Anodizing
Our anodizing line is capable of producing clear, champagne, bronze, and black finishes in up to 32-foot 3-inch lengths meeting the American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association (AAMA) standard 611-12.
Anodizing Process
Anodizing refers to the electrochemical process that changes the surface of a metal into a corrosion-resistant, durable, and aesthetically pleasing anodic-oxide finish. This is not a process that happens before other finishing – an anodized materials’ surface is fully integrated into the aluminum substrate and cannot be chipped off or removed.
Acid Etching
Acid etching is an alternative to traditional caustic etching in the pre-treatment phase and can provide a superior aesthetic and more consistent finishes for repeat orders. Etching is performed on the material to minimize or entirely remove surface defects. Traditional anodizing lines use a caustic soda to mask some defects, but acid etching uses fluoride based ions that removes most surface defects while providing a clean aesthetic.
Calgary, Alberta
In Calgary, APEL installed a new state-of-the-art, semi-automated anodizing line in 2008 and upgraded it to provide acid etch capability in 2010. As part of this anodizing line upgrade, we replaced our aging waste treatment system with a new automated facility, ensuring 100% environmental compliance of all finishing processes.
Our line can produce:
- Clear, champagne, bronze and black finishes
- 16’ (192”) to 24’ (291”)
- Rack marks 2” from end added to the finished length
Phoenix, Arizona
Our new fully automated commercial, acid etch anodizing line is one of the largest and most modern in all North America. Capable of architectural solutions meeting the American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association (AAMA) standard 611-12.
Our line can produce:
- Clear class I and II, champagne, medium bronzes, dark bronze and black class I
- 4 to 0.7 mills
- 16’ (192”) to 32’ (384”)
- Rack marks: 1” from end to added to length
