Posted to News on 21st Apr 2012, 15:39
NSD tupH sealed surface protection system gives a robust finish
NORD Drivesystems new NSD tupH sealed surface conversion system promises to provide a versatile, cost-effective and weight-saving alternative to stainless steel gear case units for harsh environment and high hygiene drive applications. The robust finish employs a catalytic process that permanently bonds a base layer to the aluminium substrate. With no application of paint or other material, aluminium gear case surfaces are transformed with a durable protective finish that has a claimed 6- to 7-fold increase in surface hardness.
When applied to standard aluminium gear cases with suitable stainless steel hardware components, and combined with suitable sealing and lubrication systems, NORD NSD tupH-treated gear units can withstand the demanding environmental conditions that are encountered in washdown and chemical cleaning treatments used in the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
Tests show that NSD tupH surfaces sustained no damage after a full year of salt water rinsing, which included the use of aggressive cleaning chemicals and high-pressure cleaners. Salt spray tests showed no corrosion after 1000 hours. The NSD tupH surfaces also proved superior compared with standard systems during chip resistance testing: all gear units featuring protective coatings or varnishes, even nickel, or nickel/teflon combinations, are susceptible to peel off and scratching due to general wear and tear, but NSD tupH gear unit surfaces are scratch-proof, very resistant to impacts and do not corrode.
Unlike stainless steel models, which most manufacturers provide for only a few drive types, the NSD tupH treatment is available for a very wide range of products - users can choose from virtually all aluminium gear units. The weight factor is another advantage: since aluminium as a basic material is considerably lighter than steel, this alternative has substantially less mass and thus provides better installation options for mobile machinery and other weight-sensitive applications. Moreover, NSD tupH drive units are also cheaper than stainless steel systems thanks to their choice of basic material.
Protection at a molecular level
NORD Gear is committed to providing value to industries where end users demand durable equipment to withstand a variety of harsh environments. The market has long awaited a product with such a large range of standard reducers with the corrosive resistance properties of a stainless steel product without the excessive cost.
On an original painted aluminium surface the paint simply lies on top of the aluminium substrate and may even bridge across pores in the metal. Since paint does not form a permanent bond to the substrate, it can easily release at very low stress levels.
The NSD TupH process includes a base layer that is permanently bonded to the aluminium substrate and provides a powerful foundation for adhesion of the surface sealant. This foundation provides excellent roughness, is 6-7 times harder than the aluminium substrate, and up to 1000 times harder than paint.
To find out more about NORD Drivesystems new NSD tupH sealed surface conversion system, visit the website at www.nord.com.
