TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED VOSS Fluid uses its in-house, sustainable zinc-nickel base coating for all tube couplings
The process reliability of hydraulic connection technology is crucial for the effective and economical operation of modern working machinery, says hydraulic coupling technology provider VOSS Fluid.
To ensure that systems, which are subject to permanent stress, such as large excavators in mining, can function under tough conditions as components have to correspond to the requirements for the leak safety of connection points, while also providing effective corrosion protection.
In addition to choosing system-compatible connecting components, the focus should also be on correct assembly and the selection of a competent supplier, says VOSS Fluid.
VOSS Fluid manufactures pipe-connecting systems and is a system partner to international mechanical engineering companies. The company’s product portfolio comprises tube connections for stationary and mobile hydraulics, including cutting ring and flanged screw couplings, tube forming systems, flange couplings and valves.
VOSS Fluid has a long-standing expertise in the production of customised connecting parts, enabling it to develop effective system solutions and offer technical advice for its customers. This results in consistently high-quality components, a high level of corrosion protection, time-efficient component assembly capability, and hydraulic systems with long-term leak tightness.
VOSS Fluid notes that the coating of tube connections is important as it is a prerequisite for permanent corrosion protection and ensures that the components are functionally stable and, hence, economic.
VOSS Fluid uses its in-house, sustainable zinc-nickel base coating VOSS coat for all its tube couplings. The company says, together with independent research institutes and universities, it develops corrosion protection systems that are around ten times more effective than conventional zinc coatings.
In contrast to pure zinc surfaces, zinc-nickel only forms a slight grey haziness during corrosion, as opposed to a distinct white rust.
Further, a zinc-nickel surface is not only environmentally compatible owing to its hard nickel content, but is also more wear-resistant, in terms of the mechanical loads to which hydraulic couplings are exposed during transport, assembly and practical application.
VOSS Fluid says its internal electroplating plant forms the basis of its high-quality tube connection coatings. This plant corresponds to a high technological standard and is ideally designed for the internal process steps that have to be taken during coating.
In contrast to normal coatings, the VOSS coating process is optimised in respect to component damage prevention, layer distri- bution, visual appearance, and friction coefficients.
The frames and baskets used for transporting the connecting parts in the plant are developed in-house. The filling cycle uses a conveyor belt to reduce falling heights and prevents process-related damage. A significantly reduced coating time also conserves the material.
For resource-efficient production, the entire electroplating process is controlled and monitored through online analysis and sensor systems. Automatic dosing pumps ensure that the correct amount of chemicals is always supplied specific to the product. The baths, thus, remain stable within the specified process limits.
The chemicals are continuously kept in motion to ensure that they are distributed evenly. After the electroplating process, the layer thickness and nickel content are monitored for each production batch. This means the articles receive a verifiable even coating with VOSS coating, which permanently protects them against corrosion.