Coolant performance is getting more attention right now—and for good reason. As tooling costs rise, small inefficiencies that were once easy to ignore are becoming more expensive. One of the most common places shops lose performance is in their coolant system, often without realizing it. Before looking at tools or process changes, it’s worth taking a closer look at...
How metal parts wear and “learn” to work together over time and why lubricant is paramount to longevity 1. Wear-in vs Wear-out (the big distinction) Early life: “wear-in” New metal parts often have microscopic roughness, even if they look smooth. When parts first start working together, those high points gently abrade or polish each other. This can actually improve performance by increasing...
Today we're talking about emergency preparedness. How equipped are you to handle emergency or planned closures that bring reduced staffing, modified hours, and temporary shutdowns. Under ISO 9001, these conditions represent known operational risks that should be addressed through structured controls — not assumptions. ISO 9001 emphasizes risk-based thinking, process control, and operational continuity. 1. Complete Preventive Maintenance During Planned Downtime Clause 8.1 (Operational Planning and...
The point of pH and conductivity calibration is simple but critical: to make sure the numbers you’re seeing are accurate, trustworthy, and meaningful for decisions and compliance. pH probes don’t stay accurate forever. Over time they drift because of: Aging sensors Coating or fouling from samples Temperature changes Regular use and storage conditions Calibration ensures: The pH reading reflects the true acidity or alkalinity Small changes (which...
ISO 9001: Tips & Steps for Success A practical guide for WestChem clients Implementing or maintaining ISO 9001 isn’t just about passing an audit — it’s about building a stronger, more predictable, and more efficient operation. Here are the key steps and habits that consistently lead to success. 1. Commit to a Process Approach ISO 9001 is built on how work flows...
The Benefit of WestChem's PowderSeal™ HT Customer: Manufacturer of construction equipment. Operation: Application of high temp sealant prior to powder coating / curing. Product: WestChem’s PowderSeal™ HT vs. Leading Competitor High Temp Sealant. Client Scenario The customer was using a leading brand competitor sealant. Due to some challenges, the customers oven was running hotter than normal. At these elevated temperatures, the competitor...
This video guides the operator through the total acid titration of a 5% iron phosphate and zirconium bath. This includes instructions on how to dispense the proper amount of bath solution, which indicator to use, which test solution and how to control the flow of the test solution from the burette. Using the methodology in this video and the numerical factor found...
WestKleen XBlast is a gelled product which is used to remove rust, mill scale, laser scale, and weld smoke from hot rolled steel parts. It is a proven alternative to blasting as it removes rust and scale exposing the bare substrate. WestKleen XBlast is a single component acidic gel concentrate containing specific inhibitors that protect mild steel while accelerating the acid action...
This video demonstrates the effectiveness of WestChem's UltraStrip SD Powder Paint Stripper - Safe & Non Fuming. Our newly formulated paint stripper has the following features: Environmentally Friendly No Methylene Chloride, or any other carcinogenic materials Primary ingredients are low toxicity and biodegradable Extremely Fast and Effective at Ambient Temperatures Used with Multi-Metal and Powder-Paint Applications Ready to Use No Heat...
