Pneutech

PRODUCTION PROCESS

In the most recent years we have been undertaking a process of corporate transformation, adapting the production according to the principles of lean production and, more generally, of lean thinking. The objective is to improve production performance, optimizing working times and methods. Not only that, in line with the eco-friendly mission that has characterized the company since its creation, we have started a digitalization work to eliminate 100% paper documents, both in the production and commercial departments.

1 DESIGN

Our products are born from ideas, wit and mastery of our Team. Every single production cycle is checked and analyzed in detail. In the design and planning phase, the style office analyzes both shapes and materials the tap will be manufactured with. In the technical office the product is engineered through the use of 3D software.

2 PROTOTYPING

It consists of the creation of wooden prototypes by master craftsmen. This passage allows to check their shapes and ergonomics. Once approved, the product can be industrially manufactured.

3 CORE AND SHELLS CREATION

During this phase the raw bodies of our faucets are obtained by carrying out all the related activities. The process concerns the creation of so-called cores that will be used to get the holes in the fusion, that are the parts that must not be filled by the liquid metal (cast brass). The cores are made of earth and sand mixed with agglomerates obtained by a negative mold called core box.

4 FOUNDRY CASTING PROCESS

The molten metal (1000°) is stripped from the furnace, collected in a ladle and poured into the metal die through the casting channel. Once solidified and cooled, we extract our raw faucets from the die and with a vibration process the core crumbles into sand to get the channels where water will flow.

5 TRANSFER TURNERY

Industrial production process, for different mechanical machining, obtained by chip removal. Turnery is defined by a rotary piece motion and a mostly straight tool movement (in milling and drilling the tool has instead a rotary motion).

6 CLEANING/FROSTING

Metal working processes that prepare the activities for real metal work such as nickel plating, chrome plating and gilding. This result is obtained by means of very fine and uniform abrasives that reduce the sizes of the surface roughness.

7 POLISHING

Purpose of the polishing process is to file the microscopic irregularities of the body so as to make the treated surfaces as smooth as possible, so that the light reflection becomes more uniform.

8 CHROME PLATING

Chrome-plating involves the immersion of the faucets body to be chromed in a series of basins. In a first series of these ones the piece is degreased and cleaned. The main basin (where the piece stays longer) is that of the electrolytic nickel solution. Before carrying chrome, it is crucial to create a layer of nickel to uniform the metal surface as microscopically as possible.

9 FINISHING

The finishing consists in fixing a layer of color on the previously treated product defining the colored features.