorporate a state-of-the-art automated passivation plant offering novel functionality in that there is no manual dunking of component baskets from station-to-station, as with traditional systems. Instead, the plant performs a ‘fluid transfer’, moving chemical solutions from holding tanks into the main processing unit as required. The entire process is automatic and PLC controlled. Typical treatments are nitric acid/sodium dichromate, and rinse cycles. These are followed by a final rinse in deionised water before a drying cycle.

Other innovative plant functionality includes an ultrasonic passivation facility and a rotary option where parts can be rotated through the solution, thus filling air gaps in more complex and tubular-type components, for example.

There are three service levels: standard five-day; express three-day; and super express 24 hours [subject to any testing requirements]. The working envelope size available is 520 x 300 x 200 mm.