Don’t Miss CCAI’s FAB to FINISH Production Experience at FABTECH 2021

As indicated in its name, the FAB to FINISH Production Experience enables FABTECH attendees to witness the production of a part, from fabrication through the complete finishing process, firsthand on the exhibition floor. Launched as a trial project at FABTECH 2017 with just two participating exhibitors, the program, coordinated by CCAI, will include eleven exhibitors at this year’s show.

Attendees start by visiting the Mazak Optonics booth (A4402) where they will see the FAB to FINISH souvenir part laser cut on the OPTIPLEX NEXUS 3015 S7 FIBER machine featuring 7kW of power and Mazak’s high precision air system. Each participant will take a fabricated part and a route card that will direct them to the FINISHING Pavilion, where they will experience the various operations required to produce a quality finished part.

The first stop in the FINISHING Pavilion will be at the booth of a participating pretreatment exhibitor where the part will be cleaned. This is a crucial step in the finishing process to ensure the coating adheres properly to the metal. Exhibitors participating in the pretreatment step of the process include:

Chemquest (D45577)

DuBois Chemicals (D45532)

GAT Finishing Systems (D45340)

Henkel Corporation (D45549)

Once the part is cleaned, it will be powder coated at the booth noted on the participant’s production route card. A variety of powder types and colors will be available, and participants will have the opportunity to try their hand at powder coating the part themselves. Exhibitors participating in the powder coating step are:

Gema USA Inc. (D45337)

Nordson Corporation (D45325)

SAMES KREMLIN (D45356)

Once powder coated, the part must be cured to create a finish that is both durable and visually appealing. Participants will witness the curing process and see the powder transformed to a bright, shiny, durable finish before their eyes. Exhibitors participating in the curing step are:

Heraeus (D45158)

Nordson Corporation (D45325)

Trimac Industrial Systems (D45224)

A portion of this year’s FAB to FINISH participants will have the opportunity to experience an additional finishing process after their part is cured. If the selective plating process is noted on their production route card, the fabricated part they pick up in the Mazak booth will have a mask over a portion of the part. This mask will prevent the covered area of the part from being cleaned and powder coated. The mask will also stand up to the curing process. After following the production route through the fabrication, pretreatment, powder coating, and curing processes, the participant will visit the Quaker Houghton/SIFCO booth (D45762). The mask will be removed, and the selective plating process performed in that specific area.

All FAB to FINISH Production Experience participants can take their souvenir part, featuring the Chicago skyline, home with them.