The Aluminum Anodizers Council’s 31st annual Anodizing Conference and Exposition will be October 4-6 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The event will be at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City. Every year the AAC gathers in the fall to offer members an opportunity to reconnect with friends and fellow industry leaders, recharge for the year ahead, and rediscover why they belong to a dynamic industry association like AAC.
To register for the event, please visit https://www.anodizing.org/page/2022-conference-fees
The AAC says anyone involved in operating, maintaining, or promoting the anodizing process will benefit from the information presented at the Annual Anodizing Conference and Exposition. The program is designed to appeal to industry professionals at every level in every aspect of anodizing.
By registering for the conference, attendees receive access to all of the following:
- All General Sessions
- Focus Sessions
- Aluminum Anodizing Expo featuring anodizing industry suppliers
- AAC Student Poster Session
- Networking and scheduled meal events
The AAC has also developed the School for Anodizers as an educational program for industry professionals to improve their operations and level of expertise. The following courses are offered as additional educational options during the Annual Anodizing Conference. Additional fees and registration are required.
- Anodizing Essentials Class: This one-day program for anodizers teaches the fundamentals and the foundation of quality anodizing. This basic course explains how to anodize aluminum properly and was developed by anodizing professionals for anodizing professionals.
- Anodizing Quality and Troubleshooting Workshop: This advanced class moves beyond the anodizing basics to address quality and process issues commonly faced by anodizers. The first half of the workshop explains manufacturing processes and metal finishing, followed by how to recognize and troubleshoot anomalies that may manifest through the processes discussed.
Schedule at a Glance
Monday, Oct 3
7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Committee and Board of Directors Meetings
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Anodizing Essentials Class
Tuesday, Oct 4
7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Registration Open
8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Anodizing Quality and Troubleshooting Workshop
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. New Member Reception (by invitation only)
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception and Anodizing Expo Open (with Student Posters)
Wednesday, Oct. 5
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Anodizing Expo Open
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration Open
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Anodizing Conference Opening General Session
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Anodizing Expo Open (with Student Posters)
1:10 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Focus Sessions: Tracks: Architectural, Anodizing for Design and Function, and Technical
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Reception and Anodizing Expo Open
Thursday, Oct. 6
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast and Anodizing Expo Open
8:30 a.m. – Noon Anodizing Conference Closing General Session
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Post Conference Critique Meeting
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Education and Academic Committee Meetings
Annual Anodizing Conference Program
This year’s 31st Annual Anodizing Conference and Exposition programming delivers industry-focused information and education, giving anodizers the tools and know-how to make well-informed decisions. Program topics range from business information to industry analysis that will help you gain technical insight, develop industry relationships, and achieve a higher level of understanding in the aluminum finishing world. Outlined below are the educational programs you will find at this year’s conference.
General Session: Wednesday, October 5
8:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m.: AAC Chairman’s Welcome, AAC Annual Meeting and Business Report; Janette Courtney, Bonnell Aluminum; 40 minutes for AAC welcome/new members/committees, awards, Pres JH overview (3 more talks 40/50 min, Judy welcome/thank sponsors and intro Chairman; Chairman Give Award(s), President AAC update, Committee Chairs Report on Projects, Spec Update (JH-State of AAC)
8:40 a.m. - 9:25 a.m.: Waste and Discharge, Regulations, Benefits of Anodizing vs. Other Finishes/Materials [Business/Theme] Business Case for Sustainability; Janette Courtney, Bonnell Aluminum
9:25 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.: Is Having End-of-Life Scrap Acceptable for Anodized Surface Finish? Helen Weykamp, Hydro Aluminum Technical Center; Recycled end-of-life (EOL) aluminum scrap used to produce extrusion ingots is predicted to increase. Hydro’s CIRCAL® uses 75% post-consumer scrap (PCS) and recently, extrusion ingots with 100% PCS are produced. Varying EOL scrap quality and increasing trace elements are concerning for anodizers. Advanced scrap sorting technologies are critical to ensure extrusion ingot quality for anodized surface finish. Integrating sustainability ambitions of recycled EOL aluminum scrap with ensuring extrusion ingot quality are highlighted. Hydro’s scrap sorting knowhow is reviewed, and molten metal quality control and casting technologies are discussed.
10:10 a.m. - 10:25 a.m.: Break
10:25 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.: Zero Liquid Discharge – Anodizing Plants Can Benefit from Vacuum Distillation; Mirko Strauss, H2O - Leaders in Zero Liquid Discharge; Vacuum distillation technology with maximum operational safety offers a physical evaporation process to reliably separate surfactants, heavy metals, acids, and alkalis from wastewater under highly energy-efficient conditions, focusing on reuse of recovered water. Metals are separated based on boiling point differences, ensuring strict discharge limits are safely met. Potential combined treatment of alkaline and acidic rinsing water from pickling-degreasing and anodizing enables reduced investment and operating costs. Downstream evaporation enables reducing residual water content in evaporation residue, lowering disposal costs, and potential secondary raw materials recovery.
11:10 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.: Towards Cr(VI)-Free Anodizing of Aerospace Aluminum Alloys for Metal-to-Metal Bonding; Prof. Arjan Mol, Delft University of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering; Classic aluminum pre-treatment for metal-to-metal bonding of aerospace structures applies chromic acid anodizing to generate porous anodic oxide with optimal strength and adhesion using carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). To identify comparable Cr(VI)-free candidates, the relation between oxide properties and interfacial bonding under dry, wet, and corrosive conditions is studied under changing parameters. Characteristics critical for bonding, oxide chemistry and morphology are highlighted. Cr(VI)-free anodizing electrolytes and porous oxide morphology are explored. Results show chemical and morphological surface properties are critical considerations when selecting Cr(VI)-free alternatives for structural adhesive bonding.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch
1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Automation: Technology Solutions that Regenerate Operations; Tamea Franco, Global Metal Finishing; After unforeseen acquisition of a software operating system, the barriers and rewards are presented when the Global Metal Finishing team navigated the challenges of finding, quoting and operating software and hardware that complied with ITAR and enforced cyber security. Customer engagement, systems improvements, and overall gains are highlighted. Whether a captive shop or job shop, aluminum anodizers must satisfy customer requirements at lightning speed, often with inadequate information and unrealistic expectations. Anodizers are demonstrated to be the Heroes in the supply chain, bringing on-time technical and profitable solutions to customers’ internal dysfunctions.
1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Anodizing Fundamentals: Risk Elimination System: The Road to Zero Injuries; Dawn Purucker, Bonnell Aluminum; Leading Key Performance Indicators can reliably predict where injuries will occur before they happen, driving safety culture toward a future where fewer hazards are present. The Risk Elimination System, an associate-based approach to removing hazards, enables shop-floor associates to make decisions about their work environment. When utilized as a tool to address potential problems, associates can reliably prevent incidents from occurring. A proactive approach to site safety while focusing on sustainable individual contributions has consistently reduced overall injuries with the lowest TRIR in Bonnell Aluminum’s history.
1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Technical: Heavy Metal Free Dyes; Mahe Chandrasekaran, Techevon, LLC; This presentation describes the introduction of metallizing dyes and the benefits of such metallizing. Different metals that can be used when metallizing and the advantages and disadvantages of each metal are reviewed. These options will be demonstrated specific to the dyes that are suitable for anodizing. There will be an emphasis on replacing Chrome with more eco-friendly metals or in the best case, the development and benefits of non-metallized dyes. All of these choices are performance tested using the criteria of contamination and light fastness.
2:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Automation: Automated Racking and Other Modernization; Petter Isaksson, Ahlins; The Job Shop anodizing business must step up to modern ways of production. Digitalization, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IOT) and other buzzwords surround us all the time. In what aspects are they influential to our small operation? What has been accomplished by Ahlins in these areas will be highlighted and discussed regarding automation in different applications, from picking parts to more complex systems.
2:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Anodizing Fundamentals: The 720 Rule: Anodized Aluminum Coating Thickness Variation in Some Aluminum Alloys; Dr. George N. Oh, Quaker Houghton; The industry-standard 720 Rule determines operational parameters during aluminum anodization to obtain desired coating thickness. Though useful for many aluminum alloys, this fails for alloys where non-aluminum constituents comprise a relatively large portion of the metal. AA5005, AA6063, AA6061, and AA7075 are anodized at constant current using the 720 Rule, and differences in actual obtained thicknesses are determined. Differences in thickness are also reported when anodizing at constant voltage under the same conditions. Results point to the importance of monitoring and segregating alloys when anodizing.
2:10 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Technical: Using Surface Analytics for Monitoring Aluminum Finishing Processes; Michael Valenti, Hubbard-Hall; Traditional methods for maintaining process control of aluminum finishing lines, such as chemical titration, conductivity measurements, pH and others, have limitations, and don’t always give a complete picture of part quality. In this session, we will discuss using surface analytics as a tool, to improve predictability of quality, cleanliness, and other critical surface properties of aluminum moving through the process. The discussion will focus on how a proven surface science can be deployed with better technology for the manufacturing environment.
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Automation: Automated Anodize Lines; Gary Kriesch, Gary Kriesch and Associates
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Anodizing Fundamentals: Water Systems: Cascade Rinses, Reduction of Water Usage, Recycling, Rinsing; Warren Fullen
3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Technical: Understanding PAO/Organic Interfaces in Different Aluminum Applications; Herman Terryn, Delft University of Technology; Several aerospace and automotive applications with porous anodized aluminum substrates have organic coatings. Interfacial interactions between Porous Anodic Oxide and organic coatings mainly determine organic/inorganic system durability. Model interfacial interactions of polymeric films on modified aluminum oxides are presented, using in-situ analytical methods to characterize a realistic model interface exposed to the environment. Interfacial interactions when water vapor is present are described. Local deposition of organic molecules is probed; anodic film degradation is investigated using corrosion and adhesion tests, combining anodic films with chromate-free and chromate-loaded model primers.
4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Automation: Spray Dyeing of Anodized Aluminum with Organic Dyes; Britta Dickmeiss, Bang and Olufsen; For the last 24 years, Bang and Olufsen has been using a spraying technique when coloring anodized aluminum. Spray dyeing has many advantages over the normal dipping process such as increased flexibility, which is important in order to meet the demands from our designers. Both the pros and cons of using the spraying technique will be discussed, together with some of the challenges that have been experienced when trying to make the same shades by a dipping process.
4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Anodizing Fundamentals: How to Ensure Lightfastness of Type II Dyed Anodized Aluminum; Jacqueline Cook, Reliant Aluminum Products; Ensuring lightfastness for dyed anodized aluminum to an architectural level is challenging. Picking the correct dye with an architectural-grade lightfastness rating is the first step to ensure dyeing that withstands years of exposure. Coating thickness, weight, density, dye concentration and activity, seal quality and chemistry all play vital roles in creating a good UV-resistant coating. Various factors are presented highlighting dyes and their management to retain a quality part. This presentation provides insights into managing the line for maximum efficacy with cost and environmental factors in mind.
4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Technical: Addressing the Demand for Clear Cr (III) Chemistries for Passivating Aluminum Alloys; Jacob Weingart, PhD, Columbia Chemical Company; Understanding and enhancing aluminum alloy corrosion resistance is widely studied to maintain key mechanical properties and aesthetic appearance for industrial and consumer applications. Surface treatments are examined that impart protective inorganic layers to help mitigate atmospheric corrosion. Focus is on the demand for, and development of, trivalent passivates to address growing environmental, regulatory and health concerns of hexavalent chromates. A clear aluminum trivalent passivate is reviewed that achieves excellent corrosion protection and enhanced durability, evaluating performance factors including appearance, operating range, and salt spray analysis.
General Session: Thursday, October 6
8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.: State of the Aluminum Industry: Unprecedented Changes in the Primary Aluminum Market and Their Impact on Extruders and Anodizers; Gregory Wittbecker, CRU Group; Unprecedented changes in the primary aluminum market are assessed and discussed, in terms of how these changes are impacting aluminum extruders and anodizers – now and into the future. The presentation will cover the following market changes and their impacts: the major structural changes in production and consumption of aluminum; China’s changing role in the market; how decarbonization and ESG will shape future material production processes and material choices; supply chain disruptions and the onshoring of demand; and trade fiction and how it has become “weaponized”.
9:15 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.: Anodizing vs. Paint/Powder Coat: Why One Finish is Superior; Tej Patel, Techevon, LLC; Aluminum applications are reviewed, emphasizing aluminum use in architectural anodizing, and how selecting finish type is critical to the application. Anodizing’s unique desirability for applications such as marine components, sunroof and seal tracks for automotive components is discussed. Test methods used in the paint industry are considered, comparing anodized component durability versus painted components. The filiform corrosion phenomenon is considered as it relates to a painted or anodized finish. Wear testing is performed on both finishes to compare durability, and environmental impacts of each finish are considered.
10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Break
10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Defining Cosmetic Quality for Type II Anodization from the Customer’s Perspective; Emily Li, Microsoft; Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” tackles the key challenge to customer satisfaction. In consumer products and electronics, Type II anodization is often chosen for decorative finishes since it is easily colored and textured to desired specifications. Like all manufacturing processes, output has quality variations. Describing these variations and aligning with customers on what is “good” and “bad” is critical to manufacturing scalability and business success. Techniques presented demonstrate how anodizers and customers can communicate and agree on color, material, finish, reliability, and quality.
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.: Polarization and Natural Order; Dr. Jude M. Runge, CompCote International
11:45 a.m. – Noon: Closing Remarks
School for Anodizers
AAC developed the School for Anodizers as an educational program for industry professionals to improve their operations and level of expertise. The following courses are offered as additional educational options during the Annual Anodizing Conference. Additional fee and registration are required.
Anodizing Essentials Class
Monday, October 3
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
This all-day intensive technical class developed by anodizing industry professionals for anodizing industry professionals, focuses on the basics of quality anodizing. The workshop will run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Your registration fee will include: continental breakfast, lunch and Workbook materials. The Anodizing Essentials program will address technology fundamentals and troubleshooting techniques to provide anodizing line workers with practical knowledge needed to improve operations. Fee: $425 for AAC Members; $825 for Non-Members. Register at https://www.anodizing.org/events/register.aspx?id=1649625
Anodizing Quality and Trouble Shooting Workshop
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
This all-day tutorial workshop focuses on all aspects that influence anodizing quality, conducted by industry experts, and featuring Anodizing technical presentations and table discussions. Fee: $425 for AAC Members; $825 for Non-Members. Register at https://www.anodizing.org/events/register.aspx?id=1649625
