In industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, electronics and other critical sectors, it is essential to provide machines and equipment with high-quality surfaces. Avoiding contamination and corrosion is of great importance. With the SUBLIMOTION-process®, Phibo Industries has developed an innovative solution for a single-step surface treatment of stainless steel constructions. This treatment, carried out with manual, robotized or hybrid installations, thoroughly removes impurities and optimizes cleanability to prevent corrosion.
“The SUBLIMOTION-process® is a surface treatment that very thoroughly, quickly and easily removes iron contamination, weld discoloration, greases, oils and other impurities left on stainless steel or aluminium parts during the production process,” says business manager Pieter Haers. “It is a high-quality alternative to chemical pickling and electrolytic polishing, but more sustainable and cost-efficient.”
The SUBLIMOTION-process® results in a uniform and clean finish, for both simple and complex constructions.
Unique single-step treatment: manual, automated or hybrid. During this ‘one-step’ process, a suspension of very small mineral particles is projected onto the surface according to fixed parameters. In addition to its cleaning effect, this treatment also reconditions and reactivates the stainless steel surface. As a result, the chromium in the purified top layer oxidizes with oxygen under ideal conditions, creating a uniform and stable passive protective layer that prevents corrosion. The reconditioning also creates a smooth surface, making it difficult for dirt to adhere and allowing the material to be cleaned optimally. Finally, the SUBLIMOTION-process® creates a favourable, controlled stress in the top layer, which keeps the surface closed and helps prevent mechanical loads and temperature fluctuations from causing microcracks in the long term. Such cracks can trap dirt and cause interruptions in the protective chromium oxide layer, which are sources of corrosion and contamination that the SUBLIMOTION-process® permanently prevents.
The treatment also reconditions the stainless steel surface into a closed landscape with a unique topography: optimally cleanable and extremely corrosion-resistant.
“Depending on the application, we can offer customers various process machines. For companies that mainly need to process small parts as single pieces or in small series, the Mistral manual process cabin is sufficient. For larger series work or the treatment of larger parts, we propose a manual or robotized Tornado installation, optionally with automated feeding and unloading of parts,” the business manager explains. “There is also a hybrid solution, in which one can work on the same platform either manually or with the robot. Switching between the two modes is then simple, fast and can be done on site. The SUBLIMOTION process installations are modular, so we can perfectly tailor the configuration to the customer's wishes and grow along with them step by step.”
SUBLIMOTION manual process cabin and process hall: this innovative solution is available in various configurations.
Unique in every respect. The SUBLIMOTION-process® offers not only a high-quality, but also a cost-efficient and sustainable alternative to electrolytic polishing and chemical pickling. “No chemical processes are involved. This makes the process healthier for the operator, better for the environment and cost-saving for the company, as high costs for wastewater treatment and expensive ventilation systems, among other things, are avoided. Moreover, other operating costs also remain low thanks to the minimal consumption of particles and energy by the installations,” Pieter Haers concludes. “The SUBLIMOTION finishing has been evaluated and certified in terms of cleanability and corrosion resistance by several independent and renowned expertise centres, such as EHEDG, BIL and OCAS. The combination of unique properties with our pragmatic approach is paying off. We are seeing an enormous increase in demand in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and even Spain. The SUBLIMOTION finishing has even been validated and standardized at ASML.”