(15 May 2006)  An article fromChicago Tribune writer Bill Barnhart this past week pointed out that for the first time, the value of the metal in a penny, is actually worth more than a penny.  According to the US Mint, penny is 97.5 % zinc and only 2.5% copper, and with the recent spike in Zinc prices, a penny, if melted down is now worth $0.01016.  Passing this milestone reminds prudent Hot Dip Zinc producers that you not only can’t afford to over-coat your galvanized sheet, you can’t afford to roll hot dipped zinc products without Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Radiometrie RM 310 EH hot coating gauge.

Positioned directly above the zinc pot, the Radiometrie RM 310 EH hot gauge provides near instantaneous feedback of the amount of zinc on your strip.  This results in a true measurement feedback time that is 72 seconds faster than a standard coating weight gauge mounted in a cool location.  With Thermo’s target adaptive control (TAC) routine, the control set point is adjusted towards the lower tolerance limit as the variability is reduced. The over-coating safety margins required with conventional control systems are no longer necessary, saving zinc, saving you money.

The savings due to reduced zinc consumption, faster product changes and reduced scrap production amount to more than $1 million U.S. annually for typical continuous galvanizing lines. These savings will be even more as the zinc prices continue to rise

In 2003, a Thermo customer in Europe, determined that the zinc savings attributed to their Radiometrie RM 310 EH paid for system in less than 6 months.  At today’s zinc prices, the payback time frame for the Hot Gauge can be measured in weeks.

Call us at (800) 488-4399 to see how we can save you significant savings.

Thermo is the world’s only supplier of hot coating weight gauges for hot dip galvanizing lines.