Arlington Plating in Palatine, Illinois, added to its aluminum anodizing operations in 2018 to include hardcoat parts processing that meets MIL-A-8625 Type III, Class 1 and 2 standards.

The fully automated, 5,000-square-foot line produces conventional and hardcoat anodizing with high-pH sealant and organic die-coloring capabilities. Offering bright dip and satin finish applications, the rack line meets pH 13.0 automotive industry requirements for exterior trim applications, the company says.

“Eighteen months ago, we launched sulfuric Type II anodizing that was approved by General Motors within three months of the line’s installation,” says Richard Macary, Arlington president. “Our new hardcoat capabilities allow us to continue to expand our market reach into food process equipment, medical and aerospace applications that require wear resistance, corrosion protection, and appearance.”

In addition to the automotive industry, Arlington says its aluminum anodizing customers have grown to include leading consumer goods manufacturers that require the durability, non-stick properties and corrosion resistance that hardcoat anodizing provides. The expanded hardcoat service is being offered to meet the increased performance and design demands by the aerospace, oil and gas, equipment and electronics industries.

Arlington Plating is an ISO-9001:2015 company and a member of the Aluminum Anodizers Council. For information, go to arlingtonplating.com.