Parker adopts environmentally friendly plating process

-- Control Engineering, 8/1/2006

Steel parts and fittings from Parker Hannifin’s Hose Products Div. will no longer be plated with hexavalent chromium (Cr6) as the company moves to comply with EU directives. The chromium-6-free plating is identifiable by it silver appearance.

Wickliffe, OH—Plating processes at the Hose Products Div. of Parker Hannifin will no longer use hexavalent chromium (Cr6), a substance considered environmentally hazardous. The company announced it will switch immediately to Chromium-6-free plating for its metal products as part of a move to comply with EU (Commission of the European Communities) restrictions.

The EU has classified hexavalent chromium as environmentally hazardous and has established several restrictions pertaining to its use. Any product or equipment sold in Europe, even if manufactured in North America, must comply with the directives. North American transportation manufacturers are pushing for the specification change as well, as they strive for global standardization.

Plating containing hexavalent chromium is identifiable by its gold appearance in Parker’s existing fittings. The chromium-6-free plating is silver in appearance, and offers improved corrosion protection over current specifications. The modification requires no changes in assembly procedures or to existing assembly torques. It has minimum corrosion resistance of 120 salt-spray hours to first white and 240 salt-spray hours to first red, and product-specific corrosion resistance of 200 salt-spray hours to first white and 500 salt-spray hours to first red.

The plating change will be applicable on a global basis to all steel Parker Hose fittings and steel parts. Click here for more information about the plating change.

—Control Engineering Daily News Desk