Re Coating | Sutton Tools
| The Company |
| Surface Technology Coatings (STC) is a part of Sutton Tools, a family owned Australian company operating since 1917. STC was established in 1988 to provide a Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) coating service to local industry. Since that time STC has grown to be at the forefront of heat treatment and surface engineering technology. We are the only commercial facility in Australia offering high pressure quench vacuum heat treatment, plasma nitriding and PVD hard thin film coatings under the one roof. Additionally we offer a complete regrinding and recoating service. Surface Technology Coatings carries out research and development with Australia’s leading Universities and research organisations to develop innovative services that keep STC ahead of the competition. |
| QA and Process Measurement |
| The world class reputation of Surface Technology Coatings has been built on our ability to deliver high quality, reproducible and guaranteed product back to the customer every time. With access to the latest testing and analytical equipment, we can process test samples for certification of every process batch. ISO 9001:2008 Quality Assurance registration ensures full traceability of products throughout the entire process cycle. |
| PVD Coatings |
| Surface Technology Coatings is the only Australian company providing Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) coatings, plasma nitriding, vacuum heat treatment, with access to full regrind facilities on site. Our unique position enables us to provide tailored solutions to a wide range of friction and wear problems. Titanium Nitride was the first PVD wear resistant film coating introduced at Surface Technology Coatings, using, at that time, the world’s leading Low Voltage Electron Beam technology by Balzers of Switzerland. Now known as Oerlikon Balzers, they have remained a world leading company, and their latest technology is now in use at STC. Called the INNOVA, it is a new generation coating system and is ‘the future of tool coating’. Through a wide knowledge of Australian manufacturing practices, which encompass a range of tooling; from HSS to Carbide and PCD, Surface Technology Coatings has the ability to provide low cost solutions, while offering the latest coating technologies. |
| Vacuum Heat Treatment |
| Surface Technology Coatings have three state-of-the-art high pressure gas quenching vacuum heat treatment furnaces available to fulfill your heat treatment requirements. All furnaces are fully computer controlled and provide: • Minimal workpiece distortion • Excellent temperature uniformity (+/- 5ºC) • Reduced cycle times • Metallurgically clean surfaces • Reliable, reproducible results • Ecologically clean and safe treatments • QA documentation for every furnace load Surface Technology Coatings specialise in premium quality vacuum heat treatment of high speed steels, hot work steels, cold work steels, martensitic stainless steels and age hardening steels. Our experienced metallurgical staff are able to select directional or 360º high pressure quench cooling to ensure minimal distortion. In addition, a step quench or isothermal hold can be incorporated into the heat treatment cycle to minimize the temperature gradient between the surface and core and thereby reduce stress and distortion as the tool passes through the martensite temperature transformation range. All equipment in the heat treatment department is automatically regulated and computer controlled. The highly trained staff are able to monitor the heat treatment cycle 24/7 via VPN to ensure the integrity of the product and guarantee delivery times. Chart recordings of the entire heat treatment cycle for every production run can be provided at the customer’s request. The aim is to provide the customer with a heat treated product that has the optimum combination of hardness and toughness while keeping distortion to a minimum. |
| NitroPlas Plasma Nitriding |
| STC introduced Australia’s first commercial plasma nitriding facility called NitroPlas. This revolutionary process generates a plasma on a cage surrounding the entire work load in a vacuum furnace in order to generate active nitrogen. The end result is a product with high surface hardness, excellent fatigue resistance, low surface friction and good anti-corrosion properties. All traditional nitridable steels and stainless steels can be readily treated on products ranging from nuts and bolts to large plastic injection moulding tools. Process cycles are run every night for next day delivery. The benefits of the NitroPlas plasma nitriding process are: • Superior mechanical properties of nitrided layer • Minimal growth and distortion • Reduced corner or edge chipping • Environmentally friendly • Reliable, reproducible results • Surface finish is maintained reducing post polishing • Parts not requiring nitriding can be easily masked • Full metallographic analysis and QA documentation • Elimination of post-nitriding grinding • Post nitriding treatments available - Oxidation for corrosion resistance - PVD coatings for wear and friction applications - Blackening for aesthetic appeal |
| Steam Oxide Treatment |
| For Ferrous materials only. The thin oxide layer acts as a lubricant in some applications. Steam Oxide is useful for corrosion protection and can improve performance in cutting applications. Steam oxide assists in prevention of build-up on the cutting edge, which is a major cause of surface roughness and irregular sizing, when cutting ‘sticky’ materials. Appearance colour – Blue-black and maximum process temperature of 560ºC. |
