Case Study #18: Jewelry Electroplating
Initial situation
A decorative electroplating facility in California needed to replace its existing electrically heated tanks due to updated fire safety regulations. Although retaining the current tanks was required, electric heaters could no longer be utilized. Additionally, maintaining high-quality finishes and precise temperature control was critical due to the high value of materials used in jewelry electroplating.
Challenge
Transitioning from electric heaters to internal heat exchangers demanded a precise, space-efficient design. The solution needed to offer exceptional corrosion resistance to various chemical baths, be simple to install, and keep investment costs minimal. Detailed performance criteria and tank dimensions had to be strictly considered.
Solution
Calorplast provided custom-designed immersion heat exchangers, specifically utilizing their compact mini exchanger model. These exchangers matched the space occupied by electric heaters, allowing a direct 1:1 replacement. Each exchanger was tailored to customer specifications and delivered ready for installation.
Result
Switching to water-heated immersion exchangers significantly reduced the risk of fire, thus enhancing overall safety in the decorative electroplating process. The exchangers’ superior corrosion resistance and robust manufacturing quality ensured reliable, low-maintenance operations, resulting in stable and high-quality electroplating performance.
