Columbia Chemical and Alufinish Deliver Top Performance in Alkaline Etching

From technical and dimensional etching to brightening, stripping, and matte finishes, we handle it all with confidence. Alufinish’s 5th-generation Alfisatin alkaline etch has once again proven to be the best-performing solution on the market.

Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE), a major manufacturer and distributor of high-performance architectural glass and aluminum framing systems, needed a fail-safe alkaline etch product that would be easy to operate within the demands of their automated system.

Last week, our application team partnered with Columbia Chemical in Midway, TN to implement this technology on an architectural anodizing line for OBE. Because of the operation’s high demands, strict product requirements, and advanced automation, the process required a dependable, user-friendly solution — and Alfisatin met those needs.

Its ability to stabilize sodium aluminate concentrations up to 220 g/L, along with additives that prevent unwanted deposits and chemical drying, ensures consistent, reliable performance. We successfully integrated the technology into the existing line without an impact on any other part of the process. The key operating parameters include soda content, stabilizer level, and temperature.

We extend our thanks to the Anodizing and Operational teams at OBE for their openness and collaboration throughout this installation. Columbia Chemical and Alufinish are proud to continue to build strong momentum in the United States!