Acid Etch Facility
Having installed similar systems at various sites for the same customer, CPS were asked to design and install an acid etch plant for surface treatment of Super Alloys.
The new facility included a heavy gauge polypropylene etch tank measuring 7m long which is extracted through an 18,000m3/hr HDPE fume scrubber and ductwork.
Supply chemicals are housed in chemical resistant HDPE IBC stores with automated transfer and dosing pumps to ensure the correct acid concentration is used for the different customer products.
A recipe based PLC system is installed to ensure consistency of the various acid mixes used in the process and to eliminate operator error.
The acid waste from the process is stored in a 20m3 HDPE acid waste tank for off site disposal.
Due to planning restrictions the whole installation had to be housed inside the production building which made for a challenging installation.
Acid Etch Plant for Super Alloy Surface Treatment
Having successfully delivered multiple fume extraction systems for the same client across various sites, CPS was commissioned to design and install a complete acid etch plant for the surface treatment of Super Alloys.
The new facility featured a 7-metre-long heavy-gauge polypropylene etch tank, ventilated by an 18,000 m³/hr HDPE fume scrubbing system with associated ductwork, ensuring safe and effective fume extraction during the etching process.
To maintain strict chemical control, supply acids are stored in chemical-resistant HDPE IBC stores, with automated transfer and dosing pumps that accurately deliver the required concentrations for each specific alloy treatment.
A recipe-based PLC control system was implemented to ensure consistency across different product types and eliminate the risk of operator error. Each recipe controls the dosing and process parameters for precise surface treatment.
Acid waste generated during the etching process is collected in a 20m³ HDPE acid waste tank for safe, off-site disposal.
Due to local planning restrictions, the entire system had to be installed within the existing production building, presenting significant logistical and spatial challenges. CPS successfully delivered the complete solution within these constraints, ensuring full operational functionality and safety compliance.
