While anodizers most frequently work with aluminum alloys, due to the decreased corrosion resistance that results from the addition of the alloyed elements such as copper, iron and silicon, they also work with various other metals including niobium, tantalum, magnesium, zinc, titanium and tungsten. As a result of the variety of workable metals, anodizers are able to provide metal materials and parts to a wide range of industries including: industrial manufacturing, for anodized bars, rods, angles and profiles used in various processing applications. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Alpha Metal Finishing Company
Dexter, MI | 734-426-2855Since 1976 Alpha Metal Finishing has been a trusted leader in anodizing, hardcoat and chemical film (chromate conversion) services. In addition, Alpha now provides stainless steel passivation. We are passionate about providing superior quality, rapid turnaround, and friendly, responsive service. Alpha is ISO 9001:2015 certified. Call us today for your finishing needs!
Foremost Manufacturing
Union, NJ | 908-687-4646For 40 years, Foremost Manufacturing has specialized in aluminum anodizing, bright dip anodizing, color anodizing, and clear coat anodizing. We serve various industries and applications, including indoor and outdoor, theatrical and photographic and medical.
K & L Anodizing Corporation
Burbank, CA | 818-845-7251For over 50 years, K&L Anodizing has provided metal finishing services for manufacturers, machine shops, tool & die, aerospace, medical, government & commercial industries. We provide multicolor anodizing; anodizing per Mil-8625—types I, II, III—dyed & non-dyed; & a variety of related services.
Dajcor Aluminum Ltd.
Chatham, ON, Chavies, KY | 877-556-9191Dajcor Aluminum is the leading Canadian supplier of extruded, fabricated/machined and anodized components and assemblies to the automotive, renewable energy, transportation, building trades, military, recreation, and consumer-product industries.
Aluminum Anodizing Power Pages
Anodized Aluminum
Anodized aluminum is aluminum that has undergone an anodizing process to create an exceptionally durable, corrosion-resistant, and highly aesthetic surface. Anodizing creates a stable aluminum oxide layer fully integrated with...
Types of Metal Finishing
Metal finishing describes various procedures or processes that can be as simple as buffering to adding a special type of coat to the substrate. Included in the description of metal finishing are a number of cleaning...
Types of Metal Plating
Metal plating is a process where a thin layer of metal coating is applied on the surface, or on the substrate of a metal part, product, or component. The process of metal plating can consist of electroplating...
Anodizers - Extrude-A-TrimThese applications include electronics, for protective encasings of a variety of electrical equipment; automotive, for use as the trim and the body of the vehicle; military, for small parts such as fine aluminum wire as well as large military aerospace parts; and medical, for surgical instruments and implants, to name just a few.
In addition, several industries have certain standards that anodizers should ideally adhere to such as the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) standard 611-98, for anodized architectural aluminum.
Anodizers - Extrude-A-TrimAnodizers can use several different anodizing processes, ranging from the common to the experimental and obscure. The main difference between many of these processes is the type of acidic solution that is used. The two main types of acids used are chromic acid and sulfuric acid. Chromic acid refers to the H2 CrO4, which is an oxidizing acid family that the Environmental Protection Agency has placed restrictions on. The uses of certain types of this acid have been classified as a human carcinogen.
While emissions resulting from sulfuric acid, which refers to a strong mineral acid that is very similar to chromic acid, are also restricted by the EPA, it is considered less dangerous than the emission of chromic acid. However, there are some new developments in chromic acid that are much more environmentally-friendly. Additional acidic solutions used by anodizers include citric acid, phosphoric acid, boric acid and organic acids.
The two main types of anodizing processes that anodizers use are bath anodizing and anodic painting, although bath anodizing is more common in industrial applications. In bath anodizing the metal is fully immersed in the acidic solution, while in anodic painting the metal ferrule of a paint brush is dipped in the acidic solution and then used to apply it to the metal. As a result, anodizers typically use bath anodizing for mass production and anodic painting for smaller projects.
