GSM stands out for its attention to detail and perfection in its services, which cover the entire production process of items in various metals, including brass, iron, zamak, and stainless steel.
The goal is to provide customers with safety and quality, reducing the need to involve multiple suppliers.
Let us now see, specifically, what our main services are.
Washing: the initial stage is important.
Washing is a process aimed atremoving oily residues, polishing paste, substances from mechanical processing and emulsifiable from materials such as brass, zamak, iron and stainless steel, without altering their coloration.
For this, we implemented a solvent degreasing plant with ultrasound, capable of thoroughly cleaning any item. It consists of four tanks, three of which are connected to a closed-cycle, aspirated system, with a dual-stage activated carbon machine that self-regenerates, ensuring zero emissions into the atmosphere. The fourth steam tank is fed by an automatic vacuum distillate, which keeps the product perfectly clean at all times.
In 2023, we invested in a new final washing machine, which, thanks to the generation of ultrapure water, allows for extremely thorough washing of previously galvanized products through mechanical action mediated by high-power pumps. The nozzles in the pumping structure make it possible to eliminate any residue resulting from the galvanic treatment.
The plant is composed of two main elements: a central part dedicated to the generation of ultrapure water and a part for the mechanical replacement of water on the surface.
Thanks to this configuration, we are able to perform an even more accurate washing of items that need to be prepared before PVD treatment.
Metal cleaning: a dedicated shed!
The road to customer satisfaction begins!
The initial stage involves careful organization of the items-it is the first essential step in ensuring an excellent quality product. Before starting any treatment, we pay special attention to careful preparation of surfaces intended for electroplating and painting processes.
Within it are:
- Five robotic islands.
- A straightening machine to perform grinding on flat workpieces.
- Five machines controlled by an operator for polishing.
- Five operator-controlled machines for grinding and satin finishing of all kinds.
- Eight-headed jerk rotary tables for polishing larger batches.
What are the stages of cleaning?
Grinding
Grinding is a process aimed atremoving impurities from the treated surface, with the goal of giving it uniformity, homogeneity and smoothness.
This process is applied to brass, zamak, iron, aluminum and stainless steel parts in their raw state. To achieve this goal, we have implemented a robotic island dedicated entirely to grinding.
This modern island is designed to process any item thanks to its versatility, achieved through the study and implementation of a gripper and special poses.
Polishing
Polishing represents the stage following buffing, aimed at removing any remaining buffing work and making the surface as homogeneous as possible and free of imperfections. This process prepares the item for clear coating, gilding, chrome plating and any mirror finish.
To achieve this goal, we have equipped ourselves with three robotic islands.
Satinizing
Satinizing in electroplating is a surface procedure that gives the object a scratched appearance. We have a highly efficient robotic satin-finishing island, which we apply to both raw and already galvanized objects to achieve thedesired scratching effect.
Coating on copper
Coating on copper is performed on any die-cast material that has porosity or cobwebs due to die casting, with the aim of achieving excellent quality.
Initially, thickness copper plating (with acid copper) is performed, ranging from 50 to 100 microns, and then coating is carried out, a process performed by hand by the operator that levels the surface of the object as best as possible, eliminating all defects and imperfections.
And now- in electroplating!
Galvanic treatments on brass, zamak, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel offer the possibility of customizing finishes according to the customer’s needs and tastes, regardless of the target industry.
Our two electroplating lines represent the core of production.
The first line, fully sealed, is equipped with eighty stations and six trolleys, offering great versatility thanks to automatic management via PLC.
The emphasis on plant flexibility, even at the expense of large-scale production, allows us to produce a large number of galvanic finishes, with no thickness limits, to meet even the most unique requirements. This approach is advantageous because it allows us to track each individual frame and bar within the plant, maintaining constant control over processing cycles and times. Each tank is equipped with a filtering system to ensure maximum quality and uniformity. One of the main features is its totally enclosed configuration, with a top suction system that prevents the spread of pollutants. In addition, it is equipped with an advanced chemical-physical purification system, which is also closed-loop.
This line enables us to process metals such as brass, zamak, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel, performing processing such as alkaline copper, acid copper plating, polished nickel, hexavalent and trivalent chromium plating, black trivalent chromium plating, 24-karat gold, 18-karat gold, and other matte finishes in different colors.
The second line, consisting of fifty-one positions, is also sealed and managed by PLC, ensuring constant monitoring of the product’s path through the plant. It is capable of printing and certifying the entire production cycle. Made entirely of stainless steel with moplen tanks, this line features an advanced suction system. Again, we process metals such as brass, zamak, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel, with treatments such as polished nickel, Wood’s nickel, pearl matte nickel, hexavalent and trivalent chrome plating, 18-karat gold, and 24-karat gold.
Painting: the final layer of protection!
An extra touch for added protection!
Painting is a process that combines electroplating with the application of a protective layer, such as paint or other materials, to the metal surface, making it resistant to fingerprints and corrosive and weathering agents.
We have two painting plants, one semi-automatic and one fully automatic, both pressurized and equipped with prewash, blowing and drying oven stages.
This allows us to perform transparent, one-component and two-component protective coatings with automatic mixing, in different finishes: gloss, semi-matte and matte.
The first plant, which is semi-automatic, involves each item being washed, blown and dried before painting to remove dust and impurities that could compromise the process. Next, the part goes through the drying and cooling stage, ready to enter the water-veil painting booth, where the operator begins treatment. Manual work allows for precise application, reaching every corner of the product, even for small batches. Once the coating is finished, it moves on to the “flashing” stage, in which the paint spreads out before being baked in the oven for a few hours. After cooling, each item undergoes quality control: if it passes the test, it is ready to be packaged and shipped directly to the customer.
The process is also similar in the automatic painting system with a cup, which can reach up to 80,000 revolutions. This working mode complements the manual one, ensuring perfect continuity and consistency in the process. Here, too, products can be clear-coated with matte, semi-matte and pigmented finishes.
