A clean finish: General Industry Coverage

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END USER: RDC Control Ltd., (800) 363-2264, www.rdccontrol.com.
SOLUTION PROVIDER: Rösler Metal Finishing USA LLC, (269) 441-3000, www.rosler.us.
CHALLENGE: Reduce the cost and time to finish end plates for hydraulic cylinders.
SOLUTION: A shot-blasting machine to perform the process in-house.

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The transfer of power is one of the most important and demanding processes in modern machinery and—more often than not—requires hydraulic cylinders. RDC Control Ltd., Blainville, Quebec, understands the requirements for that equipment because it manufactures hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, as well as linear valve actuators and thermocouples.

The end plates on the company’s hydraulic cylinders are made of mild steel and serve as control valves for fluid transportation, said Ariel Schtenbarg, RDC’s director of engineering. To work properly, the cylinder plates cannot have any rust or oil on their surfaces. Previously, RDC sent the plates to a subcontractor for sandblasting, which also improved the contact surface to maximize the adhesion of corrosion-resistant paint. However, sandblasting parts is expensive and has a week-long turnaround time, according to Schtenbarg.

He knew “there was something better” that could provide a cost-effective, efficient, in-house method and impart a uniform surface finish. After researching equipment from multiple manufacturers, he found it at IMTS 2014. RDC purchased the RHBE spinner hanger shot-blasting machine from Rösler Metal Finishing USA LLC, Battle Creek, Mich.