Painting & Finishing

This matt anodised finish is standard on all of our front panels. It is optional on rear panels and other custom components made to order.

Because of unavoidable small marks created during our CNC punching and forming processes, we do not recommend anodising enclosure covers, side panels, top and bases. (These marks are not visible when the items are painted).

The Process

Anodising is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. The process is called anodising because the part to be treated forms the anode electrode of an electrolytic cell.

This conductive protective coating is standard on the aluminium case body of our METTEC 19" rack cases. It is suitable for internal components and housings fitted in racks and cabinets where the aesthetics of the finish is not important. As a result, we do not recommended it for visible surfaces on desktop and portable enclosures.

The Process

Iridite NCP anti-corrosion treatment is an effective replacement for conventional hexavalent chromates. It produces a trivalent chromium conversion coating on both wrought and cast aluminium surfaces providing an iridescent to clear surface finish. This treatment is safer than traditional hexavalent chromates.

SURFACE TREATMENT BEFORE PAINTING

We put all aluminium and mild steel (CR4) components through a pretreatment process prior to painting. The pretreatment removes oils, greases and other agents used during manufacturing, and converts the metal surface to a non-metallic layer. This significantly improves the application, adhesion and surface finish of the paint.

Notes. Unfinished internal parts of our enclosures also go through this process. The process gives the material a brown/gold surface colouration which is normal. Panels which are going to be anodised do not go through this process.

The Pretreatment Process Sequence:

• Tank 1 - Gardoclean® alkali cleaner + Gardobond® A 4913 lightweight amorphous iron phosphate pretreatment
• Tank 2 - Water rinse
• Tank 3 - Gardolene® D6870 Chromium-free post pretreatment rinse
• Drying oven - 150°C, 15 minutes
• Ready for painting

Gardoclean®, Gardobond® and Gardolene® are registered trademarks of Chemetall GmbH.

ANTI-CORROSION TREATMENT FOR CR4 MILD STEEL PARTS

Zinc plating in general can be broken into two primary steps. The first step is to add the zinc plating, through the use of electrical current. The second step is to treat the plated metal with a chemical passivate which adds colour. These solutions are referred to as chromates (hex chrome) or passivates (tri chrome). To create a clear finish, a clear passivate is used. These passivates leave the metal with a natural colour. In other words, the metal will have the silver colour of zinc, often also including slight iridescence which can range from blue to yellow to pink.

Advantages of Clear Zinc Plating

Zinc plating with clear passivation gives all the same advantages of any other zinc plating, particularly the addition of considerable corrosion resistance. It also offers some benefits in terms of strength and abrasion resistance.

Ultramarine blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Sapphire blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Signal blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Brilliant blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Grey blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Cobalt blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Pigeon blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Sky blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Night blue

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Signal grey

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Anthracite

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Light grey

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture
• Epoxy-Polyester / Leatherette

Dusty grey

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Leatherette

Window grey

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Epoxy-Polyester / Fine texture

Telegrey

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Off-white

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Epoxy polyester / Fine texture

Signal white

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Epoxy-Polyester / Fine texture

Jet black

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Matt fine texture

Silver metallic

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Matt fine texture

Pure white

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Pale Blue Pantone 301 U

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture

Pale Green Pantone 367 C

Optional powder paint colour we keep in stock. No minimum order quantity or extra cost for painting standard parts in this colour.

Paint materials/finishes available:

• Polyester / Fine texture