How to work with your anodizing supplier
Anne Deacon Juhl
Visionary Anodizing Expert | Problem & Defect Solver | Energy Savings & Productivity Advisor | How-To Anodize e-Creator | Tailored Workshop | Anodizing Process & Hard Anodizing Consultancy | Corrosion specialist
In my 25 years as a consultant in the anodizing industry, I realized that about 70 % of my consulting clients were not anodizers but the people who had to “deal with” anodizers. Perhaps you have had also frustrating experience ordering anodized parts and not receive what you wanted?
You might think that your anodizer was just not good at their job. Or that anodizers will always try to keep their costs as low as possible and thereby sacrificing the quality of your aluminum product. But that does not do the problem justice. In my experience, the main reason for errors and frustrations is ineffective communication. Yip, just like in any relationship, the relation to your anodizer will improve tremendously by learning how to communicate better.
To make your next phone call with your anodizer much more successful, here is a checklist with all the things you should talk about:
- Agree on the properties and quality of the anodizing results.
- Choose the right alloy to achieve the properties you want.
- Identify the microstructure of your different aluminum parts as this will affect the surface look.
- Agree on handling and racking of the aluminum parts as part of the preparation.
- Decide together on the right pretreatments for the specific parts of your aluminum product.
- Set specifications for the anodizing process as these parameters affect the properties.
- Choose the most environmentally friendly sealing
- Agree on quality control tests that fit the properties of your anodized product.
This checklist is a good start to improve the communication with your anodizer and to receive the correct anodized parts. If you would like step up your game even more and become more confident in asking the right questions, join my new live online training: “Working with your anodizing supplier.”
The course consists of four classes, each treating an independent subject. You can also attend single class. This interactive live online event is held on Zoom in 4 x 2,5 hours sessions. We will record the presentation and make them available to you after the workshop.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Sunny regards,
Anne Deacon Juhl
Vice President at A.M. Metal Finishing, Inc.
3yGreat job Anne Hopefully people will listen you do you know what you’re talking about.Sunny Florida