Pumps for Electroplating & Anodizing Applications
When people ask, “What type of pump is used for plating solutions?” the answer is that the diverse processes used in this industry require a number of different pump types. Finish Thompson offers a complete line of industrial chemical pumps to handle even the most difficult applications. From lightning-fast self-priming pumps for sumps, to pumps for circulation through electroplating filters and eductors and pumps to transfer chemicals from drums and totes, Finish Thompson’s pump solutions cover the full spectrum of needs for electroplating and anodizing.
Typical Applications
- Provide flow through eductors for mixing of plating tanks without introducing air.
- Provide flow through filters to keep plating solutions clean.
- Empty and refill tanks with plating solutions.
- Transfer chemicals and rinse waters from sumps.
- Transfer wastewater and water treatment chemicals in on-site treatment plants.
Which Series are Applicable?
Pump Details
DB Series, SP Series
Magnetically coupled, sealless centrifugal pumps. Finish Thompson DB Series and SP Series pumps are designed from the ground up to pump corrosive chemicals in electroplating and anodizing facilities.
Features
- No mechanical seal – Powerful rare earth magnetic drive system eliminates the troublesome mechanical seal.
- Corrosion resistant – Engineered for the most aggressive liquids, manufactured from polypropylene or PVDF.
- Run dry ability – Makes them less prone to operator error or system upset.
- Self-priming option – SP Series pumps can lift fluid from as deep as 25 feet (7.6 meters) below the pump or can pull liquid out of the top of a tank eliminating through-the-sidewall bulkhead fittings.
UC Series
Engineered for extreme reliability in the most extreme chemical processing applications, Finish Thompson’s ULTRAChem® pumps are magnetically driven, ANSI dimensional pumps. They are constructed from tough ductile iron with ETFE lining for superior corrosion resistance.
Features
- Sealless design – Powerful neodymium magnets drive the impeller through a carbon-filled ETFE lined barrier for dependable, leak-free operation.
- Fully supported shaft and self-aligning dual bushings – designed for optimum alignment to prevent premature wear.
- Complete encapsulation of inner drive magnets in ETFE – for ultimate corrosion protection.
GP Series
Finish Thompson GP Series sealed centrifugal pumps offer excellent corrosion resistance. Made with molded housings of wear-resistant polypropylene or PVDF, they are available with a wide range of mechanical seals, while multiple impeller diameters allow for enhanced hydraulic selection and application flexibility.
Features
- Bellows, multispring or double type seals – specify for maximum suction pressure.
- Accepts standard NEMA or IEC metric motors – to meet application requirements.
- Close-coupled or pedestal mounted options.
- Modular design – component interchangeability.
AP Series
Sealed stainless steel centrifugal pumps from Finish Thompson. The rugged, compact AP Series AC horizontal pumps are built to withstand the harshest chemical environments.
Features
- Heavy gage 316 stainless steel construction – Handles higher pipe and hose loads for long, dependable life.
- Centrifugal design – Provides smooth, pulseless liquid flow.
- Multiple sizes – A wide variety of suction/discharge sizes and impeller diameters for increased hydraulic coverage.
- High temperature range – Capable of handling hot liquids (up to 300°F/ 149°C).
VKC Series
Vertical magnetic drive sealless centrifugal pumps, VKC Series pumps from Finish Thompson offer excellent corrosion resistance and magnetic drive reliability. Multiple impeller diameters and column lengths offer enhanced hydraulic selection and application flexibility.
Features
- True sealless vertical pump design magnetic drive – eliminates the need for wetted shaft bearings.
- Sealed airtight column – helps prevent shaft and motor corrosion and reduces environmental emissions.
- No back impeller – single impeller prevents aeration and eliminates microbubbles in fluid being pumped.
Drum Pumps
Finish Thompson drum pumps are extremely versatile and are not just for use in in drums. A wide range of tube lengths allow them to be used in drums, barrels, totes, IBCs (intermediate bulk containers) and other container sizes.
Features
- PP, PVDF or 316SS tubes – Select based on your application
- Built-in hose and cord clips – On select models
- ODP (open drip proof), TEFC and air motor drive options — lithium ion battery powered motor on select models
- High performance sealless pump
- Unique double suction impeller provides high flow rates and high discharge pressure
- Viscosity up to 2,000 cP
- Acids, bases, plating solutions, water treatment chemicals, cleaners
- An ideal replacement for hand pumps
- Integral strainer
- Built-in hose, cord clips (EFP/EFV only)
- Light acids and bases, plating solutions, sodium hypochlorite, cleaners, coolants
FTI Air – Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps
Powered by compressed air, FTI Air pumps can run dry, handle solids and abrasives, pump viscous and shear-sensitive fluids and are easy to install and operate. They offer excellent chemical resistance with corrosive/hazardous chemicals and can be used for numerous applications including loading and unloading tankers, totes and barrels; for batching/dosing chemicals or as portable utility pumps.
Features
- Simple, durable design – Fewer parts improves reliability and maintenance.
- Non-stalling air valve – Simple, rugged, reliable design.
- Variable flow and pressure – Easy adjustment makes it easy to meet application requirements.
- Ease of operation & maintenance – Fewer parts make FTI Air pumps easy to install, operate and maintain.
A Case in Point
Chrome Plating Challenges Solved with Comprehensive Pump Product Line
From automotive to aerospace, hard chrome finishes are an integral part of numerous industries. Plating shops that produce these finishes perform a wide range of filtration, mixing and cleaning, which require use of heavy-duty pumps in their systems to withstand the harsh materials involved.
Specializing in plating and polishing, Erie Hard Chrome offers several precision processes. Their capacity ranges from 10-ton parts to detailed inserts. To support production, the company requires a full line of pumps at their facility to suit a wide range of applications.
For the quality products they need, Erie Hard Chrome has partnered with Finish Thompson, Inc.
“I’m extremely happy with Finish Thompson’s product line,” reports Scott Geiser, manager at Erie Hard Chrome. “We have installed six different models of Finish Thompson pumps, each with its own chemical resistance and volume specs, to meet all the varied demands of our operations.”
A to Z Solutions for Chrome Plating Facilities
Fume Scrubbers
The Finish Thompson AC8 horizontal centrifugal chemical pump is perfect for Erie Hard Chrome’s fume scrubbing application. Geiser explains, “The pump has to handle the acidic solution and whatever materials are in the fumes that the machine is grabbing, and this pump does it. It creates enough volume and withstands the chemicals well.”
Drum Pumping
Erie Hard Chrome uses Finish Thompson’s EF Series electric drum pump to pump chemicals out of their 55-gallon drums. Geiser reports, “We’ve invested in six of these pumps, since they can empty our large drums quickly and efficiently.”
Tank Cleaning
“Our biggest tank is 7,000 gallons,” notes Geiser. “We use a 10-horsepower centrifugal chemical pump, Finish Thompson’s SP22V self-priming mag drive pump, for this task. When our chrome plating tanks become dirty with chromates, one pump can handle the large volumes. At 280 gallons per minute, we can filter out the tank in less than 30 minutes. It’s an incredible product.”
Ultrasonic Cleaner
The DB4P centrifugal chemical pump offers two qualities that make it ideal for Erie Hard Chrome’s ultrasonic cleaner. “As a compact pump, it doesn’t take up space, but it gives us the volume that we need,” Geiser explains.
What Type of Pump is Used for Sulfuric Acid?
The facility uses an SP10P-M207 self-priming mag drive centrifugal pump on their wastewater application. The pump recirculates sulfuric acid. “Volume is key here,” notes Geiser. “We have to clean large volumes of nickel so it’s ready for production again, and this pump gives us the volume we need to run the acid through large tanks.”
Why They Work
“Our complete line of pumps offers solutions for all of Erie Hard Chrome’s processes,” notes Pete Scantlebury, VP of Development for Finish Thompson. “We touch on many aspects of the business, delivering quality and reliability for each application. Other pumps, featuring mechanical seals, don’t hold up in this setting. The design of our sealless magnetic drive pumps is key for many of these applications. The pumps do a better job of handling the chromic acid and other harsh materials involved in this industry.”
“More Bang for Our Buck”
Geiser reports complete satisfaction with their range of Finish Thompson pumps. “Looking at competitors, we might pay double for pumps to get the volume we need. With Finish Thompson, we get more bang for our buck. And as far as maintenance goes, we rarely have to work on them. For what these pumps have to go through, I’m very impressed.”
