Page 16: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (September 2018)

Selective Electroplating & Bringing

Protection On BoardProtection On Board

About the Author

Derek Vanek is technical manager at

Derek Vanek, technical manager at SIFCO ASC looks into how the marine

SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts.

MARINE MAINTENANCE industry can decrease costs, and reduce downtime using selective plating methods as an alternative to disassembling components for repair.

Day in, day out, marine equipment and sues can include fretting or wear on costs can mount up very quickly. The use is rigid and not suited to components the marine industry as a whole is subject bearings ? ts and ? anges due to continu- of this traditional method can hinder the which need plating particularly fast. to extreme conditions including salt wa- ous vibration, extensive wear on bearing process and increase downtime further ter, high temperatures, wear, corrosion cap faces and saddle areas, corrosion on due to: Making Protection Portable and fatigue. The problem which comes various components such as compressed Selective plating is a well-established with these conditions is the length of air valves and parts exposed to sea water, • The need to disassemble and reliable process which has already downtime needed to repair key marine steam cuts on high pressure turbine cast- components. been written into shipbuilding speci? - components and equipment. ings, worn Babbitt coatings on bearing • The time it takes to transport from cations. It is a portable method of elec-

Every second a vessel spends in the shells, as well as out of tolerance or mis- shipyard to plating facility. troplating localized areas of metal sur- shipyard is one where it’s not creating machined shafts, housings and bearings. • The reinstallation ahead of re- faces for OEM components, permanent value or safeguarding national security. entering service. repairs and salvaging worn or mis-ma-

In the U.S. alone, investment in ship- Traditional Plating chined parts; providing a fast, ef? cient building has grown steadily, with gross You may ask yourself why is an alter- Tank plating involves the use of large and targeted solution to corrosion, wear, output in 2013 topping $28 billion. With native plating method needed if the tra- tanks of preparatory and plating so- galling, solderability and brazing. It is these ? gures, it’s crucial to minimize ditional method of tank plating is safe lutions and often requires extensive carried out by skilled technicians to re- downtime. and still creates proven results? masking. The procedure is not portable, pair or maintain critical parts.

Typical component problems and is- Every second of downtime counts, as meaning the overall process, by nature, The main bene? t is portability. Only

Photo: SIFCO ASC 16 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • SEPTEMBER 2018

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