Many of our customers and their clients are engaged in their own Green Energy initiatives and sustainability efforts, looking to improve operating conditions and air quality within and without their businesses, and seeking to achieve steep reductions in environmental waste and greenhouse gas emissions. We are proud to be aligned on these environmental concerns and look forward to helping our customers achieve their goals.
Zinc is ubiquitous in every day items – from products like rubbers, plastics, ceramics, glass, cement, lubricants, paints, adhesives, sealants, batteries, ferrites, and fire retardants, to first-aid tapes, sunscreen, therapeutic ointments, makeup, pigments, and even foods. Zinc is the friendly metal!
In fact, one of the ways in which hot-dip galvanizing helps the environment is by extending the life of steel products and structures. This helps to divert steel and metal waste from landfills, reduces the need for resources to produce more steel, and the waste that naturally goes with it. With its inherent durability enhanced by galvanizing, steel and zinc are both sustainable materials!
We understand that historically galvanizing has been associated with certain types of environmental hazard. For this reason, Norgalv has invested in the absolute best galvanizing technology available. As a result, we have a fully automated pre-treatment facility which enables our plant to be completely free of air and wastewater emissions.
Degreasing/Caustic Cleaning - Steel is immersed in an acid degreasing bath or caustic solution in order to remove the dirt, oil, and grease from the surface. After degreasing, the steel is rinsed with water.
Pickling - Steel is immersed in an acid tank filled with either hydrochloric or sulfuric acid, which removes oxides and mill scale. Once all oxidation has been removed, it is again rinsed with water.Fluxing - The flux cleans the steel of all oxidation developed since the pickling of the steel, and creates a protective coating, before entering the galvanizing kettle.
Zinc Bath - Steel is now ready for immersion in the molten zinc. The steel products remain in the kettle until the temperature of the steel has reached the correct temperature. It is then carefully removed.
Post Treatment – Steel is removed from the kettle and receives a post-treatment to enhance the galvanized coating. Norgalv uses a completely chromium-free passivation product to produce a high-quality finish. It will not be applied to all products, only when specifically requested (there is an extra charge). The process uses non-toxic zirconium - the most corrosion-resilient metal on the planet.
The modern, state-of-the-art design of Norgalv’s plant ensures that NOTHING escapes – no waste, no chemicals, no toxic fumes, no wastewater.
We are proud to have a 100% emissions-free pre-treatment process that is totally sealed, and completely safe. In fact, once the pre-treatment process begins, it is controlled remotely, and there are no people in the area whatsoever.