Manufacturing Spotlight - Chroming Process
LeoVince offers several different ranges of exhaust systems with applications on all types of motorcycles, scooters and ATV’s. The different product ranges are built from different materials that have been specifically chosen to meet different performance characteristics and price points. Titanium, Carbon Fiber, Aluminum, Stainless Steel and Chrome Steel are some of the different materials used to build these high quality Italian made exhaust systems. Chrome Steel is used on SITO line of direct replacement exhausts, select SCOOT exhausts and on the SILVERTAIL line of cruiser exhausts. These chrome exhausts are all treated by a proprietary chroming process at the SITO facility in Cuneo Italy. Here is an insight into the chroming process.
Once the exhaust components have been welded into their finished configuration and are ready to be coated, they are manually loaded onto special frames to be taken through an automatic coating process. The process consists of several cleaning steps to make sure the component is perfectly prepared prior to any coatings being applied. The first degreasing phase uses chemicals to clean any oils or grease from the metal at a temperature of 158°F for 14 minutes. Next the components go into a pickling tank of hydrochloric acid to remove any traces of oxidation from the welded areas; the components are then washed with water before moving onto the electrolytic degreasing stage. Using opposite electrical charges and a mechanical shaker, any last traces of grease are removed from the component, this method is called “electrolytic degreasing”.
The last step of cleaning before the coating begins is a neutralization process where the components are dipped in sulfuric acid to eliminate any traces of alkalinity and surface oxidation caused by the electrolytic degreasing.
With the component now completely clean and ready for coating, the frame of components goes through a two-step process of coating the component in nickel and then chrome. Nickel is used to give the component a good resistance to corrosion and the chrome gives the component the shiny surface finish and hardness. Both the nickel and chrome are applied using an electrolytic process in which the exhaust is dipped into a galvanic bath of charged metal ions. A transformer imposes a potential difference between the negatively charged exhaust and the positively charged metal ions in the bath. When the exhaust is dipped into the bath the nickel and chrome ions in the bath immediately coat the exhaust. The nickel coating takes place in a single dip and then the components are first dipped in an alkaline bath to reactivate the nickel and then washed with water before dipping in the chrome tank.
Using a similar electrolytic system to the nickel coating the components are dipped in a bath of chromic anhydride. The finished component is coated with an average of 40 micrometers of nickel and 6 micrometers of chrome. After chroming the components are dipped in a tank of protective oils to prevent any rust from forming in the component. Lastly the components are dried in an oven at 158°F for 7 minutes to eliminate any solutions from the process that may still be on the component.
The chrome process system includes systems to purify the cleaning liquids and remove any smoke generated during the process. These automated systems ensure that any toxic waste is disposed of treated correctly and that the system does oppose any health risks to workers or have any negative environmental effects.
Through the whole process exacting measures are taken to ensure that high quality standards are maintained. This includes regular checking of the different substances used in each stage of the process. Once the components have completed the chroming process they are visually inspected before being sent to the packaging department. By following these strict manufacturing standards SITO are able to produce exhausts with a fantastic looking finish that is durable and highly resistant to corrosion.
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