Degreasing and rust prevention is essential for stored metal parts in flexible manufacturing processes

Flexible batch production for variable numbers and colours of finished products is very difficult to achieve when producing fabricated items in mild steel sheet due to storage of the unpainted parts being subject to rusting and corrosion when processed by conventional water based processes. This paper describes a typical manufacturing cycle for office and educational equipment where rust free storage allows JIT deliveries.

To satisfy contracts to produce a wide range of metal cabinets, chests, and lockers in many different sizes with a range of cabinets and shelving, all in different colours, for the education sector which have to be delivered within seven days, needs very careful production planning. It is necessary to stock drawers, tops and backs, punched, laid flat, unpainted, and then produce sides to order. Three pieces of equipment allow successful operation of this production process. A CNC controlled sheet metal folding and bending centre an automatic DriPHOS combined degreasing and metal pre-treatment process tank and a fast colour change powder or paint coating plant and an oven…